RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.30
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring abroad.
A host of Canterbury products have been in action during the recently concluded international schedule.
PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN
Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako kicked 16 goals across New Zealand’s three victories as the Kiwis took out the Pacific Championships.
The Dolphins winger also averaged 123 metres, and racked up three line-breaks and 16 tackle-breaks. Isaako now has 141 points in 14 Tests for the Kiwis – fourth of all time behind Shaun Johnson, Matthew Ridge and Stacey Jones.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga lined up in all three matches of Toa Samoa’s impressive campaign.
Starting at hooker in the tournament opener against the Kiwis, Tevaga succumbed to a head knock after 24 minutes in the 24-18 loss. But he recovered to play 34 minutes off the bench in the 34-6 victory over Tonga – making nine runs for 54 metres and 16 tackles – and reeled off 38 tackles in 48 minutes as an interchange in the 36-14 defeat to New Zealand in Sunday’s final.
Tevaga, bound for Super League next season after decade in the NRL with the Warriors and Manly, has played 10 Tests for Samoa since his debut in 2017.
Another Chevaliers junior, Sydney Roosters forward Siua Wong, was one of a disappointing Tonga outfit’s better performers in the Pacific Championships.
In 50 minutes off the bench against Samoa, Wong made 15 runs for 109 metres and 29 tackles. He played all but nine minutes of the clash with the Kiwis and topped Tonga’s tackle count with 37, and was second in the running metres stakes with 130 metres on 13 carries.
The 22-year-old debuted for Tonga in 2023.
PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS WOMEN
After being named in the Kiwi Ferns’ wider squad, ex-Sydenham Swans backline gun Martha Mataele featured in Tonga’s Pacific Bowl campaign.
Mataele ran for a game-high 155 metres and made five tackle-breaks in the 42-24 loss to Cook Islands.
The powerhouse centre stole the show in a 42-6 win over Papua New Guinea, scoring three tries, making four line-breaks, contributing a try assist and racked up 210 running metres.
IRL WOMEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD SERIES
Former Sydenham outside back Isabella Waterman played a prominent role as Fiji took out the IRL Women’s Rugby League World Series in Canada, booking the island nation’s berth in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Canberra Raiders NRLW star Waterman scored two tries and kicked a goal in Fiji’s 48-0 semifinal win over Canada, before lining up in the centres again in a 62-4 defeat of Nigeria in the final.
Swans and Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls hooker Caitlin Sears played in both of Canada’s matches at the tournament, slotting four goals from as many attempts in the 36-6 third-place playoff victory against Ireland.
