Red and Black Report: Edition No.23

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 23:

NRL

Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima appears settled in the Brisbane Broncos’ No.7 jumper, producing a try assist in the comprehensive 32-10 defeat of Cronulla on Friday night.

Ex-Hornby Panther Fa’amanu Brown showed his versatility for the Sharks, moving back to hooker and filling in at five-eighth for three weeks. Brown racked up 22 tackles in 34 minutes of game-time and shapes as a possible No.9 option for Canterbury Bulldogs when he joins the club next season.

There was another Canterbury Rugby League head-to-head battle on Sunday afternoon when Matt McIlwrick’s Wests Tigers hosted Lewis Brown’s Manly Sea Eagles.

Halswell Hornets junior McIlwrick took the spoils in his 50th NRL appearance as the Tigers pulled off a last-minute victory, though he played just 28 minutes at hooker, reeling off 20 tackles. Riccarton Knights old boy Brown was afforded only 10 minutes off the bench, filling in at dummy-half and making five tackles and two runs.

INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP

After making his first NRL appearance of the season in Round 22, Jazz Tevaga dropped back to the ISP and came off the bench in the high-flying Warriors’ 26-16 win over Wentworthville at Mt Smart Stadium.

Meanwhile, former Hornby Panthers and Rockcote Canterbury Bulls halfback Tevin Arona made his comeback for the Warriors via the interchange after suffering a broken leg earlier this season.

Christchurch-born utility Pita Godinet featured again at fullback as Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles’ late-season resurgence continued, swamping Wests Tigers 46-12.

INTRUST SUPER CUP

Nathan Saumalu was at centre and Setaimata Sa played five-eighth as their Mackay Cutters side went down 28-16 to Burleigh Bears.

It was a tough day out for Jamayne Isaako’s Souths Logan Magpies, who were pumped 46-10 by Easts Tigers. The fullback kicked one goal and remains fourth on the ISC’s point-scorer’s table with 166.

NYC

Timaru Boys High product Ofa Manuofetoa, who piqued the interest of several NRL clubs after starring for Canterbury in the New Zealand 17s tournament last year, has played the last four games on the wing for Newcastle Knights’ Under-20s outfit. While he is yet to post a try in the grade, Manuofetoa is averaging 9.3 runs and 80.3 metres per game, and is in line to play in the NYC finals with the Knights currently sitting in sixth.