RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.31
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 marked the end of his NRL campaign with a try, nine runs for 68 metres and 34 tackles in Brisbane’s 34-20 win over Canterbury.
Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako made 149 metres on 15 carries and kicked four conversions from as many attempts in the third-placed Dolphins’ 24-20 win over Gold Coast, finishing the regular season with an NRL-high 288 points.
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith made another powerful contribution off the bench in the high-flying Warriors’ 31-30 eclipse of Manly, chalking up 12 runs for 118 metres and 13 tackles in 34 minutes.
Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua was promoted to make his third NRL appearance for the Warriors off the bench, notching 12 tackles and three runs for 30 metres in 24 minutes.
NRLW
A pair of former Sydenham Swans teammates squared off in an NRLW thriller on Sunday.
Canberra centre Isabella Waterman scored a late equalising try and finished with 136 metres on 15 runs, but Parramatta winger Martha Mataele finished on the winning side – as well as contributing 13 runs for 142 metres with six tackle-breaks – as the Eels got up 17-16 with a field goal in the dying stages.
NSW CUP
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili celebrated in Newtown’s 24-18 elimination final win over the Warriors, making nine runs for 133 metres with a line-break and an incredible 11 tackle-breaks in 32 minutes off the bench.
Amasio Tiatia started at hooker for the Warriors with fellow Linwood Keas junior Makaia Tafua on NRL duty, making 33 tackles in 48 minutes on the field.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
With Hornby Panthers’ Sosaia Alatini at centre and Northern Bulldogs’ Bronson Reuben at five-eighth, Canterbury-Bankstown went down to Penrith 28-20 in Saturday’s major semi.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Linwood Keas prop Olive Connolly scored Penrith’s last try in a 32-16 major semi loss to South Sydney.
Hornby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck lined up on the wing in Central Coast Roosters’ 30-20 elimination final loss to Mounties.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama helped Redcliffe to a 20-16 qualifying final win over CQ Capras, with the veteran starting at lock in his 151st game for the Dolphins.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi had a strong game at five-eighth in Castleford’s 32-22 loss to Bradford, serving up two try assists on top of 16 runs and 12 tackles.
Burnham Chevaliers’ Jazz Tevaga (nine runs for 79 metres and 26 tackles) and Hornby Panthers’ Caius Faatili (15 runs for 128 metres and 18 tackles) came off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 25-18 victory over Warrington.
