RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.12
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s and England’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
A host of Canterbury products were in action in the latest round of the NRL, the NSWRL’s senior and junior competitions, and the European Super League.
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga produced his biggest game in a Manly jersey despite his side’s 20-18 loss to St George Illawarra, racking up a team-high 51 tackles and 11 runs for 101 metres at hooker at lock.
Aranui product Jamayne Isaako and Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima featured prominently in the Dolphins’ stunning 42-22 win over Melbourne.
Winger Isaako ran for 114 metres and kicked seven-from-eight to move to second on the NRL’s pointscoring list, while five-eighth Nikorima’s brilliant line-break and try assist was followed up by is second four-pointer of the season.
Hornby’s Jordan Riki returned from suspension in Brisbane’s golden point loss to the Warriors, getting through 33 tackles and seven runs at a soaked Mount Smart Stadium. Halswell junior Tanner Stowers-Smith was 18th man for the Warriors for the first time but did not take the field.
Burnham junior Siua Wong played another 80 minutes in the second-row as Sydney Roosters were overrun 40-12 by Penrith, making 13 runs for 93 metres and 34 tackles.
NSW CUP
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua returned to the Warriors’ NSW Cup side, making six runs for 61 metres and 15 tackles off the bench in a 40-12 thrashing of the Dragons.
Meanwhile, Papanui and St Thomas’ product Jason Salalilo was also called up to the Warriors’ interchange for the second straight week, making eight runs for 74 metres and 19 tackles in 35 minutes.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
After making his NSW Cup debut for Newtown last week, Hornby prop Felix Faatili returned to Cronulla’s Jersey Flegg side and scored a try in each half – including a vital one in the last five minutes – of a last-gasp 34-28 defeat of Newcastle.
Linwood second-rower Te Kaio Cranwell crossed for a try for the Knights in the second half.
Hornby junior Josiah-Ekkehard-Neli scored a try from the bench in Melbourne’s 34-26 loss to Kaiviti Silktails.
Papanui Tigers junior Ezekiel Paulo came off the interchange for Manly in a 56-24 loss to Canberra, having started the season in the Sea Eagles’ SG Ball team.
SG BALL CUP
Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini scored a try as Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs dipped out in week two of the SG Ball finals with a 38-22 loss to Canberra Raiders.
Meanwhile, Linwood’s Chelden Hayward featured in the Bulldogs’ centres in the sudden-death defeat.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Hornby winger Manisha Seebeck’s stellar campaign for the Roosters continued with a two-try performance in her side’s 22-16 semi-final defeat of Wests Tigers.
The Roosters move on to face Illawarra Steelers in Saturday’s preliminary final.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui product and former NRL star Daejarn Asi and ex-Hornby and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili faced off in the latest Super League round.
Faatili came off the bench with 112 metres from 15 runs and 22 tackles – arguably his strongest performance in England to date – as his Wakefield Trinity side snatched a 13-12 result over Castleford. Tigers five-eighth Asi made 10 runs and 20 tackles in a losing effort.
