RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.30
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 and Kiwis rep Jordan Riki put in a big shift in Brisbane’s 46-20 loss to Melbourne, making 18 runs for 151 metres and 21 tackles.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima starred with two try assists in the Dolphins’ crucial 26-12 win over top-four rivals Sydney Roosters, while Aranui Eagles’ Jamayne Isaako kicked three goals and ran 97 metres.
Another Burnham junior, Siua Wong, played the full 80 minutes in the Roosters’ second-row and finished with 42 tackles and 10 runs for 92 metres.
West Coaster and former Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame started at prop in North Queensland’s 24-10 win over Wests Tigers, making four hit-ups and 14 tackles in a 17-minute stint.
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith produced a big 37 minutes off the bench in the Warriors’ 46-32 win over Newcastle, making a line-break among nine runs for 113 metres and 16 tackles.
NRLW
Sydenham Swans centre Isabella Waterman had a try assist and 11 runs for 62 metres in Canberra’s 26-20 loss to Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.
Another former Swans player, Parramatta winger Martha Mataele, racked up 12 runs for 125 metres with five tackle-breaks in a 44-10 defeat to Brisbane.
NSW CUP
Canterbury-Bankstown’s season finished with a 42-28 loss to competition-leading Penrith, but Hornby Panthers centre Sosaia Alatini scored a try and made 77 metres for the Bulldogs, while Linwood Keas winger Chelden Hayward made a line-break among 13 runs for 113 metres.
Riccarton Knights prop K-Ci Newton-Whare played 38 minutes off the bench in Melbourne’s 32-6 loss to North Sydney, notching four runs and 19 tackles.
Makaia Tafua produced a timely try assist in the Warriors’ 10-all draw with Newcastle that sealed their place in the finals, while fellow Linwood Keas hooker Amasio Tiatia came off the bench.
Tafua and Tiatia could be locking horns this Saturday with Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili, who came off the bench in Newtown’s 50-16 win over Parramatta that clinched a home elimination final against the Warriors.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Linwood Keas’ Olive Connolly has become a front-row regular for Penrith in the NSW Women’s Premiership after debuting in the Tarsha Gale Cup earlier this year.
Making her 11th appearance, Connolly helped the Panthers secure a third-place finish with a 24-12 win over Cronulla. Fellow Keas junior Julliana Kolio lined up at halfback for the ninth-placed Sharks.
Central Coast Roosters will also feature in the finals despite a 28-10 final-round loss to South Sydney, which saw Hornby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck return to the line-up at fullback.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood Keas hooker/half Rico Lemalie finished off the season with a try from dummy-half in the Warriors’ 32-10 loss to Newcastle.
Aranui Eagles winger enjoyed a blazing end to the year despite Melbourne’s 36-26 loss to Kaiviti Silktails, scoring a hat-trick and kicking three goals for the Storm.
Canterbury-Bankstown progressed to the Jersey Flegg playoffs despite a 42-28 defeat to Penrith in the final round, which saw Northern Bulldogs half Bronson Reuben score a try and kick four goals for the Bulldogs. They face the Panthers again in the major semi this weekend.
QUEENSLAND CUP
West Coast product and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven played on the wing in Wynnum Manly’s 28-24 loss to Brisbane Tigers, making six runs for 58 metres.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi lined up at five-eighth in Castleford’s 34-6 loss to Catalans, contributing seven runs, three tackle-breaks and 12 tackles.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga (seven runs for 76 metres, 22 tackles) and Hornby Panthers product Caius Faatili (11 runs for 75 metres, 29 tackles) both came off the bench in fourth-placed Wakefield Trinity’s 28-12 win over York.
