RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.29
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 have been in action in the NRL, NRLW, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup and Queensland Cup finals series.
NRL
Hornby Panthers product and Kiwis second-rower Jordan Riki is set to line up in his second NRL grand final after helping Brisbane Broncos to a pair of epic playoffs wins.
Riki played the entire 94-minute qualifying final epic in Canberra, racking up 17 runs for 166 metres and 47 tackles in the 29-28 golden point triumph.
The 25-year-old – already a veteran of 112 NRL games – topped the tackle count with 48 and ran for 84 metres in the Broncos’ amazing 16-14 victory over four-time premiers Penrith Panthers on Sunday.
The Broncos face Melbourne Storm in this week’s NRL decider.
GRAND FINAL BOUND 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Q2rVITDpNv
— NRL (@NRL) September 28, 2025
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong was in action as Sydney Roosters bowed out 20-10 in their elimination final against Cronulla Sharks, making eight runs for 62 metres and 22 tackles in 32 minutes off the bench.
NRLW
Papanui Tigers product and NRLW rookie Jaydika Tafua featured in both of Cronulla Sharks’ finals matches.
The second-rower topped the Sharks’ tackle count with 27 and made seven runs in a 24-18 win over North Queensland Cowboys, while she racked up 30 tackles in a heartbreaking 17-16 preliminary final defeat to Sydney Roosters.
Tafua played nine of Cronulla’s 13 games in her first season at the elite level.
NSW CUP
Three Canterbury juniors celebrated in the Warriors’ historic NSW Cup success.
Halswell Hornets prop and NRL regular Tanner Stowers-Smith bolstered the Warriors’ pack in their 30-12 defeat of St George Illawarra in Sunday’s grand final, making 15 runs for 109 metres and 19 tackles.
Papanui forward Jason Salalilo came off the bench in the grand final with 11 runs for 78 metres and 19 tackles in 46 minutes of game-time.
Unlucky to not feature in the squad for the decider, Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua played in the 42-14 preliminary final thrashing of Parramatta Eels and has been a standout for the side all season despite the Warriors’ outstanding dummy-half depth.
The Warriors face Burleigh Bears on NRL grand final day on Sunday in the State Championship.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Riccarton Knights prop K-Ci Newton Whare featured in Melbourne Storm’s Jersey Flegg Cup grand final victory over Sunday.
The Storm overwhelmed Penrith Panthers 38-16 in the decider.
Hornby Panthers product Felix Faatili’s Cronulla Sharks made it to the preliminary final stage, going down to Penrith 40-36.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe Dolphins veteran Sheldon Pitama shone in yet another Queensland Cup finals campaign, which ended for his team in a nail-biting preliminary final loss to eventual champs Burleigh Bears.
The 28-year-old couldn’t have done much more in his 131st appearance for the Dolphins, racking up 38 tackles and 13 runs in the 18-16 defeat.
