WARRIORS 2026 JUNIOR SQUADS STACKED WITH CANTERBURY PRODUCTS
Fifteen Canterbury players have been named in the Warriors’ squads to compete in the NSWRL 2026 junior competitions, the SG Ball Cup (under-19s) and Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s).
Six Canterbury Rugby League clubs and four Ōtautahi Christchurch schools are represented in the Auckland-based teams, who take on sides from Sydney, Wollongong, Canberra, Melbourne and Central Coast over nine rounds from February-April.
Meanwhile, ex-Halswell Hornets player Shannon Rushworth will coach the Warriors’ SG Ball Cup team again after moving from Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs last season. He’ll have seven Canterbury products in his ranks in 2026.
Linwood Keas’ Rico Lemalie has been named as vice-captain of the SG Ball squad after debuting for the team in 2025, while Bishop Neal (Hornby Panthers), Amasio Tiatia (Linwood Keas) and Micah Sula (Hornby Panthers) have all graduated from last year’s Harold Matthews Cup title-winning side.
Blockbusting back-rower Neal was player of the match in the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup grand final. Lennox Tuiloma (Linwood Keas) scooped that award as the Warriors carried off the 2024 Harold Matthews Cup and belatedly makes the step up to SG Ball this season after injury ruled him out for all of last season.
They will be joined by newcomers Rene Frame (Halswell Hornets) and Sione Telefoni (Papanui Tigers). Frame, who featured prominently in the Hornets’ premier men’s team in 2025, Telefoni, Sula, Tiatia and co-captain Lemalie were all part of the Canterbury Bulls 18s Boys’ historic victory at the NZRL National Youth Tournament at Ngā Puna Wai in September.
The Warriors’ bid for a third straight Harold Matthews Cup success will be bolstered by returning Canterbury duo Christiano Elia (Riccarton Knights) and Kenny Lafituanai (Sydenham Swans).
Another three Swans juniors – Thomas Christensen, Dominic Tanoa’i and Hemiata Togia – and Knights duo Hoani-Manuera Kahukiwa and Lennox-Rua Limu-Franklin are gearing up for their first season in the NSWRL under-17s competition, as is Christ’s College’s Luke Mostert.
Follow the progress of these players – and all other Canterbury products in the NRL, NSWRL and QRL competitions – in our weekly Red and Black Report throughout the season.
2026 SG BALL CUP DRAW
2026 HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP DRAW
2026 WARRIORS SG BALL CUP SQUAD
Rene Frame (Halswell Hornets / Lincoln High School)
Rico Lemalie (Linwood Keas / Christ’s College)
Bishop Neal (Hornby Panthers / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Lennox Tuiloma (Linwood Keas / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Micah Sula (Hornby Panthers / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Sione Telefoni (Papanui Tigers / Christchurch Boys’ High School, Christchurch)
Amasio Tiatia (Linwood Keas / Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi)
Head coach | Shannon Rushworth
2026 WARRIORS HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP SQUAD
Thomas Christensen (Sydenham Swans / Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Christiano Elia (Riccarton Knights / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Kenny Lafituanai (Sydenham Swans / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Hoani-Manuera Kahukiwa (Riccarton Knights / Christ’s College)
Luke Mostert (Christ’s College)
Lennox-Rua Limu-Franklin (Riccarton Knights / Christchurch Boys’ High School)
Dominic Tanoa’i (Sydenham Swans / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Hemiata Togia (Sydenham Swans / St Thomas of Canterbury College)
Photo credit: warriors.kiwi
