RED AND BLACK REPORT 2025: EDITION NO.5
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 fifth 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 third week of QRL’s Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s) and the English Super League.
SG BALL CUP
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs played out a thrilling 28-all draw against St George Illawarra Dragons, with Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben scoring a try in each half and Hornby second-rower Sosaia Alatini dotting down during the second. Linwood’s Genesis Ah Kam Sherlock again lined up at centre for the Bulldogs.
Centre Jackson Stewart tempered the disappointment of Sydney Roosters’ 38-32 loss to Newcastle with a first-half try. Fellow Hornby product Ezekiel Faga-Ieti was part of the victorious Knights’ interchange contingent.
Hornby Panthers’ Isaiah Savea featured at hooker and Linwood Keas’ Rico Lemalie came off the bench to score his first SG Ball try for the Shannon Rushworth-coached Warriors, who went down 38-16 to Melbourne Storm in Pukekohe.
Papanui Tigers junior Ezekiel Paulo continues to hold down a second-row spot for Manly Sea Eagles, who lost 32-16 to Canberra Raiders on Saturday.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
The Warriors bounced back from last week’s loss to Illawarra Steelers via a 20-8 win over Melbourne Storm.
Celebration Lions’ Amasio Tiatia lined up at hooker, Aoraki product and Hornby Panthers junior player Dougal Grant was in the second-row, and Hornby Panthers back-row sensation Bishop Neal came off the bench with Sydenham Swans prop Kenny Lafituanai.
Sydenham Swans junior Evander Tafua came off the bench in Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’
TARSHA GALE CUP
Returning at lock for Penrith Panthers, Hornby Panthers’ Kyra-Lee Westland scored a try in a 28-16 victory over North Sydney Bears.
Westland’s Hornby CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership teammate Manisha Seebeck added to her try tally from the wing in the Roosters’ 46-6 defeat of South Sydney. Linwood Keas’ Te Koha Te Rito marked her debut off the bench for the Rabbitohs with a stint in the sin bin.
MAL MENINGA CUP
Greymouth centre Antonio Verhoeven, who turned out for Eastern Eagles 18s and St Bede’s in 2024, bagged his second try double in three rounds as Burleigh Bears overwhelmed Souths Logan Magpies.
SUPER LEAGUE
Aranui Eagles product Daejarn Asi featured at five-eighth in Castleford Tigers’ 38-24 loss to Leeds Rhinos.
