RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.4
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 NSWRL and QRL junior reps competitions, as well as the NRL’s Las Vegas round and Super League Round 3.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
West Coast product and ex-Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame played his 90th NRL game in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The Kiwis rep packed in 11 runs for 112 metres and 14 tackles in 28 minutes off the bench in North Queensland Cowboys’ 28-18 loss to Newcastle Knights.
SG BALL CUP
The Warriors’ under-19s team got off the mark in the SG Ball Cup with a 34-18 win over Central Coast Roosters in Round 4 – with the help of several Canterbury juniors.
Hornby second-rower Bishop Neal capped a blinder with a barnstorming try, while Rico Lemalie was at halfback with fellow Linwood products Amasio Tiatia (hooker) and Lennox Tuiloma (interchange), and Halswell’s Rene Frame also featuring for the Shannon Rushworth-coached side.
Meanwhile, ex-Warrior and Hornby second-rower Isaiah Savea scored a second-half double in Melbourne Storm’s 28-22 comeback win over Canberra Raiders.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
The Warriors’ under-17s also chalked up their first win of the season in Auckland on Sunday – a 50-18 rout of Central Coast Roosters.
Sydenham’s Hemiata Togia scored a try off the bench, while fellow Swans junior Kenny Lafituanai lined up at prop and Riccarton’s Christiano Elia played lock.
Linwood Keas hooker Kaci Heath and Sydenham Swans lock Evander Tafua featured in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 26-22 loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Strapping Hornby Panthers forward Riley Smart again lined up in the second-row for Sydney Roosters in a 20-6 loss to Newcastle. Sydenham duo Leonjay Salevao (wing) and Seu Fidow (interchange) also turned out for the Tricolours.
TARSHA GALE CUP
After a sensational two-try performance last week, Linwood Keas junior and Canterbury age-group rep Olive Connolly made her fourth appearance at prop for Penrith Panthers’ under-19s in an 8-all draw with North Sydney Bears.
Eastern Eagles’ Terongomaianiwaniwa Williams debuted off the bench in Canterbury Bulldogs’ resounding 42-10 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs.
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 lined up at lock and kicked a goal in Brisbane Tigers’ 26-14 loss to Burleigh Bears.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi starred at five-eighth in Castleford Tigers’ 34-8 win over Huddersfield Giants.
The former Cowboys, Warriors and Eels utility back had a try assist, made 12 runs and chalked up 19 tackles in the victory.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga played his third game for Wakefield Trinity, contributing nine runs and 25 tackles from lock in a 27-16 loss to Warrington.
Tevaga was joined in the Wildcats line-up by Hornby product and former Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Caius Faatili, who made his first top-level appearance of 2026 and racked up 27 tackles and eight runs for 67 metres.
