RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.23
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 and Jersey Flegg Cup (NSWRL under-21s).
NRL
Hornby Panthers product and Kiwi Test utility Fa’amanu Brown had 20 minutes off the bench in St George Illawarra’s 42-12 loss to Sydney Roosters, his sixth appearance for the Dragons after arriving mid-season from Hull KR.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga was again an inspiration off the bench in the Warriors’ gallant golden point loss to Canterbury.
The lionhearted forward played 41 minutes from the interchange, contributing 13 runs for 122 metres and 35 tackles in the 13-12 heartbreaker.
West Coast Kiwi and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame had a productive 29-minute stint off the bench in North Queensland’s 21-20 golden point defeat to Manly.
Neame racked up 24 tackles, along with eight runs for 96 metres.
NSW CUP
An unused 18th man for Parramatta at NRL level on Thursday, Aranui Eagles product Deajarn Asi earlier starred at five-eighth in the Eels’ 20-16 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs in NSW Cup.
The versatile back produced three try assists, along with 10 runs for 96 metres.
In an uncharacteristic 46-16 loss for the Warriors up against Canterbury-Bankstown, Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua nevertheless made his mark again with a superb first-half try, to go with tallies of 32 tackles and 53 metres.
Halswell prop Tanner Stowers-Smith notched 16 tackles and three hit-ups in a 19-minute stint from the interchange.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong played 65 minutes at prop for Sydney Roosters in an 18-14 loss to St George Illawarra, toiling for 35 tackles and 15 runs for 112 metres.
QLD CUP
Relishing his return to the No.9 jersey for Redcliffe Dolphins, club stalwart and Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama made 27 tackles and 42 metres in a 40-26 win over Easts Tigers that cemented his team’s spot in the top four.
Former Hornby Panthers and Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Caius Faatili produced another hearty display off the bench for Sunshine Coast Falcons in a 12-10 upset loss to Ipswich Jets.
Faatili chewed through 128 metres on 12 carries and made 22 tackles in 39 minutes.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili came off the bench in Cronulla Sharks’ 20-16 defeat of Wests Tigers.
Versatile Halswell junior Oliver Lawry was in the centres for Manly Sea Eagles in a 20-16 win over a Melbourne Storm side that featured Riccarton Knights junior K-Ci Newton-Whare at prop for the eighth straight game.
West Coast and Halswell junior Callum Donaldson, who made his NSW Cup debut two weeks earlier, came off the bench in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 30-6 thrashing of the Warriors.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
A mainstay through Cronulla’s Tarsha Gale Cup (NSWRL women’s under-19s) campaign, Papanui Tigers second-rower Jaydika Tafua made a momentous tryscoring debut in the NSW Women’s Premiership.
Earning a starting spot for the Sharks’ opening-round assignment, Tafua scored a crucial second-half try in a 24-18 victory over Wests Tigers, busting through several defenders.
Meanwhile, Tafua has been included among Cronulla’s development players in its 2024 NRLW squad.
Underscoring the club’s commitment to nurturing local players, the Sharks have finalised their 2024 NRLW top 24 and development players 👇 https://t.co/tDkxpjCBke
— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) July 8, 2024
![JaydikaTafua JaydikaTafua](https://canterburyrugbyleague.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/JaydikaTafua-1024x543.png)