RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.12
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 8 and the weekend’s Super League action from the UK.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
West Coaster and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame put in a shift off the bench in North Queensland’s 46-34 win over Cronulla, racking up 11 runs for 110 metres and 17 tackles in 37 minutes.
Hornby Panthers second-rower Jordan Riki’s stellar season for Brisbane continued with another standout performance in a 32-12 defeat of Canterbury.
Along with 17 runs for 140 metres and 39 tackles, the Kiwis rep helped set up Deine Mariner’s first-half try with a brilliant offload.
Fittingly in the traditional Anzac Day game in Sydney, Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong scored a first-half try in Sydney Roosters’ 62-16 thrashing of St George Illawarra. Wong played the full 80 minutes and made 10 runs for 109 metres to go with a team-high 41 tackles.
Aranui Eagles winger Jamayne Isaako shone in a beaten Dolphins outfit in Wellington on Saturday, scoring two tries and kicking three conversions from as many attempts in a nail-biting 20-18 loss to the Warriors.
Isaako, bound for Melbourne in 2027, also tallied 16 runs for 164 metres.
NSW CUP
Riccarton Knights front-rower K-Ci Newton Whare started in Melbourne’s 22-16 loss to South Sydney, making 23 tackles and six hit-ups for 67 metres.
Linwood Keas hooker Makai Tafua made a game-high 47 tackles in the Warriors’ 40-22 defeat to North Sydney.
Papanui Tigers’ Jason Salalilo started in the second-row for the Warriors and finished with seven runs for 73 metres and 27 tackles.
Hornby Panthers product Felix Faatili had a busy 24 minutes off the bench in Newtown’s 25-10 win over Canterbury. The front-row tyro made seven runs for 61 metres and 12 tackles, as well as recording four tackle-breaks.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood Keas’ Amasio Tiatia featured at hooker in the Warriors’ 66-6 victory over Kaiviti Silktails in Hamilton.
Another Keas product, Newcastle prop and captain Te Kaio Cranwell, scored a try in his side’s 42-16 loss to Penrith. Halswell’s Xavier Lynch lined up in the second-row for the Knights.
Linwood winger Chelden Hayward, Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben (who kicked a conversion) and Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini played in Canterbury’s 36-10 loss to Cronulla.
Eastern winger Victory Isaako and Linwood forward Isaiah Savea featured in Melbourne’s 54-24 win over South Sydney.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Sydenham Swans’ Seu Fidow is set to play in this weekend’s Harold Matthews Cup grand final after lining up at prop in Sydney Roosters’ 36-26 victory over Illawarra Steelers.
The Roosters face Newcastle in Saturday’s decider at Leichhardt Oval.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood halfback Julliana Kolio is also slated to feature on NSWRL junior reps grand final day at Leichhardt Oval following her Cronulla side’s 14-12 win over Newcastle in Sunday’s preliminary final.
The Sharks will take on Parramatta for the Tarsha Gale Cup title.
QUEENSLAND CUP
After going unused on the bench for Brisbane Broncos in Friday’s NRL clash, West Coast product and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven played 18 minutes at centre in Wynnum Manly Seagulls’ 40-16 win over Western Clydesdales.
The 19-year-old made five runs for 65 metres and a line-break in his cameo.
Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama returned at lock for Redcliffe and contributed five runs and 20 tackles at lock and dummy-half in a 22-10 win over Norths Devils.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi’s Castleford side was beaten 50-10 by Hull FC, but the five-eighth nevertheless produced a try assist along with 20 tackles and six runs for the Tigers.
Hornby junior and ex-Canterbury Bulls star Caius Faatili scored a try in Wakefield Trinity’s second-half fightback, which ultimately fell short in an 18-12 loss to St Helens. The powerhouse forward finished with 12 runs for 88 metres and 36 tackles in an industrious display off the bench.
