RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.6
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League juniors featuring in Australia’s and Britain’s elite and lower-grade competitions.
A host of Canterbury products were in action in the latest round of the NSWRL and QRL competitions, as well as the NRL’s second round and the fourth round of England’s knockout Challenge Cup.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Halswell Hornets prop Tanner Stowers-Smith delivered another industrious performance off the bench in the Warriors’ dominant 40-6 win over Canberra Raiders, making 13 runs for 120 metres in just 35 minutes.
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong was an important contributor to Sydney Roosters’ 26-18 win over South Sydney Rabbitohs. The second-rower coupled 11 runs for 109 metres with a team-high 41 tackles.
Hornby Panthers second-rower Jordan Riki racked up eight runs for 71 metres and 34 tackles as Brisbane Broncos slumped to a 0-2 start via a 40-32 result at the hands of Parramatta Eels.
Aranui Eagles product and pointscoring machine Jamayne Isaako kicked three conversions from as many attempts and made 126 metres on 14 carries as the Dolphins rallied to a nail-biting 18-14 win over Gold Coast Titans.
Burnham junior Kodi Nikorima had 10 runs for 73 metres and 17 tackles at five-eighth.
West Coast product and Halswell junior player Griffin Neame churned out 12 runs for 123 metres and 25 tackles for North Queensland Cowboys, but it was a tough afternoon at Leichhardt Oval in a 44-16 loss to Wests Tigers.
NSW CUP
Linwood hooker Makaia Tafua topped the Warriors tackle count with 36 as the defending NSW Cup champs got off the mark with a 44-16 win over Canberra, while he also made eight runs for 69 metres.
Riccarton Knights junior K-Ci Newton-Whare lined up at prop as Melbourne went down 42-26 to St George Illawarra.
Starting the season on the bench for Newtown, ex-Hornby tyro Felix Faatili scored a try in a 38-16 win over Penrith, as well as eight runs for 91 metres and 25 tackles. The Jets had the Round 1 bye.
Papanui Tigers junior Ezekiel Paulo was promoted to make his NSW Cup debut in the second-row for Manly, scoring his side’s first try in a 46-24 loss to Newcastle on top of 11 runs for 89 metres and 22 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Hornby Panthers second-row sensation Bishop Neal’s remarkable progress continues at the Warriors, marking his second Jersey Flegg appearance with a try, a try assist and three line-breaks in a 48-28 win over Canberra in Sydney.
Another Panthers junior, Jackson Stewart, featured in the centres for Sydney Roosters and scored a try in a 40-22 loss to South Sydney. A Northern Bulldogs and Papanui Tigers junior, Jamayne Feast came off the bench for the Rabbitohs after lining up at halfback in Round 1.
Linwood product Te Kaio Cranwell, Newcastle’s captain and front-rower, scored the late match-winning try in a 16-14 eclipse of Manly.
SG BALL CUP
Linwood second-rower Lennox Tuiloma scored a try in the Warriors’ hard-fought 24-16 win over Balmain, while Hornby’s Micah Sula dropped back to start at prop after making his Jersey Flegg debut off the bench last week.
The Keas’ Amasio Tiatia was back at hooker for the Warriors and Halswell’s Rene Frame came off the bench.
Another Hornby product, Isaiah Savea, was back on deck for Melbourne at prop in a 50-6 rout of Cronulla.
HAROLD MATTHEWS CUP
Linwood Keas hooker Kaci Heath and Sydenham Swans lock Evander Tafua featured in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 34-6 loss to Illawarra.
Hornby Panthers forward Riley Smart again played in the second-row and Sydenham Swans’ Seu Fidow made his first start at prop in Sydney Roosters’ 20-16 loss to Canberra.
Swans prop Kenny Lafituanai was in the run-on side and scored the Warriors’ first try in a nail-biting 24-22 loss to Balmain, while Riccarton Knights’ Christiano Elia played lock.
TARSHA GALE CUP
Linwood junior and Canterbury age-group rep Olive Connolly made her sixth appearance at prop for Penrith’s under-19s in a 26-20 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown.
Another Keas product, halfback Julliana Kolio scored a try for the fourth week in a row as Cronulla whipped Melbourne 46-6.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Redcliffe veteran and Northern Bulldogs product Sheldon Pitama started at lock in a 28-14 win over Townsville, making nine runs for 59 metres and 23 tackles.
In-demand West Coast product and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven’s rapid rise continues, with the teenaged three-quarter scoring a try in each half of Wynnum Manly’s 28-20 win over PNG Hunters in Port Moresby – after they trailed 20-0.
QRL HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-19S
A Linwood Keas CRL Women’s Premiership grand finalist at Canterbury Bulls 18s Girls rep in 2025, Kayshana Rapana lined up at lock and kicked three goals in Brisbane Tigers’ 54-4 win over Northern Pride.
SUPER LEAGUE
Burnham Chevaliers hooker/lock Jazz Tevaga and Hornby Panthers interchange forward Caius Faatili – who produced a try assist – helped Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to a 24-14 upset of Leeds Rhinos in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup.
Aranui Eagles playmaker Daejarn Asi’s Castleford side was knocked out of the competition 32-8 by St Helens.
