RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.12

April 23, 2024 / Will Evans

RED AND BLACK REPORT 2024: EDITION NO.12

April 23, 2024 / Will Evans

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 seventh round of the NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21s) and the semi-finals of the SG Ball (under-19s), Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (women’s under-18s) final series, the 10th round of the QRL Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s), the second-tier NSW Cup and Queensland Cup competitions, and NRL Round 7.

 

NRL

After signing with St George Illawarra from Hull FC, Hornby’s Fa’amanu Brown was drafted straight onto the Dragons’ bench and spent the last 18 minutes of their stunning 30-12 win over the Warriors at dummy-half.

Brown made his NRL debut a decade ago at Cronulla and has had stints with Canterbury-Bankstown (twice), Featherstone, Wests Tigers and Newcastle. He debuted for the Kiwis at the end of 2023 before heading off for a short-lived Super League stint.

Aranui product Jamayne Isaako and Burnham junior Kodi Nikorima both played their part in the high-flying Dolphins’ 41-8 rout of Parramatta in Darwin.

Though he had an off night with the boot – kicking just three goals from seven attempts – Kiwis winger Isaako contributed a line-break assist along with 10 runs, while five-eighth Nikorima produced a line-break and a try assist. The pair combined brilliantly for one of Max Plath’s tries during a second-half avalanche of points.

Another Aranui junior, Daejarn Asi, lined up at five-eighth for the Eels for the second straight week, making 17 tackles and a line-break assist before a head knock ended his night with 20 minutes left.

Hornby second-rower Jordan Riki scored his first try of 2024 in another 80-minute performance as Brisbane overwhelmed Canberra 34-10 at a wet Suncorp Stadium.

The 24-year-old also racked up 32 tackles and 12 runs for 104 metres.

It was a tough Sunday afternoon at Shark Park for North Queensland, going down 42-6 to Cronulla. West Coast-bred Kiwi and former Halswell Hornet Griffin Neame came off the Cowboys’ bench with 31 tackles and nine runs for 58 metres.

 

NSW CUP

Halswell product Tanner Stowers-Smith had one of the busiest games of the season as the Warriors edged the Dragons 26-24 with a last-minute try, leading his team’s forward pack with 158 metres from 14 carries as well as making 16 tackles in 47 minutes on the paddock.

WATCH WARRIORS V DRAGONS NSW CUP HERE

 

QLD CUP

Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe stalwart Sheldon Pitama was a try-scorer as the Dolphins steamrolled PNG Hunters in the second half to win 39-20 in Port Moresby. The second-rower also reeled off 25 tackles and seven runs in the victory.

Former Hornby Panthers and Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Caius Faatili came off the bench in Sunshine Coast Falcons’ 28-14 defeat of Townsville Blackhawks, chalking up six runs and 16 tackles.

 

JERSEY FLEGG

Linwood’s Makaia Tafua, who earned a NSW Cup debut for the Warriors in 2023, played his second straight game in their Jersey Flegg side at hooker and again scored their last try – this time in a 28-22 win over the Dragons.

Former Halswell half Oliver Lawry, a permanent fixture in the centres for Manly, kicked a goal in the Sea Eagles’ 30-10 loss to a Cronulla side that had ex-Hornby forward Felix Faatili coming off the bench.

Riccarton prop K-Ci Newton Whare was on the interchange again for Melbourne in a 24-16 home loss to Canberra.

West Coaster Callum Donaldson, who spent time in Halswell’s juniors, has nailed down the No.13 jersey at Canterbury-Bankstown and played in a 26-20 loss at Newcastle on Sunday.

WATCH JERSEY FLEGG ROUND 7 HIGHLIGHTS HERE

 

SG BALL

Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini’s amazing tryscoring run dried up, but he played his part as Canterbury-Bankstown secured a place in the grand final with a 28-22 semi-final win over Sydney Roosters.

The Bulldogs face St George Illawarra Dragons in Saturday’s decider at CommBank Stadium.

WATCH SG BALL SEMI-FINALS HIGHLIGHTS HERE

 

HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP

The Warriors marvellous maiden season in the Harold Matthews Cup has garnered an unlikely grand final appearance after they rolled minor premier Canterbury-Bankstown in Saturday’s semi-final.

Linwood’s Lennox Tuiloma started at lock and Hornby’s Isaiah Savea came off the bench as the Warriors produced a 12-10 upset of the Bulldogs, the grade’s defending premiers under the coaching of Halswell stalwart Shannon Rushworth.

The Warriors take on Western Suburbs Magpies in Saturday’s grand final at CommBank Stadium.

WATCH HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP SEMI-FINALS HIGHLIGHTS HERE

 

TARSHA GALE CUP

Cronulla’s campaign ended courtesy of a 26-4 semi-final loss to Illawarra Steelers, but Papanui Tigers second-rower Jaydika Tafua capped a memorable season with the Sharks’ only try.

WATCH TARSHA GALE CUP SEMI-FINALS HIGHLIGHTS HERE

 

MAL MENINGA CUP

Linwood’s and St Thomas’ Eli Bijl-Kakoi played his second game at five-eighth for Norths Devils, kicking a goal in a 38-10 defeat to Northern Pride.

Eastern Eagles product and 2023 South Island Scorpions repDenzel Siaki returned to the Devils’ bench for the loss.

 

 

 

 

 

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