RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.13
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
Canterbury products were in action in the latest rounds of the NRL, NSW Cup, Queensland Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup (NSWRL under-21s) and Mal Meninga Cup (QRL under-18s), as well as the SG Ball Cup (NSWRL under-19s) grand final, but the weekend was headlined by our juniors’ starring roles in an incredible Harold Matthews Cup (NSWRL under-17s) triumph.
NRL
Hornby Panthers second-rower Jordan Riki produced another big 80-minute performance for the heavyweight Brisbane Broncos, racking up a team-high 35 tackles along with 11 runs for 88 metres in a 34-10 defeat of Wests Tigers.
In his first year of professional rugby league after eight seasons of Super Rugby and NPC, former St Bede’s student and Hornby Panthers junior Solomon Alaimalo made his NRL debut for the Tigers in the loss to the Broncos. The rangy 28-year-old impressed on the wing with 13 runs for 134 metres and a line-break.
Along with 20 runs for 191 metres, Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako scored a brilliant try – set up by Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima – and produced an equally spectacular try assist in the Dolphins’ late rally against Newcastle, which ultimately came up short in an 18-14 loss.
Match Highlights 🎥: #NRLDolphinsKnights
The Knights survived a late scare from the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon to leave Suncorp Stadium with a 18-14 victory which halts their two-game winless run. pic.twitter.com/G52nWCtBI5
— NRL (@NRL) April 28, 2024
West Coast-bred Kiwi and former Halswell Hornet Griffin Neame was promoted to North Queensland Cowboys starting line-up in Round 8, contributing six runs for 57 metres and 20 tackles in 35 minutes of game-time in a gallant 26-20 loss to Penrith Panthers.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong returned to Sydney Roosters’ top-grade line-up on Anzac Day, making three strong runs and 18 tackles in their 60-18 thrashing of St George Illawarra.
Hornby product and Kiwi Test rep Fa’amanu Brown came off the Dragons’ bench for the second straight week after his mid-season switch from Hull FC. He spent time in the back-row and at hooker, making six runs for 51 metres and 18 tackles in 35 minutes.
NSW CUP
Returning to NSW Cup for the first time in 2024 after featuring in the Warriors’ Jersey Flegg for the past two weeks, Linwood’s Maikaia Tafua came off the bench after originally being named to start at hooker.
In an eye-catching display in a 22-all draw with Penrith, Tafua scored a try along with six runs for 58 metres and 33 tackles.
Teammate and Halswell junior Tanner Stowers-Smith produced a strong display in a depleted Warriors front-row contingent, carting the ball up 12 times for 143 metres and making 21 tackles.
WATCH WARRIORS V PANTHERS NSW CUP HIGHLIGHTS HERE
QLD CUP
Former Hornby and Canterbury Bulls wrecking ball Caius Faatili made a big impact off the bench in Sunshine Coast Falcons’ 22-14 win over Central Queensland Capras.
Faatili was on the field for 54 minutes and churned out 129 metres from 13 runs, along with four tackle-breaks, and made 17 tackles.
Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama was typically industrious in an 80-minute shift as Redcliffe Dolphins were run down 28-20 by Townsville Blackhawks, making 11 runs for 98 metres and 27 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Ex-Halswell half Oliver Lawry moved to fullback after featuring in the centres for Manly all season to date, slotting two goals in a 26-16 loss to Parramatta.
Riccarton prop K-Ci Newton Whare earned a promotion to the starting front-row for Melbourne Storm, who were edged out 28-24 by Wests Tigers.
Hornby junior Felix Faatili featured at prop for a Cronulla side that went down 30-16 in Canberra.
West Coaster Callum Donaldson, who spent time in Halswell’s juniors, came off the bench in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 60-0 rout of Kaviti Silktails.
WATCH JERSEY FLEGG ROUND 8 HIGHLIGHTS HERE
SG BALL CUP
Canterbury-Bankstown was overrun 40-18 by St George Illawarra in the SG Ball grand final, but Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini capped a superb campaign with yet another try during the Bulldogs’ belated second-half comeback at CommBank Stadium.
Alatini played all 11 of the Bulldogs’ games this season and finished with nine tries – including a run of five straight weeks crossing the stripe to close out the round-robin.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
The Warriors completed one of the most notable Harold Matthews Cup campaigns in the competition’s history by overwhelming Western Suburbs Magpies 34-16 in the grand final.
Finishing sixth in the maiden season in the NSWRL under-17s grade, the Warriors subsequently beat Parramatta Eels, minor premiers and defending champs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and finally the Magpies – who were all unbeaten in the regular season – in an amazing playoffs charge.
A star performer throughout the season, Linwood lock Lennox Tuiloma scored the Warriors’ last try and was named player of the match in the grand final, while Hornby’s Isaiah Savea came off the bench.
MAL MENINGA CUP
A Celebration Lions and Eastern Eagles junior who represented Canterbury at age-group level, Dontae Siaki made his Mal Meninga Cup debut for Norths Devils in a final-round 24-20 loss to Western Clydesdales.
The Devils, who also featured Denzel Siaki and Eli Bijl-Kakoi during their campaign, finished the under-18s competition 13th with a 3-7 record.
Image credit: NSWRL
