RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.17
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 Round 12 and the latest round of matches from the Super League in the UK.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong produced another workhorse performance in Sydney Roosters’ second-row as they went down 18-4 to Melbourne, making a game-high 41 tackles along with 12 runs for 105 metres.
West Coast product and Halswell Hornets junior player Griffin Neame played 38 minutes off North Queensland’s bench in a 26-12 loss to Canberra. He chalked up seven runs for 66 metres and 19 tackles.
Another Hornets junior, Tanner Stowers-Smith, was outstanding off the bench for the Warriors in their 20-18 defeat to Penrith on Sunday night. The front-rower made an eye-catching nine runs for 86 metres and 35 tackles in the high-quality encounter.
NSW CUP
Riccarton Knights product K-Ci Newton-Whare made 13 runs for 118 metres off the bench as Melbourne swamped Sydney Roosters 60-6.
Linwood Keas hooker Makaia Tafua continues to shine for the Warriors’ NSW Cup side, topping the tackle count with 46 in a 30-20 loss to Penrith, along with five runs for 53 metres and a try assist.
Meanwhile, Hornby Panthers’ 17-year-old backrower Bishop Neal was magnificent with 15 runs for 164 metres, two line-breaks, a bullocking try and a big hand in an outstanding team four-pointer.
Another Panthers junior, Sosaia Alatini, is making a huge impact in the centres for Canterbury-Bankstown. The tyro produced two line-breaks and three try assists – along with eight runs for 93 metres – in the Bulldogs’ 38-26 loss to Western Suburbs.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Linwood Keas product Te Kaio Cranwell led Newcastle to a 30-24 win over Parramatta from lock.
Aranui Eagles winger Victory Isaako kicked four goals for Melbourne in a 28-16 win over a Sydney Roosters outfit that included Hornby Panthers junior Jackson Stewart in the centres.
Linwood Keas hooker Amasio Tiatia’s strong tryscoring season continued with a four-pointer in the Warriors’ 40-30 win over Penrith on Sunday.
Linwood’s Chelden Hayward played on the wing and Northern five-eighth Bronson Reuben kicked two goals in Canterbury-Bankstown’s 26-20 loss to Wests Tigers.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe veteran Sheldon Pitama started at lock in the Dolphins’ 40-22 win over Brisbane Tigers, racking up 21 tackles and producing a line-break assist.
West Coaster and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven – a Brisbane Broncos NRL debutant this season – featured at fullback in Wynnum Manly Seagulls’ 36-10 win over CQ Capras. He finished with two line-breaks and a game-high eight tackle-breaks among nine runs for 131 metres.
