RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.17
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s and Britain’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
A host of Canterbury products were in action in the latest round of the NRL, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup and QRL competitions.
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga’s Manly Sea Eagles were run down in a shock 26-22 loss in Newcastle, but the versatile forward couldn’t have done much more for his side – starting at prop for the first time this season and racking up 13 runs for 113 metres and 42 tackles.
West Coast Kiwi and Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame made 18 tackles and seven hit-ups off the bench in North Queensland Cowboys’ 38-14 loss to Melbourne Storm.
Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako and Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima had a field day in the Dolphins’ 56-6 demolition of St George Illawarra Dragons.
Winger Isaako racked up a club record 24 points from two tries and eight goals – as well as running for 184 metres – to take his season tally to 146 points, just two behind NRL leader Ryan Papenhuyzen. Five-eighth Nikorima, meanwhile, scored a brilliant solo try during the first half and produced two try assists.
Halswell Hornets product Tanner Stowers-Smith received another late call-up for his second NRL appearance, coming off the bench in the Warriors’ 40-10 beatdown of Cronulla and impressing with five carries for 52 metres and 14 tackles (no misses) in 21 minutes.
Hornby Panthers second-rower and 2024 Kiwis debutant Jordan Riki put in a strong 75-minute shift as Brisbane Broncos rebounded back to form in a 44-14 win over Gold Coast Titans, making 31 tackles and 11 runs for 86 metres.
NSW CUP
Papanui’s Jason Salalilo came off the bench for the ladder-leading Warriors as they defeated Newtown Jets 22-16 at Henson Park, making six runs for 52 metres and 21 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG
Riccarton product K-Ci Newton-Whare and Hornby junior Josiah–Ekkehard–Neli teamed up in Melbourne Storm’s starting pack as they overwhelmed Penrith Panthers 32-16.
Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini came off the bench in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 38-10 thrashing of Wests Tigers.
Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell started in the second-row as Newcastle Knights went down 24-18 to Manly Sea Eagles.
Hornby front-rower Felix Faatili’s remarkable tryscoring form in 2025 continued at the expense of the Warriors, dotting down in each half as Cronulla Sharks carved out a 38-28 victory.
Coming off a stellar campaign in Sydney Roosters’ SG Ball title charge, Hornby’s Jackson Stewart made his Flegg debut for the Tricolours in a 44-36 loss to Parramatta.
NRLQ
The QRL’s under-20s competition between the four NRL clubs kicked off a fortnight ago, with Halswell Hornets’ Meihana Pauling playing in both matches for Gold Coast Titans so far.
Pauling, who featured in the Warriors’ SG Ball Cup campaign earlier this year, started on the wing in the Titans’ 40-22 loss to the Dolphins and came off the bench in a 34-24 defeat to Brisbane Broncos.
