Red and Black Report: Edition No.2
Each week we’ll be keeping you up to date with how our Canterbury Rugby League products are performing in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
Here’s how they went in Round 2:
NRL
Former Halswell Hornet Matt McIlwrick was one of Wests Tigers’ better performers at hooker in a heavy 36-2 defeat to Penrith on Sunday, making 29 tackles and four runs for 40 metres in 43 minutes of game-time at Campbelltown Stadium. Currently sharing the dummy-half duties with interchange utility Jack Littlejohn, McIlwrick is firming to retain a place in the Tigers’ 17 when No.9 contenders Matt Ballin and Jacob Liddle return to full fitness.
Christchurch-born Kiwi Test veteran Lewis Brown played 33 minutes off the bench in Manly’s 38-18 defeat at the hands of South Sydney. The Riccarton Knights junior made eight tackles and two runs for 20 metres in a back-row capacity.
Fa’amanu Brown was a late scratching from Cronulla’s 17 that hammed Canberra 42-16 on Saturday night.
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP
Jazz Tevaga, who first pulled on a boot as a junior for Burnham Chevaliers, returned from injury at hooker in the Warriors’ 36-22 victory over Canterbury Bulldogs as the club made a 2-0 start in the InTrust Super Premiership. After starting in the No.9 in his Warriors debut last week, Hornby halfback Tevin Arona came off the bench in the 14-point win.
After playing fullback in Round 1, Pita Godinet slotted in at five-eighth in Manly feeder side Blacktown Workers’ 40-20 loss to North Sydney.
Jayden Nikorima helped steer Sydney Roosters feeder club Wyong Roos to a 26-18 win over Newcastle Knights from five-eighth.
INTRUST SUPER CUP
A hat-trick hero last week, Halswell junior Ken Tofilau was the star again for Central Queensland Capras in Round 2, scoring a quick-fire double before they were overrun 41-20 by a Redcliffe Dolphins side featuring former Northern Bulldogs and Warriors hooker Sheldon Pitama. Phil Nati came off the bench for the Capras.
Papanui product Nathan Saumalu found his way onto the scoresheet for the second week in a row, crossing for a try in the Setaimata Sa-led Mackay Cutters’ 38-6 thrashing of Tweed Heads Seagulls.
NYC
South Sydney’s Under-20s side copped a 52-20 smacking from Manly, but Shirley Boys High School product Cruz Topai-Aveai again made a big impact off the bench, earning praise for his damaging runs for the Rabbitohs.
