RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.27
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 NRL, NRLW, NSWRL, QRL and Super League matches.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
West Coast product and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame returned from suspension to help North Queensland to a 30-8 win over Gold Coast, making six runs for 65 metres and 23 tackles in the front-row.
Another Hornets prop, Tanner Stowers-Smith, packed plenty into his 37 minutes in the Warriors’ momentous 28-12 defeat of Penrith, racking up 11 runs for 109 metres and 17 tackles.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong played a big role in Sydney Roosters’ 20-18 eclipse of Canterbury, scoring a first-half try along with 11 runs for 79 metres and 32 tackles in the second-row.
The Dolphins rallied from 24-0 down against Brisbane to win 40-32 with the help of Aranui Eagles winger Jamayne Isaako and Burnham Chevaliers five-eighth Kodi Nikorima.
Isaako scored a try and kicked six goals in the fightback – as well as making 12 runs for 101 metres – as he took his competition-leading points tally to 246. Nikorima produced a line-break assist and made 15 tackles without a miss.
Hornby Panthers’ Jordan Riki played the full 80 minutes in the Broncos’ second-row and finished with 11 runs for 112 metres and 23 tackles.
NRLW
Papanui Tigers product Jaydika Tafua was elevated to Cronulla’s starting pack and topped her team’s tackle count with 32 in a 24-10 loss to Gold Coast, while she made 92 metres on 10 runs.
Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman starred in the centres in Canberra’s 28-4 rout of Brisbane, scoring a try to go with 14 runs for 83 metres and five tackle-breaks.
NSW CUP
Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua made a team-high 39 tackles and six runs for 51 metres in the Warriors’ 36-24 victory over the ladder-leading Panthers.
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili made a big impression off the bench in Newtown’s 36-12 win over St George Illawarra, making a line-break among nine runs for 93 metres and chalking up 20 tackles.
Riccarton Knights’ K-Ci Newton-Whare had a strong game up front in Melbourne’s 26-18 win over Manly, racking up 12 runs for 108 metres and 29 tackles.
Linwood Keas’ Te Kaio Cranwell came off the bench in Newcastle’s 20-16 win over Canberra, reeling off 15 tackles in 22 minutes.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Northern Bulldogs half Bronson Reuben scored a crucial second-half try as Canterbury-Bankstown came from behind to beat Sydney Roosters 28-24.
Regular NSW Cup centre Sosaia Alatini featured in the second-row for the Bulldogs, while fellow Hornby Panthers product Jackson Stewart lined up at fullback for the Roosters.
Eastern Eagles winger Victory Isaako grabbed a hat-trick of tries and kicked four goals in Melbourne’s 40-24 win over Manly.
Linwood Keas hooker Amasio Tiatia was at dummy-half for the Warriors’ gallant 26-22 loss to Penrith.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Linwood Keas halfback Julliana Kolio scored a try in Cronulla’s 20-0 shutout of St George.
Eastern Eagles’ Terongomaianiwaniwa Williams came off the bench in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 28-22 loss to Newcastle.
QUEENSLAND CUP
West Coast product and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven scored a try and had a try assist, along with eight runs for 89 metres, in the centres in Wynnum Manly’s 24-20 loss to Burleigh.
Northern Bulldogs’ Sheldon Pitama featured at lock in Redcliffe’s 32-0 shutout of PNG Hunters, making 12 runs for 102 metres and 15 tackles.
SUPER LEAGUE
Burnham Chevaliers’ Jazz Tevaga was at lock and Hornby Panthers’ Caius Faatili came off the bench as in-form Wakefield Trinity was edged out 24-22 by Leeds.
Tevaga churned through 12 runs for 103 metres and 35 tackles, while Faatili went off for 123 metres on 13 runs, 25 tackles and two try assists.
Aranui Eagles’ half Daejarn Asi made 21 tackles and five runs in Castleford’s tough 44-0 loss to Hull KR.
