RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.4
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
A host of Canterbury products were in action in the fourth round of the NSWRL’s junior competitions, the SG Ball Cup (men’s under-19s), Harold Matthews Cup (men’s under-17s) and Tarsha Gale Cup (women’s under-19s), as well as the second week of QRL’s Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s) and the English Super League.
SG BALL CUP
Linwood centre Genesis Ah Kam Sherlock, Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben and Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini helped Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs to their third win of the season, 30-10 over North Sydney Bears.
Hornby’s Ezekiel Faga-Ieti came off the bench to score a try in Newcastle Knights’ 34-22 loss to Cronulla Sharks
Ezekiel Faga-Ieti (Hornby) try for Knights in SG Ball #KiwiNRL pic.twitter.com/BnMkyCopEk
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 25, 2025
Hornby centre Jackson Stewart again lined up at centre for Sydney Roosters as they were pipped 30-28 in a thriller against Canberra Raiders.
Papanui Tigers junior Ezekiel Paulo made his third appearance in the back-row for Manly Sea Eagles, but his team went down 48-14 to Melbourne Storm.
Hornby Panthers’ Isaiah Savea was a late inclusion at hooker and Rico Lemalie made his second appearance off the bench for the Shannon Rushworth-coached Warriors, who went down in a nail-biter to Illawarra Steelers, 28-26.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Just two days after being named Male Junior Player of the Year in the 2024 NZRL Grassroots awards, Hornby Panthers’ and St Thomas’ second-rower Bishop Neal scored a stunning solo try for the Warriors in the first half of their clash with Illawarra Steelers that took the internet by storm.
Bishop Neal (Hornby) try for NZ Warriors in Harold Matthews Cup #KiwiNRL pic.twitter.com/PewlZvs804
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 23, 2025
Aoraki product and Hornby Panthers junior player Dougal Grant partnered Neal in the second-row, while Celebration Lions winger Calieb Fidow was on the wing, Sydenham Swans’ Kenny Lafituanai featured at prop, Celebration Lions’ Amasio Tiatia was promoted to starting hooker and Riccarton Knights’ Christiano Elia came off the bench as the Warriors were edged out 22-16.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood Keas’ Dejah Tuilau played her fourth straight game in the centres as Penrith Panthers overwhelmed Manly Sea Eagles 46-16.
MAL MENINGA CUP
Greymouth product Antonio Verhoeven, who turned out for Eastern Eagles 18s and St Bede’s in 2024, backed up his two-try debut for Burleigh Bears last week with another run at centre in a 28-all draw with Norths Devils.
SUPER LEAGUE
Ex-Hornby and Canterbury Bulls powerhouse Caius Faatili made 15 tackles and four runs off the bench in Wakefield Trinity’s 14-12 defeat to Hull KR.
Aranui’s Daejarn Asi made a line-break, 100 metres and 15 tackles at five-eighth in a tough afternoon for Castleford Tigers, who were trounced 46-6 by St Helens.
