RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.10
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 6 and the weekend’s Challenge Cup quarter-finals action from the UK.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
West Coast product and Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame made six runs for 67 metres and 22 tackles in North Queensland’s thrilling 35-31 win over Brisbane.
Hornby’s Jordan Riki was massive in the second-row for the beaten Broncos, racking up 13 runs for 134 metres and 41 tackles.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong had a big game in the second-row as Sydney Roosters defeated Cronulla 34-22 in Perth, churning through 16 runs for 144 metres and 35 tackles.
Halswell product Tanner Stowers-Smith packed plenty into his 26 minutes off the bench in the Warriors’ historic 38-14 win over Melbourne. The front-row tyro made 11 runs for 88 metres during a period where the Warriors recovered from a deficit to build a big lead.
NSW CUP
Hornby front-rower Felix Faatili came off the bench to score a try, and make 14 runs for 125 metres and 13 tackles in Newtown’s 33-32 eclipse of Sydney Roosters.
Riccarton prop K-Ci Newton Whare scored the opening try of Melbourne’s 32-24 win over the Warriors, as well as making eight runs for 116 metres and 18 tackles.
Seventeen-year-old Hornby sensation Bishop Neal chalked up eight runs for 72 metres and 21 tackles off the bench for the Warriors, while Papanui’s Jason Salalilo made his first appearance of 2026 and made 10 runs for 112 metres from the interchange.
Papanui’s Ezekiel Paulo played 80 minutes in the second-row in Manly’s 52-12 loss to St George Illawarra, making nine runs for 65 meters and 35 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood winger Chelden Hayward featured on the wing, Hornby’s Sosaia Alataini played in the second-row and Northern half Bronson Reuben came off the bench as Canterbury-Bankstown shut out Penrith 28-0.
Hornby junior Jackson Stewart was in the centres for Sydney Roosters as they went down 52-12 to Cronulla.
Linwood’s Te Kaio Cranwell captained Newcastle in a 38-22 loss to Wests Tigers from the front-row, while Halswell junior Xavier Lynch scored a try from the centres for the Knights.
Keas hooker Amasio Tiatia lined up in the starting side as the Warriors’ rousing comeback fell just short in a 26-24 loss to Melbourne.
Northern Bulldogs and Papanui Tigers junior Jamayne Feast was at five-eighth in South Sydney’s 30-4 loss to Parramatta.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Sydenham Swans prop Seu Fidow scored a try to help Sydney Roosters into week two of the finals with a 26-6 win over Manly.
The Roosters take on Penrith in this Saturday’s semis.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood halfback Julliana Kolio helped guide Cronulla to a nail-biting 20-18 win over Sydney Roosters’ Indigenous Academy in week one of the finals.
Fellow Keas junior Olive Connolly returned at prop for Penrith in a 26-16 victory over Wests Tigers.
The Sharks advance to next week’s preliminary finals, while the Panthers face the Roosters’ Indigenous Academy in the semis this Saturday.
QUEENSLAND CUP
After making his NRL debut off the bench for Brisbane Broncos last week, West Coaster and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven returned in the centres for Wynnum Manly.
The 19-year-old made 14 runs for 95 metres and 10 tackles in a 26-12 loss to Townsville.
NRLQ SERIES
Halswell Hornets’ Meihana Pauling lined up at fullback for Gold Coast Titans and kicked two goals in a 20-12 win over the Dolphins in the second round of the NRLQ series, the QRL’s under-20s competition for the four Queensland-based NRL clubs.
QRL HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-19S
Linwood Keas product Kayshana Rapana featured at lock as Brisbane Tigers took out the Harvey Norman Under-19s grand final 32-22 over Souths Logan Magpies.
Rapana, who played in the Keas’ CRL Women’s Premiership grand final last season, kicked four goals in the victory.
SUPER LEAGUE
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga came off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s gallant 26-22 Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to Wigan.
But the veteran firebrand’s appearance was overshadowed by an incident where he kicked out at a Warriors opponent after his leg became trapped, incurring a two-match ban.
