RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.29
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
Hornby Panthers product Jordan Riki made a team-high 41 tackles and nine runs for 74 metres in the second-row as Brisbane pulled off a stunning 34-30 comeback win over Canberra.
Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako’s pointscoring rampage continued with two tries and five goals in the finals-bound Dolphins’ 34-16 victory over Parramatta, along with 15 runs for 136 metres. The winger has a massive lead in the NRL’s pointscoring race with 274, while his 21 tries ranks fourth in the competition.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima produced a try assist and two line-break assists for the Dolphins, on top of a whopping 34 tackles at five-eighth.
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith was superb off the bench again as the Warriors rose to the top of the NRL ladder with a 45-26 win over South Sydney, chalking up 10 runs for 118 metres and 28 tackles.
Another Chevaliers junior, Siua Wong, toiled for 112 metres on 14 runs and made 37 tackles in Sydney Roosters’ shock 25-24 loss to Wests Tigers.
NRLW
Sydenham Swans’ Isabella Waterman scored a try and racked up 115 metres from 12 runs as a centre in Canberra’s 48-4 rout of Canterbury.
Another ex-Swans player, Parramatta centre Martha Matele, starred in a 42-16 win over Cronulla with a first-half try, two line-breaks, 10 tackle-breaks, a try assist and 14 runs for 175 metres.
NSW CUP
Riccarton Knights prop K-Ci Newton-Whare had a busy 27 minutes up front in Melbourne’s 40-20 loss to Penrith, making eight runs for 70 metres and 13 tackles.
Linwood Keas winger Chelden Hayward had a blinder in his second NSW Cup appearance for Canterbury-Bankstown, scoring three tries, producing a try assist and running for a game-high 239 metres.
Hornby Panthers centre Sosaia Alatini chimed in with 17 runs for 123 metres in the Bulldogs’ 40-10 defeat of St George Illawarra.
Makaia Tafua scored a try, made two line-breaks, ran for over 100 metres and made 20 tackles to help the fifth-placed Warriors to a vital 38-12 win over South Sydney. Fellow Linwood Keas hooker Amasio Tiatia played 36 minutes off the bench, making three runs and 17 tackles.
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili played 28 minutes off the bench in Newtown’s 40-30 win over North Sydney, making two line-breaks among six runs for 97 metres. The tyro also notched 14 tackles.
Versatile Hornby Panthers back Jackson Stewart lined up at centre in Sydney Roosters’ 44-28 victory against Western Suburbs, making 10 runs for 69 metres and delivering a line-break assist.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Linwood Keas’ Julliana Kolio lined up at halfback in Cronulla’s 30-4 loss to Parramatta.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Aranui Eagles winger Victory Isaako scored a try and kicked five goals in Melbourne’s 34-22 win over Penrith.
Northern Bulldogs’ Bronson Reuben featured at halfback in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 46-16 loss to St George Illawarra.
Linwood Keas’ Rico Lemalie came off the bench in the Warriors’ gallant 40-38 loss to South Sydney at Redfern Oval.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe captain Sheldon Pitama started at lock and couple 30 tackles with nine runs for 71 metres in the second-placed Dolphins’ 30-12 win over Tweed Seagulls.
West Coast product and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven lined up in the centres in Wynnum Manly’s 42-18 defeat of Souths Logan, making 13 runs for 136 metres and two line-breaks, and producing two try assists.
SUPER LEAGUE
Hornby Panthers product and former Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili delivered a mighty display off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 26-12 loss to Wigan, churning through 19 runs for 157 metres and 39 tackles off the bench.
Aranui Eagles junior Daejarn Asi had a try assist along with 22 tackles and nine runs as Castleford’s five-eighth in a 36-12 loss to St Helens.
