RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.20
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 and Jersey Flegg Cup (NSWRL under-21s).
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima made a superb return from injury in the Dolphins’ 30-28 upset of Cronulla on Thursday, producing two try assists for a total of 11 this season (equal-fourth in the NRL).
Meanwhile, Aranui product Jamayne Isaako kicked five goals and ran for 151 metres. Isaako is fourth in the NRL’s pointscoring race with 127 but is just seven points off leader Valentine Holmes.
Match Highlights 🎥 – #NRLSharksDolphins
Another five-star display from superstar Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow led the Dolphins to an upset win over the Sharks! pic.twitter.com/2kkKGSsPVK
— NRL (@NRL) June 13, 2024
West Coast Kiwi and former Halswell junior player Griffin Neame had a busy game off the bench in North Queensland’s 34-16 win in Canberra, racking up 11 runs for 125 metres and 21 tackles in 32 minutes.
Hornby second-rower Jordan Riki made seven runs for 83 metres and 36 tackles as Brisbane went down to Souths 22-12. But the tyro was sin-binned for a high tackle and subsequently suspended for two games.
Burnham junior Jazz Tevaga was industrious from the pine again as the Warriors were overrun 38-24 by Melbourne, notching 11 runs for 81 metres and 17 tackles in 33 minutes.
Aranui’s Daejarn Asi lined up in the centres again for Parramatta in a hard-fought 28-18 loss to Sydney Roosters.
NSW CUP
Burnham junior Siua Wong played 80 minutes at prop in Sydney Roosters’ 28-20 loss to Parramatta, chewing through a massive 25 runs for 232 metres and 23 tackles.
Hornby product and Kiwi Test utility Fa’amanu Brown played his first game for St George Illawarra’s NSW Cup side, making seven runs for 76 metres and 26 tackles in 46 minutes off the bench.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
With Freddy Lussick back at hooker in NSW Cup, Linwood’s Makaia Tafua went to Jersey Flegg duty for the Warriors, captaining the side from lock in a 28-16 defeat to Wests Tigers.
Riccarton product K-Ci Newton Whare played his fifth straight game at prop for Melbourne and scored his team’s first try in a 34-20 loss to Cronulla.
Versatile ex-Halswell back Oliver Lawry featured at centre and kicked six goals from six attempts in Manly’s 36-16 victory over St George Illawarra.
Teammates in Canterbury-Bankstown’s Harold Matthews Cup triumph in 2023, former Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben and Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini made their Jersey Flegg debuts together in the Bulldogs’ 18-14 win over Kaiviti Silktails in Fiji.
