RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.24
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 NSW Women’s Premiership.
NRL
Aranui product Jamayne Isaako and Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima played key roles in the Dolphins’ crucial 36-28 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs on Thursday night.
Five-eighth Nikorima scored the first try of the second half to give the home side a handy lead, while winger Isaako’s six-from-six off the tee proved the difference in a match that finished six tries apiece – along with making 123 metres, four tackle-breaks and a line-break assist.
Match Highlights 🎥 – #NRLDolphinsSouths
Another standout display by stand-in fullback Trai Fuller inspired the Dolphins to a 36-28 win over the Rabbitohs. pic.twitter.com/Z6CDbLLnti
— NRL (@NRL) July 11, 2024
Isaako jumped to the top of the NRL’s pointscoring table with 153, nine points clear of Sydney Roosters’ Sam Walker.
Another Aranui junior, Daejarn Asi, filled in for NSW halfback Mitch Moses in Parramatta Eels’ 24-16 loss to Gold Coast Titans.
Making his 35th NRL appearance (and 17th for the Eels), Asi kicked two goals, ran for 63 metres and made 20 tackles.
Hornby second-rower Jordan Riki returned from suspension on Saturday night, but his contribution of eight runs for 76 metres and 27 tackles could not stop Brisbane Broncos from slumping to a sixth straight loss – 30-26 to St George Illawarra Dragons.
NSW CUP
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua and Halswell prop Tanner Stowers-Smith featured in an extraordinary NSW Cup comeback on Saturday, with the Warriors overturning a 28-4 halftime deficit to beat Parramatta Eels 46-28.
Tafua racked up 30 tackles, while Stowers-Smith made 10 runs for 97 metres off the bench.
Former Hornby winger and Super Rugby star Solomon Alaimalo was a tryscorer in Western Suburbs Magpies’ 44-4 rout of Sydney Roosters.
QLD CUP
Former Canterbury Bulls rep and Hornby Panthers powerhouse Caius Faatili was typically energetic in 43 minutes off the bench in Sunshine Coast Falcons’ 38-20 win over Mackay Cutters.
The destructive forward made 12 runs for 139 metres and 21 tackles in the vital away victory.
Northern Bulldogs junior and Redcliffe stalwart Sheldon Pitama scored a try from hooker as the Dolphins’ blistering comeback effort fell just short in a 40-36 defeat to Norths Devils.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
West Coast and Halswell junior Callum Donaldson came off the bench in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 24-22 eclipse of Cronulla Sharks.
Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell featured in the second-row as Newcastle Knights overwhelmed Manly Sea Eagles 26-10, getting the wood on Halswell’s Oliver Lawry, who switched to five-eighth after spending most of the season in the centres.
After eight straight games starting at prop, Riccarton Knights junior K-Ci Newton-Whare came off the bench as Melbourne Storm defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs 22-14.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Following her tryscoring NSW Women’s Premiership debut for Cronulla Sharks last week in Round 1, Papanui second-rower Jaydika Tafua scored the opening four-pointer against Wentworthville Magpies.
But it was largely downhill for the Sharks from that point, with Canterbury rep and Woolston Rams star Cassie Siataga playing a key role for the Magpies in a 38-10 win.
Halfback Siataga scored a second-half try and kick four goals, adding to the three goals she booted in Wenty’s 36-0 season-opening drubbing of St George.
![wentypies wentypies](https://canterburyrugbyleague.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/wentypies.png)