RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.16
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 Round 12 and the latest round of matches from the Super League in the UK.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako’s vintage season on the Dolphins’ right wing continued with a try and five goals in a 30-22 victory in Canberra on Thursday.
Isaako also chalked up 118 metres and now has 10 tries and an NRL-leading 134 points in 2026.
Halswell Hornets junior Tanner Stowers-Smith returned to the Warriors’ first-grade line-up for the first time since Round 6 and produced a hearty 45 minutes off the bench in a 30-12 win over St George Illawarra.
The rising prop chewed off 134 metres on 12 runs and made 31 tackles in what was his 19th NRL appearance.
West Coaster and former Hornets junior player Griffin Neame played 41 minutes from the interchange as North Queensland defeated South Sydney 30-18 on Sunday.
The Kiwi Test forward tallied 26 tackles along with 12 runs for 95 metres for the in-form Cowboys.
NSW CUP
Hornby Panthers’ Sosaia Alatini made his fourth NSW Cup appearance in the centres for Canterbury-Bankstown and starred with two tries in a 38-14 win over Melbourne. The tyro also had a try assist and 131 run metres.
Riccarton Knights product K-Ci Newton-Whare came off the bench for the Storm.
Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua had a day out in the Warriors’ 24-20 comeback win over the Dragons, scoring his team’s first try and topping the tackle count with a mammoth 56.
Papanui Tigers forward Jason Saalilo played 46 minutes off the bench for the Warriors, racking up 12 runs for 129 metres and 25 tackles, while 17-year-old Hornby Panthers sensation Bishop Neal made 14 tackles and four runs in his interchange stint.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Another Keas hooker starred for the Warriors on Saturday, with Amasio Tiatia scoring a try in each half in the under-21s team’s 30-22 loss to the Saints.
Linwood winger Chelden Hayward scored three tries and Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben kicked seven conversions in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 56-0 rout of Melbourne.
Eastern’s Victory Isaako played on the wing for the Storm.
NRLQ SERIES
Halswell Hornets’ Meihana Pauling lined up at fullback for Gold Coast Titans in a 16-13 loss to the Dolphins in the fifth round of the NRLQ series, the QRL’s under-20s competition for the four Queensland-based NRL clubs.
SUPER LEAGUE
Wakefield Trinity’s charge continued with a 22-18 win over Toulouse – and Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga and Hornby Panthers product Caius Faatili both came off to cross for tries for the second week in a row.
Tevaga also made 10 runs for 73 metres and 12 tackles, while Faatili churned out 12 runs for 109 metres and 13 tackles.
Aranui Eagles junior Daejarn Asi laid on a try and had 22 runs for 108 metres to help Castleford to a 24-18 win over York.
