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 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
Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima scored the Dolphins’ last try and Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako kicked five goals as their side went down 36-26 to Sydney Roosters on the first night of Magic Round.
Another Chevaliers junior, Siua Wong, put in another big second-row shift in the Roosters’ victory – making 12 runs for 92 metres and 34 tackles.
West Coast product and Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame made five runs and 27 tackles in 31 minutes off the bench of North Queensland’s 30-26 defeat to the Warriors.
Hornby Kiwi Jordan Riki started on the interchange bench for Brisbane on Sunday, racking up 27 tackles in a 32-8 loss to Penrith.
NSW CUP
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua had a big game off the bench in the Warriors’ 56-14 defeat of North Sydney Bears, producing two line-break assists and a try assist along with 32 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Hornby front-rower Felix Faatili featured in Cronulla’s 30-26 victory over Parramatta.
Riccarton product K-CI Newtown-Whare started at prop in Melbourne’s 38-12 defeat of the Warriors.
Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell played in the second-row as Newcastle overran South Sydney 42-6.
Halswell junior Oliver Lawry – a regular at five-eighth or centre – showed his versatility by playing on the wing in Manly’s win over Kaiviti Silktails.
SG BALL CUP
Hornby product Jackson Stewart celebrated in Sydney Roosters’ 33-26 SG Ball Cup grand final triumph over Parramatta Eels.
A thrilling decider went to extra-time after fullback Stewart had a hand in a score-levelling try on fulltime, before the Roosters clinched the title with a field goal and a converted try.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Powerhouse Hornby forward Bishop Neal replicated fellow St Thomas’ player Lennox Tuiloma’s 2024 feat of winning player of the match in a Warriors Harold Matthews Cup grand final win, earning best-on-ground honours in the Warriors’ 30-16 defeat of Newcastle.
Neal scored a typically barnstorming double in the first half to erase an early Knights lead.
Aoraki product and Hornby player Dougal Grant partnered Neal in the second-row, while Sydenham’s Kenny Lafituanai came off the bench.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Honrby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck featured on the win as Sydney Roosters’ outstanding Tarsha Gale Cup campaign ended with a 28-16 loss to Parramatta Eels.
Seebeck was in magnificent tryscoring touch throughout the Roosters’ season.
MAL MENINGA CUP
Greymouth centre Antonio Verhoeven, who turned out for Eastern Eagles 18s and St Bede’s in 2024, helped Burleigh Bears into the Mal Meninga Cup grand final with a try in their 30-14 victory over Tweed Heads Seagulls.
SUPER LEAGUE
Former Hornby and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili squared off against Aranui product and ex-NRL playmaker Daejarn Asi for the second time in three Super League rounds.
Again it was Faatili who took the win as his Wakefield Trinity team beat Asi’s Castleford 32-8 at Magic Weekend – and Faatili scored two tries to go with 171 metres and 21 tackles after starting at prop. Asi came up with a try assist for the Tigers.
