RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.33
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 round NSW Women’s Premiership, and the weekend’s NRL, Queensland Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup (NSWRL under-21s) finals series matches.
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong helped stem the tide in Sydney Roosters’ 30-10 qualifying final loss to Penrith Panthers.
In an industrious 25-minute stint off the bench, Wong caught the eye with 11 runs for 90 metres and 18 tackles.
West Coast Kiwi and former Halswell Hornets junior Griffin Neame was equally busy in 27 minutes from the interchange as North Queensland Cowboys stayed alive with a 28-16 elimination final win over Newcastle Knights.
Neame toiled for 98 metres on nine carries and made 18 tackles in the seesawing showdown in Townsville.
The Cowboys take on Cronulla Sharks in a sudden-death semi-final on Friday, while the Roosters face Manly Sea Eagles on Saturday.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe stalwart Sheldon Pitama is set to play in this weekend’s Queensland Cup grand final after the Dolphins edged minor premiers Northern Pride 17-16 with an extra-time field goal.
Pitama, a veteran of 113 games for Redcliffe, started at lock and racked up 39 tackles in a gripping win.
The Dolphins meet Norths Devils in Sunday’s QRL decider.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs grabbed the first spot in the Jersey Flegg Cup grand final with a heart-stopping 15-14 extra-time eclipse of Canberra Raiders.
West Coast product and Halswell Hornets junior player Callum Donaldson featured at lock for the Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, Felix Faatili is one game away from the decider after coming off the bench in Cronulla Sharks’ 40-26 defeat of Penrith Panthers. Fellow Hornby Panthers product Richie Tupuailei was 18th man.
The Sharks and Raiders meet at Leichhardt Oval in Saturday’s preliminary final.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman helped Newcastle Knights to a fourth-place finish with a first-half try in their 40-4 rout of South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Featuring in the centres for most of the campaign, Waterman was on the wing for the convincing victory. The Knights line up against Cassie Siataga’s table-topping Wentworthville Magpies in Saturday’s semi-final.
Cronulla Sharks missed out on the finals but finished the season on a high note via a 26-6 win over Manly Sea Eagles, with Papanui Tigers second-rower Jaydika Taufa capping a strong campaign by scoring their last try.
