RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.22
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 NRLW and NSWRL Women’s Premiership.
NRL
Runaway NRL pointscoring leader and Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako kicked two conversion and ran for 173 metres in the Dolphins’ 24-12 loss to Cronulla on Thursday.
West Coast Kiwi and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame topped North Queensland’s tackle count with 40 and the led the Cowboys forwards with 16 runs for 139 metres in a 12-8 defeat to Canterbury.
Halswell Hornets product Tanner Stowers-Smith made his fourth – and busiest to date – NRL appearance in the Warriors’ 34-14 victory over Wests Tigers, racking up 19 tackles and eight runs for 71 metres in 26 minutes off the bench.
Hornby Panthers junior and Kiwis rep Jordan Riki starred in Brisbane’s 26-14 win against Gold Coast, churching out 17 runs for 143 metres and a team-high 37 tackles.
NRLW
Papanui Tigers product Jaydika Tafua made her second NRLW appearance for Cronulla Sharks, notching three runs and six tackles in a 56-6 demolition of Canberra Raiders.
Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman had six runs for 50 metres on the wing for the Raiders.
NSW CUP
Papanui Tigers product Jason Salalilo continues to impress for the ladder-leading Warriors, chewing through 25 tackles and nine runs for 95 metres off the bench in a 22-14 victory over Western Suburbs Magpies.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Hornby Panthers front-rowers Felix Faatili and Richie Tupuailei both scored first-half tries in Cronulla Sharks’ convincing 48-18 win over Manly Sea Eagles.
Versatile Halswell Hornets product Oliver Lawry featured in the centres for the Sea Eagles.
Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua scored a hat-trick in the Warriors’ remarkable 44-42 win over Wests Tigers. After scoring a double in the first eight minutes, Tafua crossed again as the Warriors piled on four tries in the last nine minutes to overturn a 22-point deficit.
Northern Bulldogs’ Bronson Reuben was at five-eighth and Hornby Panthers’ Sosaia Alatini on the interchange for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 34-26 loss to Melbourne Storm, with Reuben kicking three goals.
Riccarton Knights prop K-Ci Newton-Whare scored a second-half try for the victorious Storm after coming off the bench.
Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell was in the second-row and Halswell’s Xavier Lynch came off the bench in Newcastle Knights’ 18-10 loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Hornby Panthers’ Jackson Stewart played in the centres for a Sydney Roosters side that overwhelmed St George Illawarra Dragons 38-12.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe veteran Sheldon Pitama played 46 minutes off the bench in the Dolphins’ 20-16 defeat of Northern Pride, making 11 runs for 86 metres and 24 tackles in a typically industrious display.
SUPER LEAGUE
Castleford Tigers five-eighth and Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi scored two tries in a beaten side, with Salford City Red Devils proving too good 26-22.
Former Hornby Panthers and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili made 30 tackles and 11 runs for 97 metres in Wakefield Trinity Wildcats’ 16-10 loss to Hull FC.
Meanwhile, it was announced this week Burnham Chevaliers junior, and ex-Warriors and current Manly utility forward, Jazz Tevaga will be joining the Wildcats from next season.
