RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.8
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 NRL Round 4 and the latest round of Super League matches from the UK.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong had a big game in Sydney Roosters’ 33-16 victory over Manly on Thursday night.
Playing 80 minutes in the second-row, Wong had key hand in the Roosters’ first try and finished the night with 17 runs for 141 metres and a team-high 40 tackles.
Halswell Hornets product Tanner Stowers-Smith returned to the Warriors’ bench and was one of their best in a disappointing 32-14 loss to Wests Tigers.
The tyro prop made 11 runs for 101 metres and a remarkable 36 tackles in 39 minutes on the field.
Hornby Panthers’ Jordan Riki earned Battle of Brisbane bragging rights over Aranui Eagles’ Jamayne Isaako and Burnham Chevaliers’ Kodi Nikorima on Friday night.
In-form second-rower Riki churned out 13 runs for 124 metres and 41 tackles in the Broncos’ 26-12 win over the Dolphins, for whom winger Isaako scored a try and kicked two conversions on top of 24 runs for 192 metres. Veteran five-eighth Nikorima had 11 runs for 65 metres and 24 tackles in a losing effort.
West Coast product and former Halswell junior player Griffin Neame played 30 minutes off the bench in North Queensland’s 28-24 upset of Melbourne, notching five hit-ups and 19 tackles.
It was subsequently announced over the weekend that Kiwis regular Isaako – who has scored 1,367 points in 164 NRL matches – has signed with Melbourne Storm for 2027-28.
NSW CUP
Linwood Keas hooker Amasio Tiatia, an SG Ball Cup regular for the Warriors this year, made his NSW Cup debut in a 29-28 victory over Western Suburbs Magpies. Tiatia started at dummy-half and played 38 minutes, making 25 tackles.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Hornby Panthers product Bishop Neal made a massive impact in his second NSW Cup appearance for the Warriors, scoring two crucial second-half tries on top of 11 runs for 118 metres.
Another Hornby-bred tyro, Newtown Jets prop Felix Faatili, kept up his impressive tryscoring strike-rate with a four-pointer just after halftime in a 34-26 win over Canberra Raiders.
Papanui Tigers’ Ezekiel Paulo was the unused No.18 replacement for Manly Sea Eagles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood winger Chelden Hayward scored a try, Northern halfback Bronson Reuben kicked four goals and Hornby’s Sosaia Alataini played in the second-row as Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs outlasted Newcastle Knights 32-22.
Keas product Te Kaio Cranwell captained the Knights from prop, while Hornets junior Xavier Lynch lined up in the centres.
Hornby Panthers centre Jackson Stewart continued his outstanding tryscoring form, crossing for a four-pointer in his Sydney Roosters team’s 44-20 victory over Manly Sea Eagles.
SG BALL CUP
Hornby prop Michah Sula scored a second-half double and Halswell hooker grabbed a try as the Warriors’ fight-back fell just short in a 32-26 defeat to Western Suburbs Magpies.
Linwood’s Lennox Tuiloma featured at lock for the Warriors.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Riccarton Knights’ Hoani-Manuera Kahukiwa and Lennox-Rua Limu-Franklin were at centre and wing, respectively, Sydenham Swans’ Kenny Lafituanai lined up at prop and Thomas Christensen at lock in a 26-16 defeat to Western Suburbs Magpies on Sunday.
Sydenham’s Evander Tafua switched from lock to centre for Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs as they went down 30-8 to Balmain Tigers.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood Keas duo Olive Conolly and Julliana Kolio went head-to-head at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Penrith Panthers prop Connolly featured in a 24-22 victory over Cronulla Sharks, who had Kolio at halfback.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs junior and Redcliffe stalwart Sheldon Pitama started at lock in the Dolphins’ 33-4 win over PNG Hunters, making seven runs for 57 metres and 25 tackles.
West Coast product and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven’s tryscoring streak continued, dotting down in the first half of Wynnum Manly Seagulls’ 26-all draw with Mackay Cutters.
QRL HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-19S
A Linwood Keas CRL Women’s Premiership grand finalist in 2025, Kayshana Rapana is through to another competition decider with Brisbane Tigers’ under-19s.
Lock Rapana kicked two goals in the Tigers’ 28-12 semi-final win over Wynnum Manly Seagulls, earning a spot in the grand final against Souths Logan Magpies in a fortnight’s time.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product and former NRL utility-back Daejarn Asi featured at five-eighth in Castleford Tigers’ 40-28 win over Bradford Bulls on Thursday.
Asi made 13 runs for 98 metres and 11 tackles as the Tigers chalked up their second victory of the season.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats – in the news this week following their acquisition of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – improved to a 4-2 record with a 26-14 win over York Knights.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga made 35 tackles and seven runs, as well as typically being in the thick of the argy bargy, while Hornby Panthers product and ex-Canterbury Bulls rep Caius Faatili racked up seven runs for 76 metres and 21 tackles off the bench for the Wildcats.
