RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.11
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 latest round of the NRL, the NSWRL and QRL’s senior and junior competitions, and the European Super League.
NRL
Aranui product Jamayne Isaako kicked five-from-five conversions – to go with 16 runs for 135 metres – as the Dolphins steamrolled four-time premiers Penrith Panthers 30-12 on Thursday night. Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima racked up 27 tackles at five-eighth.
Chevaliers junior Siua Wong’s workhorse contributions in Sydney Roosters’ second-row continued, playing the full 80 minutes again, topping the tackle count with 32 and making 11 runs for 80 metres in a 26-16 upset of Brisbane Broncos.
Another Burnham junior, Jazz Tevaga, started at hooker in Manly’s 24-18 loss to Cronulla in Perth.
West Coaster and former Halswell junior player Griffin Neame in another win for the resurgent North Queensland Cowboys, making four runs for 47 metres and 27 tackles off the bench in a 24-16 defeat of South Sydney Rabbitohs.
NSW CUP
Hornby junior Felix Faatili, a Jersey Flegg regular for Cronulla Sharks, made a tryscoring NSW Cup debut in Newtown Jets’ top-of-the-table showdown win over the Warriors. The tyro prop started on the bench but played 42 minutes and racked up 126 metres from 13 runs and 21 tackles in the 28-20 result.
Halswell product Tanner Stowers-Smith was in the Warriors’ front-row, churning through 128 metres on 14 carries and 23 tackles in a losing effort.
JERSEY FLEGG
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua opened the Warriors’ account with a try in a 28-22 loss to Cronulla in Auckland.
Hornby junior Josiah-Ekkehard-Neli came off the bench in Melbourne’s 42-8 thrashing of South Sydney.
Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell featured in the second-row as Newcastle Knights were overwhelmed 30-16 by Wests Tigers.
Halswell junior Oliver Lawry, moved from five-eighth to centre in a late change, slotted a conversion in Manly’s 46-14 loss to Penrith.
SG BALL CUP
Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini helped Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to a 38-30 sudden-death finals with over Canberra Raiders.
Hornby’s Jackson Stewart featured at fullback in Sydney Roosters’ 32-12 win over Parramatta that put them into the preliminary final.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Hornby second-rower Bishop Neal scored a first-half try, while Celebration’s Amasio Tiatia and Sydenham’s Kenny Lafituanai came off the bench in the Warriors’ 20-4 qualifying final victory over Sydney Roosters.
The defending champs advance to the preliminary final stage next week.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Hornby Panthers flyer Manisha Seebeck’s magnificent season on the Sydney Roosters’ wing continued with a try in their 26-24 elimination final victory over Newcastle Knights. The Roosters face Wests Tigers for a spot in the preliminary finals.
Meanwhile, Linwood Keas’ Djah Tuliau scored Penrith’s only try in its 32-4 qualifying final loss to Illawarra. The Panthers get another bite at the cherry this weekend against the Eels.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama’s Redcliffe Dolphins went down 40-18 to Townsville Blackhawks, but the veteran lock toiled with typical diligence for a team-high 35 tackles, along with eight runs for 56 metres.
MAL MENINGA CUP
Greymouth centre Antonio Verhoeven, who turned out for Eastern Eagles 18s and St Bede’s in 2024, got on the scoresheet yet again for Burleigh Bears, who finished the regular season in fourth spot with a 62-0 rout of CQ Capras.
SUPER LEAGUE
Daejarn Asi’s Castleford Tigers went down 20-6 to Leigh Leopards in Round 7 of the Super League, but the Aranui five-eighth laid on their only try and racked up 20 tackles and 16 runs.
Ex-Hornby and Canterbury Bulls engine-room powerhouse Caius Faatili made 19 tackles and seven hit-ups with two tackle-breaks off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 26-14 loss to St Helens.
