RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.27
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 Queensland Cup and the European Super League, as well as the NRLW and NSWRL Women’s Premiership.
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga started at lock in Manly Sea Eagles’ crucial 58-30 win over the Dolphins, making seven runs for 68 metres and 24 tackles.
Fellow Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima was a late withdrawal from the Dolphins line-up, while Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako – the NRL’s runaway leading pointscorer – kicked five goals from as many attempts in a losing team and ran for 68 metres.
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith made his first starting appearance for the Warriors in a late change, playing 41 minutes in a 32-18 victory over Gold Coast Titans. The rookie racked up 10 runs for 73 metres and 17 tackles.
Burnham junior Siua Wong contributed 20 tackles and seven carries in 30 minutes off the bench as his Sydney Roosters side went down 30-10 to Parramatta Eels.
Hornby Panthers product and Kiwi Test second-rower Jordan Riki capped a typically hardworking performance – 14 runs for 140 metres and 34 tackles – in a 46-12 beatdown of Newcastle Knights with the last try of the match.
NRLW
Former Sydenham Swans star Isabella Waterman had a blinder on the wing in Canberra Raiders’ 56-24 victory over Canterbury Bulldogs, scoring two second-half tries to go with 11 runs for 118 metres.
Waterman jumps up for a double ✌️ pic.twitter.com/krcpbXq45P
— NRLW (@NRLWomens) August 23, 2025
NSW CUP
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua had another standout game for the ladder-leading Warriors, scoring a try, making two line-breaks and eight runs for 78 metres, producing a try assist and topping their tackle count with 30 in a 54-4 demolition of Parramatta Eels.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Hornby Panthers product Maneesha Seebeck came off the bench in Central Coast Roosters’ 16-14 loss to Parramatta Eels.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Northern Bulldogs five-eighth Bronson Reuben had a day out in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 38-32 win over Wests Tigers, scoring a try in each half and kicking five goals for an 18-point haul. Usually a second-rower, Sosaia Alatini played in the centres for the Bulldogs.
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili scored Cronulla Sharks’ opening try in a 22-16 win over Kaiviti Silktails in Nadi.
Another Panthers product, versatile back Jackson Stewart, featured in the centres in Sydney Roosters’ 30-6 win over Newcastle Knights. Halswell’s Xavier Lynch was in the second-row and Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell at lock for the Knights.
Riccarton prop K-Ci Newton-Whare started in Melbourne Storm’s 64-4 rout of a Manly Sea Eagles side that field Halswell utility-back Oliver Lawry in the centres.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe veteran Sheldon Pitama played 41 minutes off the bench in the Dolpins’ 36-10 win over Townsville Blackhawks. The hooker/lock made seven runs, had a line-break assist and chalked up 16 tackles.
SUPER LEAGUE
Former Hornby Panthers, Canterbury Bulls and Queensland Cup forward Caius Faatili came off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 44-2 loss to Wigan. The tyro made 23 tackles and five runs in the away defeat.
Aranui Eagles junior and ex-NRL utility back Daejarn Asi played five-eighth in Castleford Tigers’ 38-4 loss to Catalans Dragons.
