RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.7
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
A host of Canterbury products were in action in the second round of the NRL, NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg (NSWRL under-21s) competitions, as well as the fifth round of the Mal Meninga Cup (QRL under-18s and the delayed start to the Queensland Cup, and the fourth round of the Challenge Cup in England.
The NSWRL’s junior competitions – the SG Ball Cup (men’s under-19s), Harold Matthews Cup (men’s under-17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (women’s under-19s) – took a breather last weekend.
NRL
Aranui product Jamayne Isaako kicked two conversions from as many attempts and ran for a team-high 188 metres in the Dolphins’ disappointing 26-12 loss in Newcastle. Burnham Chevaliers junior and Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima made 10 runs for 71 metres and 10 tackles in his first appearance of the season.
Burnham junior Jazz Tevaga’s Mount Smart homecoming didn’t go as he would have liked, with Manly humbled 36-16 by the Warriors. The Sea Eagles’ new hooker racked up 39 tackles in 49 minutes on the paddock.
Yet another Chevaliers junior, Siua Wong, played the full 80 minutes for the depleted Sydney Roosters in what was dubbed one of the greatest upsets of the NRL era, a 38-32 boilover against Penrith. The industrious young forward toiled for 39 tackles and 13 runs for 122 metres.
Watch all the highlights as the Panthers take on the Roosters! #NRLPanthersRoosters pic.twitter.com/jyWyafs4q0
— NRL (@NRL) March 14, 2025
West Coaster and Halswell junior player Griffin Neame made 24 tackles and eight hit-ups in 30 minutes off the bench in North Queensland’s 36-12 defeat to Cronulla.
Hornby junior Jordan Riki’s Brisbane Broncos were rolled 32-22 in Canberra. The Kiwi Test forward got through 39 tackles and 13 runs for 102 metres in a typically hardworking 80-minute display.
NSW CUP
Halswell Hornets prop and Warriors top-30 squad member Tanner Stowers-Smith again impressed as his NSW Cup side went 2-0 with a 31-20 win over Manly. Stowers-Smith played 46 minutes off the bench, making 10 runs for 109 metres and 33 tackles without a miss.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua scored a second-half double in captaining the Warriors to a spirited 32-28 loss to Manly in Pukekohe.
Versatile Halswell junior and Sea Eagles centre Oliver Lawry slotted four goals for the victors.
Hornby front-rower Felix Faatili scored Cronulla Sharks’ last try in a 38-22 win over Newcastle Knights, who had former Linwood premiership winner Te Kaio Cranwell in the second-row.
Northern five-eighth Bronson played his second game at Flegg level in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 30-20 loss to Melbourne. Hornby’s Josiah-Ekkehard Neli came off the bench for the Storm.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern product Sheldon Pitama kicked off another season with Redcliffe Dolphins by topping the tackle count with 30 in a 36-22 defeat of Souths-Logan Magpies, while the starting No.13 also made 86 metres on 10 runs.
Pitama has made 115 Queensland Cup appearances for the Dolphins.
MAL MENINGA CUP
Greymouth centre Antonio Verhoeven, who turned out for Eastern Eagles 18s and St Bede’s in 2024, enjoyed another win with Burleigh Bears – a 32-8 thrashing of Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
SUPER LEAGUE
Ex-Hornby and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili’s Wakefield Trinity side advanced to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 22-12 win over Huddersfield Giants.
Super League resumes next weekend but Trinity will take on Leigh Leopards in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on April 2.
