RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.14
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 10.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Jamayne Isaako produced one of the finest performances of his career in the Dolphins’ 44-12 win over Canterbury. The Aranui Eagles product finished with a spectacular hat-trick, four line-breaks, eight tackle-breaks, a game-high 262 metres, a mind-blowing try assist and capped that with six goals to equal his own club record (24 points).
The haul saw 14-Test Kiwi winger Isaako pass 100 points (including nine tries) for the season in just nine games. He is on track to become just the 23rd player to reached 1,500 points in the NRL this year, as well as pass the 1,000-point mark for the Dolphins before he takes up a deal with Melbourne Storm next year. Isaako’s 83 tries from 169 NRL games are also a record for a Canterbury product in the Australian premiership.
Meanwhile, Burnham junior Kodi Nikorima returned from suspension at five-eighth in style, scoring a try, and producing three line-break assists and two try assists.
Fellow Chevaliers junior Siua Wong had a blinder in Sydney Roosters’ 28-12 defeat of Gold Coast. The second-rower racked up 15 runs for 183 metres, 37 tackles, a line-break and a try assist as one of the standout players on the field.
West Coast product and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame played 34 minutes off the bench in North Queensland’s golden point loss to Parramatta, making 64 metres and 32 tackles.
Another West Coaster who turned out in Eastern Eagles’ junior grades, Antonio Verhoeven had his first NRL start on the wing for Brisbane and blazed over for a maiden try after just six minutes. The 19-year-old also ran for a team-high 122 metres in what was a tough 32-4 loss to Manly.
Hornby Panthers product Jordan Riki made seven runs and 39 tackles for the Broncos.
NSW CUP
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili had a productive 31 minutes off the bench in Newtown’s 26-18 win over South Sydney, churning through 11 runs for 110 metres and 19 tackles.
Halswell Hornets junior Oliver Lawry lined up at centre for the Rabbitohs, making 11 runs for 108 metres and 17 tackles.
Riccarton Knights product K-Ci Newton-Whare started at prop and scored Melbourne’s first try in a 38-22 loss to Western Suburbs, as well as making 72 metres and 18 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben scored a try, kicked five goals and nailed a match-winning two-point field goal in the dying minutes of Canterbury-Bankstown’s 36-34 eclipse of Sydney Roosters.
Linwood’s Chelden Hayward featured on the wing for the Bulldogs.
Keas product Te Kaio Cranwell captained Newcastle in a 30-20 loss to ladder-leading St George Illawarra from lock.
Eastern Eagles winger Victory Isaako scored Melbourne’s first try in a 28-20 defeat to Wests Tigers, while Hornby Panthers back-rower Isaiah Savea came off the bench for the Storm.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe veteran Sheldon Pitama started at lock in the Dolphins’ 32-10 win over Townsville Blackhawks, racking up eight runs and 22 tackles in his 137th Queensland Cup appearance for the club.
