RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO. 24
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, Queensland Cup and the European Super League, as well as the NRLW and NSWRL Women’s Premiership.
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong returned from a four-week layoff with a try in Sydney Roosters’ nail-biting 34-30 loss to Melbourne Storm, as well as making 77 metres and 24 tackles off the bench.
West Coast Kiwi and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame made 13 runs for 132 metres and topped North Queensland Cowboys’ tackle count with 44 in a 38-32 win over St George Illawarra Dragons.
Halswell Hornets product Tanner Stowers-Smith made six runs and 17 tackles in 19 minutes off the bench in the Warriors’ 24-16 loss to Gold Coast Titans.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga toiled for 37 tackles at hooker in Manly Sea Eagles’ 42-4 defeat to Canterbury Bulldogs.
NRLW
Earning her first NRLW run-on appearance, Papanui Tigers product Jaydika Tafua played the full 70 minutes in the second-row and made seven runs for 56 metres along with a game-high 43 tackles in Cronulla Sharks’ 20-16 win over Wests Tigers.
Sydenham Swans’ Martha Mataele played her fourth straight game on the wing for Parramatta Eels in a 30-6 loss to Canberra Raiders last weekend and ran for 130 metres. Mataele has scored a try and racked up three line-breaks so far for the Eels.
NSW CUP
Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua scored a three-minute double during runaway competition leaders the Warriors’ 68-6 rout of South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Tafua also had a try assist and made 19 tackles in 48 minutes off the bench, and has been named in the reserves in the NRL squad for Friday’s clash with the Dolphins.
Papanui Tigers’ Jason Salalilo made 10 runs for 124 metres and 18 tackles in 43 interchange minutes for the Warriors.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Hornby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck made her third appearance on the wing for Central Coast Roosters in a 30-18 loss to Canterbury Bulldogs.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama started at hooker and made 12 runs for 89 metres along with 30 tackles in Redcliffe Dolphins’ 26-16 win over Ipswich Jets.
SUPER LEAGUE
Former Hornby Panthers and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili put in a huge shift at prop as Wakefield Trinity pipped Leeds Rhinos 15-14, making 29 tackles and leading the Wildcats pack with 16 runs for 129 metres.
