RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.1
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 opening round of the NSWRL and QRL junior reps competitions, as well as the NRL’ Pre-season Challenge and the British Challenge Cup.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
After progressing through Canterbury-Bankstown’s junior grades over the past three seasons, Hornby Panthers product Sosaia Alatini made the step up to the Bulldogs’ NRL side for their pre-season opener against St George Illawarra.
The specialist second-rower started at centre and made 11 runs for 98 metres with two tackle-breaks in a 34-30 loss.
SG BALL CUP
Coached by ex-Halswell Hornet Shannon Rushworth, a Warriors’ SG Ball Cup (under-19s) side featuring five Canterbury juniors went down 28-14 at Bruce Pulman Park in their season opener.
Linwood Keas’ Rico Lemalie, co-captain of the Canterbury Bulls 18s Boys’ 2025 National Youth Tournament success and recently named NZRL’s Male Junior Player of the Year, played halfback, with Keas clubmate Amasio Tiatia at hooker and Hornby Panthers’ Micah Sula lining up at prop.
Another Panther, 2025 Harold Matthews Cup grand final player of the match Bishop Neal, scored a try in a trademark power-packed display in the second-row. Meanwhile, the Warriors’ 2024 Harold Matthews Cup grand final player of the match, Lennox Tuiloma, made a successful SG Ball debut off the bench after last season was wiped out by injury.
Hornby Panthers’ Isaiah Savea enjoyed a 34-12 victory on club debut for Melbourne Storm against North Sydney Bears, coming off the bench at Broadmeadows on Saturday.
A star of the Canterbury Bulls 18s Boys’ National Youth Tournament triumph last September, Savea joins the Storm this year after two seasons in the Warriors’ NSWRL junior reps teams.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Six Canterbury players featured in the Warriors’ seesawing 24-18 loss to Manly in Auckland in the opening round of the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) on Sunday.
Riccarton Knights’ Lennox-Rua Limu-Franklin started on the wing, Timaru-based Hornby Panthers player Jackson Robinson was at halfback, Sydenham Swans’ Kenny Lafituanai lined up at prop, the Knights’ Christiano Elia played lock, and Swans duo Hemiata Togia – who scored a try to kickstart a Warriors comeback – and Thomas Christensen came off the bench.
Three Canterbury juniors made their Harold Matts debuts in Sydney Roosters’ 32-10 loss to Penrith at Mascot Oval on Saturday.
Sydenham’s Leonjay Salevao played on the wing and scored his team’s second try, while Swans clubmate Seu Fidow came off the bench for the Roosters. Strapping Hornby Panthers forward Riley Smart lined up in the second-row for the Tricolours.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood Keas junior and Canterbury age-group rep Olive Connolly made a belated Tarsha Gale Cup (under-19s) debut off the bench in Penrith’s 34-4 loss to the Roosters.
Hardworking forward Connolly was set to feature in the Panthers’ 2025 campaign before an injury suffered at the National Youth Tournament ruled her out.
QRL HARVEY NORMANS UNDER-19s
A Linwood Keas CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership grand finalist at Canterbury Bulls 18s Girls rep in 2025, Kayshana Rapana made her debut for Brisbane Tigers in the Harvey Norman Under-19s competition on Saturday.
Rapana started at lock and kicked a conversion in the Tigers’ narrow 20-16 loss to Souths Logan Magpies.
SUPER LEAGUE
Hornby Panthers product and former Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Caius Faatili came off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 82-6 defeat of Swinton in the third round of the Challenge Cup.
Faatili linked with the Wildcats last season and will be joined in 2026 by Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga, who headed to England in the off-season after 162 NRL games for the Warriors and Manly.
Aranui Eagles junior Daejarn Asi, a second-season player at Castleford after NRL stints with the Cowboys, Warriors and Eels, steered the Tigers to a 14-0 win over Doncaster from halfback.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
