RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.5
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 competitions, as well as the NRL’s opening round and Super League Round 4.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith backed up some excellent trial form with a powerful display off the bench in the Warriors’ 42-18 win over Sydney Roosters, racking up 14 runs for 134 metres in his 14th NRL appearance.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong worked hard off the pine in a beaten Roosters outfit, making 10 runs for 90 metres and 21 tackles without a miss.
Defending champs Brisbane Broncos were rolled 26-0 by Penrith Panthers, but Hornby Panthers second-rower Jordan Riki could hardly be faulted for his efforts on a losing side – he made 11 runs for 99 metres and tallied 40 tackles.
The Dolphins were outlasted 40-30 by South Sydney Rabbitohs, but Aranui Eagles product and pointscoring machine Jamayne Isaako kept his strike-rate up with a try and five goals on top of 154 running metres. Isaako is on course to become just the 23rd player in premiership history to hit the 1,500-point milestone this season.
Burnham junior Kodi Nikorima was typically busy at five-eighth, having a hand in a couple of tries and making 17 tackles.
NSW CUP
Riccarton Knights junior K-Ci Newton-Whare has progressed through the grades at Melbourne Storm to grab a NSW Cup front-row berth, making 11 runs for 105 metres and 21 tackles in a 36-22 loss to Parramatta Eels.
The defending champion Warriors were pumped 48-14 by the Roosters, but Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua was a standout with a line-break among six runs for 66 metres and a game-high 45 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Hornby Panthers second-row sensation Bishop Neal – who only made his SG Ball debut earlier this year – scored a try on under-21s debut for the Warriors in a 44-14 beatdown of the Roosters. Fellow Hornby product Micah Sula also made the step up to Jersey Flegg level, coming off the bench for the Warriors.
Yet another Panthers junior, Jackson Stewart, featured in the centres for the Roosters.
Linwood Keas winger Chelden Hayward and Northern Bulldogs halfback Bronson Reuben lined up in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 28-0 defeat to St George Illawarra Dragons.
Papanui Tigers junior Ezekiel Paulo was in the second-row in Manly Sea Eagles’ 38-30 loss to Canberra Raiders.
A Northern Bulldogs and Papanui Tigers junior, halfback Jamayne Feast steered South Sydney Rabbitohs to a 26-14 win over Newcastle Knights on Jersey Flegg debut.
Linwood Keas’ Te Kaio Cranwell has found a new role at prop and Halswell Hornets’ Xavier Lynch – who scored his team’s opening try – was in the second-row for the Knights.
SG BALL CUP
Halswell Hornets’ Rene Frame played hooker and Linwood Keas’ Amasio Tiatia lock – swapping their listed positions – in the Warriors’ 50-4 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, while Keas powerhouse Lennox Tuiloma was in the second-row.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Linwood Keas hooker Kaci Heath and Sydenham Swans lock Evander Tafua featured in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ 26-16 win over the Warriors.
Swans duo Hemiata Togia and Kenny Lafituanai were in the Warriors’ front-row rotation, and Riccarton Knights’ Christiano Elia played lock.
Strapping Hornby Panthers forward Riley Smart featured in the second-row and Sydenham Swans’ Seu Fidow came off the bench in Sydney Roosters’ 32-26 win over Cronulla Sharks.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood Keas junior and Canterbury age-group rep Olive Connolly made her fifth appearance at prop for Penrith Panthers’ under-19s in a 26-16 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama played his 132nd Queensland Cup game for Redcliffe Dolphins in a 22-12 loss to Burleigh Bears in Round 1.
The versatile stalwart started at lock and paired a 22-tackle contribution with four strong runs.
Outstanding West Coast and Eastern Eagles junior Antonio Verhoeven – who played for Brisbane Broncos during the pre-season trials – made his Queensland Cup debut on the wing for Wynnum Manly Seagulls, scoring a try, making two line-breaks and running for over 200 metres in a 24-16 loss to Souths Logan Magpies.
HARVEY NORMAN 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’ 20-16 loss to Souths Logan Magpies.
SUPER LEAGUE
Wakefield Trinity defeated Hull FC 14-10 in Round 4 – and Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga and Hornby product Caius Faatili made strong contributions.
Ex-Warriors and Manly cult hero Tevaga made 10 runs for 81 metres and 34 tackles from lock, while former Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Faatili racked up 11 runs for 71 metres and 21 tackles off the bench.
Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi lined up at halfback in Castleford Tigers’ 22-4 loss to Leeds Rhinos.
The former Cowboys, Warriors and Eels utility back made 22 tackles and 11 runs.
