RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.32
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 weekend’s NRL and NSWRL finals matches, the last round of the NRLW and Super League regular seasons.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako kicked five goals from as many attempts and ran for 139 metres on 16 carries from the wing in the Dolphins’ historic 26-16 win over the Warriors on finals debut.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima played a key role at five-eighth for the Dolphins, delivering a line-break assist and making 24 tackles.
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith played 24 minutes off the bench for the Warriors, making six runs for 41 metres and 17 tackles.
West Coaster and former Halswell junior player Griffin Neame started at prop in North Queensland’s 26-16 elimination final defeat to Cronulla. He made eight runs for 59 metres and 27 tackles in 44 minutes on the paddock.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong shrugged off a first-half injury to play the full 80 minutes in the second-row in Sydney Roosters’ gallant 19-12 loss to Penrith. Wong made a game-high 53 tackles and racking up 76 metres on 10 runs.
NRLW
Sydenham Swans’ Isabelle Waterman’s hot form streak for Canberra continued, moving from centre to wing scoring a try, making two line-breaks and powering through 120 metres on 10 runs in a 22-10 over Wests Tigers.
The Raiders and Tigers square off again this weekend in an elimination final.
NSW CUP
Hornby Panthers prop Felix Faatili’s huge finals series for Newtown continued, coming off the bench with a try, two line-breaks and 80 metres from five runs along with 17 tackles in heart-stopping 26-25 win over North Sydney.
The Jets now head into a preliminary final against Newcastle.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood Keas winger Chelden Hayward, Hornby Panthers centre Sosaia Alatini and Northern Bulldogs five-eighth Bronson Reuben all scored tries in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 38-30 sudden-death win over Cronulla, while Reuben also kicked five goals.
The Bulldogs face minor premiers St George Illawarra in this weekend’s preliminary final.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Linwood Keas’ Olive Connolly lined up at prop as Penrith’s season came to an end via a 28-4 semi-final loss to Mounties.
SUPER LEAGUE
Burnham Chevaliers’ Jazz Tevaga (14 runs for 138 metres and 26 tackles) started at lock and Hornby Panthers’ Caius Faatili (14 runs for 88 metres and 23 tackles) came off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 19-8 final-round win over Leigh.
The Wildcats face the Leopards again in an elimination final this weekend.
Aranui Eagles’ Daejarn Asi played five-eighth and made 18 tackles as Castleford Tigers’ season concluded with a 48-16 loss to Huddersfield.
