RED AND BLACK REPORT: EDITION NO.8

The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.

Canterbury products were in action in the eighth round of the NSWRL SG Ball Cup (under-19s) and Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s), the seventh round of the QRL Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s), as well as the third round of the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21s) and the second-tier NSW Cup and Queensland Cup competitions, and NRL Round 3.

NRL

Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga made his first NRL appearance of 2024 – and 120th of his career – after getting a late call-up for the Warriors’ sold-out showdown with Canberra in Christchurch.

The lionhearted forward was outstanding in 34 minutes off the bench, producing 10 runs for 101 metres and 27 tackles in the Warriors’ tense 18-10 victory.

It was a tough night out at Penrith for the injury-hit Brisbane Broncos, but Hornby Panthers product Jordan Riki played the full 80 minutes and toiled for 99 metres and 30 tackles in his 70th NRL appearance.

West Coast Kiwi Griffin Neame, who previously played for Halswell Hornets in the CRL juniors, had a big game off the bench as North Queensland – the only unbeaten team in the premiership – rallied to a 46-24 road win over St George Illawarra.

Neame led the Cowboys’ forwards with 18 runs for 178 metres, made 19 tackles and scored a first-half try as they fought back from a 14-point deficit.

NSW CUP

Halswell junior Tanner Stowers-Smith was a strong performer for a depleted, soundly-beaten Warriors outfit in Canberra on Saturday.

The teenaged prop made 11 runs for 100 metres and 26 tackles in 56 minutes as the Warriors went down 42-4 to the Raiders.

Versatile Aranui product Daejarn Asi scored a try, kicked two goals and had a try assist from fullback in Parramatta’s 40-20 loss to Blacktown. Asi could come into calculations for an NRL recall in the halves following the slated 12-week injury spell that has befallen star Eels No.7 Mitchell Moses.

Surprisingly demoted by Sydney Roosters NRL coach Trent Robinson, Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong responded with 10 runs for 93 metres and a whopping 41 tackles in a 28-12 NSW Cup loss to South Sydney.

WATCH EELS V SEA EAGLES NSW CUP HIGHLIGHTS

QLD CUP

Former Hornby and Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Caius Faatili was promoted to Sunshine Coast Falcons’ starting front-row for last weekend’s trip to Port Moresby, contributing 13 runs for 134 metres and 21 tackles in a 22-10 defeat to PNG Hunters.

Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe Dolphins veteran Sheldon Pitama played 80 minutes in the back-row and at hooker in a 22-12 loss to Wynnum Manly Seagulls, chalking up 93 metres from 13 runs and 37 tackles in a typically industrious showing.

JERSEY FLEGG CUP

Former Halswell half Oliver Lawry has cemented a place in the centres for Manly’s Jersey Flegg side and featured in a convincing 24-6 win over Parramatta on Saturday.

Riccarton Knights prop K-Ci Newton Whare came off the bench in Melbourne’s 34-12 defeat to Newcastle.

Ex-Hornby forward Felix Faatili belatedly opened Cronulla’s account in a 38-18 loss to Wests Tigers, scoring the Sharks’ first try just after halftime after they went into the break 32 points in arrears.

West Coaster Callum Donaldson, a South Island Scorpions age-group regular who also played for Halswell, is currently holding down the No.13 jersey for Canterbury-Bankstown and played in a 35-18 loss at the hands of Penrith.

WATCH JERSEY FLEGG CUP RD 3 HIGHLIGHTS

SG BALL CUP

Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini can’t stop scoring tries for Canterbury-Bankstown, dotting down again in the first half as the in-form Bulldogs swamped Illawarra Steelers 46-16.

Linwood Keas CRL premiership winner Te Kaio Cranwell lined up in the second-row in Newcastle’s 34-18 victory over South Sydney.

Former Linwood playmaker Cairo Rangihuna-Ruri – who starred in South Logan Magpies’ Mal Meninga Cup side last year – earned a call-up to Cronulla’s SG Ball side, playing in the second-row in a 30-all draw with the Warriors that saw the Sharks rally from 24 points down early in the second half.

WATCH SG BALL CUP RD 8 HIGHLIGHTS

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

The Warriors went down 40-10 to Cronulla Sharks, but there was silver lining for Isaiah Savea, who scored a try for the second week in succession after coming off the bench. Hornby, St Thomas’ and Canterbury 16s teammate Micah Sula earned a starting spot at prop for the Warriors.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, coached by Halswell stalwart Shannon Rushworth, stayed unbeaten with a 52-6 rout of Illawarra Steelers to further enhance their claims for back-to-back under-17s titles.

WATCH HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP RD 8 HIGHLIGHTS

TARSHA GALE CUP

Cronulla Sharks’ Tarsha Gale Cup side suffered a setback courtesy of a 36-14 loss to Newcastle Knights, but Papanui second-rower Jaydika Tafua added to her 2024 tryscoring tally during the second half.

WATCH TARSHA GALE CUP RD 8 HIGHLIGHTS

MAL MENINGA CUP

Eastern Eagles product and 2023 South Island Scorpions rep Denzel Siaki broke into Norths Devils’ under-18s line-up last week, coming off the bench in an 18-14 loss to Souths Logan Magpies in the Mal Meninga Cup.

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