RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.28
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, Jersey Flegg Cup Queensland Cup and the European Super League, as well as the NRLW and NSWRL Women’s Premiership.
NRL
Hornby product and Kiwis back-rower Jordan Riki was a standout once again as Brisbane Broncos carved out a 30-14 statement win over Melbourne Storm.
The second-rower played the full 80 minutes and made 12 runs for 105 metres, a line-break and 35 tackles.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga exited the NRL with a win as Manly Sea Eagles edged his former club the Warriors 27-26…and was sin-binned in the dying seconds of the match. The lock also made eight runs for 63 metres and 21 tackles.
Halswell Hornets product Tanner Stowers-Smith worked hard in his 36 minutes after starting at prop for the Warriors, racking up seven runs for 66 metres and 24 tackles.
Chevaliers junior Siua Wong was immense in 39 minutes off the bench as Sydney Roosters thumped South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-6, making 14 runs for 161 metres, five tackle-breaks and 22 tackles.
Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako scored a try and kicked eight goals for a 20-point haul in the Dolphins’ 62-24 defeat of a second-string Canberra Raiders side, as well as making two line-breaks among 12 runs for 160 metres.
Isaako finished atop the NRL with 278 points, 76 clear of his nearest rival and the 12th-highest individual tally in premiership history.
Burnham junior Kodi Nikorima capped a superb season at five-eighth for the Dolphins with four try assists and 17 runs for 110 metres.
NRLW
Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman scored Canberra Raiders’ first try and racked up 15 runs for 116 metres in a 26-14 loss to Sydney Roosters.
Papanui Tigers product Jaydika Tafua toiled for 36 tackles in 57 minutes in the second-row as Cronulla Sharks went down 24-14 to Canterbury Bulldogs.
Another Swans product, Martha Mataele, had a blinder on the wing in Parramatta Eels’ 38-4 drubbing of Wests Tigers, blazing over for a hat-trick, making 14 runs for 179 metres and eight tackle-breaks.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Hornby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck featured on the wing in the Central Coast Roosters’ 36-16 loss to Mounties.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili scored the opening try in Cronulla Sharks’ 16-12 win over Canberra Raiders in the first week of the Jersey Flegg finals.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs junior and Redcliffe veteran lock/hooker Sheldon Pitama scored an early try in the Dolphins’ 32-12 win over PNG Hunters in the opening week of the Queensland Cup playoffs.
Staring in the No.13, Pitama also made 13 runs for 107 metres and 16 tackles.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product and Castleford Tigers half Daejarn Asi claimed the bragging rights over Hornby Panthers and Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili as his side edged out Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 26-22.
Asi laid on a try and kicked a goal in the victory, while Faatili put in a massive shift in a beaten team with 16 runs for 151 metres and 27 tackles.
