RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.21
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 the European Super League, as well as the opening round of the NRLW and NSWRL Women’s Premiership.
NRL
Kiwi Test second-rower and Hornby Panther product Jordan Riki helped Brisbane Broncos to a 22-18 comeback win over Canterbury Bulldogs with 11 runs for 105 metres and 39 tackles.
West Coast Kiwi and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame put in a huge shift in the front-row for North Queensland Cowboys – racking up 44 tackles and nine runs for 117 metres – but is wasn’t enough to prevent a 26-20 loss to Melbourne Storm.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga started at hooker in Manly Sea Eagles’ 30-12 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs, notching 32 tackles and five runs.
NRLW
A star for Cronulla’s Tarsha Gale Cup and NSW Women’s Premiership teams over the past two seasons, Papanui Tigers product Jaydika Tafua took a momentous step in her career via an NRLW debut for the Sharks in Thursday’s season opener against Parramatta.
The second-rower made two strong runs and made seven tackles in 14 minutes off the bench in an 18-16 loss.
Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman played for Newcastle Knights in the 2024 NRLW and NSW Women’s Premiership but has made the move to Canberra this season.
The winger made her club debut in the Raiders’ 36-14 loss to St George Illawarra Dragons, making 13 runs for 78 metres – and putting on a massive highlight-reel hit.
NSW CUP
Hornby Panthers product Felix Faatili earned another call-up from Cronulla’s Jersey Flegg ranks to play for Newtown Jets, starting at prop and scoring the last try in a 36-22 win over North Sydney Bears – on top of 10 hit-ups for 104 metres and 21 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Northern Bulldogs five-eighth Bronson Reuben and Hornby Panthers second-rower Sosaia Alatini scored second-half tries in Canterbury Bulldogs’ 30-all draw with Newcastle Knights, who had Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell in the second-row and Halswell’s Xavier Lynch coming off the bench.
Melbourne’s K-CI Newtown-Whare (Riccarton Knights) and Cronulla’s Richie Tupuailei (Hornby Panthers) faced off in the front-row, with the Storm powering to a 34-6 win.
Halswell Hornets’ Oliver Lawry lined up in the centres and Papanui Tigers second-rower Ezekiel Paulo scored a try as Manly Sea Eagles drew with St George Illawarra Dragons 36-all.
Hornby Panthers’ Jackson Stewart played in the centres for a Sydney Roosters side that went down 40-14 to Parramatta Eels.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
After a stellar season in the Tarsha Gale Cup (under-19s) for the Roosters, Hornby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck made her NSW Women’s Premiership debut at fullback for Central Coast Roosters in a 22-14 loss to Penrith Panthers.
SUPER LEAGUE
Ex-Hornby Panthers and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili continues to grow as a key figure for Wakefield Trinity, racking up 19 runs for 132 metres and 17 tackles in a 44-6 rout of Catalans Dragons.
Aranui Eagles junior and ex-NRL utility back Daejarn Asi was at five-eighth for a Castleford Tigers outfit that went down 30-12 to Huddersfield Giants, producing a try assist.
