RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.19
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’s competitions, as well as the NRL’s Round 15 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
It was a memorable Saturday night in Auckland for the Canterbury Rugby League community as Linwood Keas product Makaia Tafua made an eye-catching NRL debut for the Warriors.
The 21-year-old hooker pulled off a string of stinging hits among 12 tackles in his 16-minute stint off the bench during the second half of a 10-8 defeat to Cronulla, while he looked composed at dummy-half.
Meanwhile, Halswell Hornets’ Tanner Stowers-Smith started in the front-row with skipper James Fisher-Harris out injured and was one of the Warriors’ best, leading all forwards with 16 runs for 137 metres, and making 29 tackles.
Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako made 20 runs for 189 metres, five tackle-breaks and kicked seven goals from as many attempts as the Dolphins swamped Sydney Roosters 48-10. Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima had a try assist and three line-break assists for the in-form Dolphins.
Another Chevaliers junior, Siua Wong, played 80 minutes in the second-row for the Roosters and racked up 10 runs for 103 metres and a game-high 52 tackles.
Hornby Panthers junior Jordan Riki returned from a four-week injury layoff in Brisbane’s 48-6 loss to South Sydney, playing the full 80 minutes and contributing 107 metres from 10 runs and 31 tackles.
West Coaster and Eastern Eagles junior player Antonio Verhoeven made his third NRL appearance for the Broncos, racking up 13 runs for 94 metres and a whopping 29 tackles.
NSW CUP
Inching closer to an NRL appearance, Papanui Tigers’ Jason Salalilo was one of the two unused replacements on the Warriors’ six-man bench against the Sharks.
Earlier in the day, Salalilo played 30 minutes in the Warriors’ 30-22 NSW Cup win over Newtown, making five runs for 51 metres and 26 tackles. The promising forward re-signed with the club until the end of 2029 last week.
Hornby Panthers product Felix Faatili was also handed a fulltime NRL contract with Cronulla for the 2027-28 seasons last week, celebrating with a run-on appearance at prop in the Jets’ loss to the Warriors. He churned out 118 metres on nine runs – including a team-high seven tackle-breaks – and 25 tackles.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Moving to fullback for Sydney Roosters after featuring at centre for most of the season, Hornby Panthers’ Jackson Stewart was a tryscorer in a 26-18 win over Wests Tigers.
NSW WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
A star of the Cronulla side that reached the Tarsha Gale Cup grand final earlier this year, Linwood Keas’ Julliana Kolio made her NSW Women’s Premiership debut in the Sharks’ 18-12 opening-round loss to South Sydney.
Eastern Eagles’ Terongomaianiwaniwa Williams has progressed from the CRL Women’s Premiership and representing the Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls in 2025 to making her NSW Women’s Premiership debut for Canterbury-Bankstown. The front-rower featured in the Bulldogs’ 26-20 loss to St George in Round 1.
Hornby Panthers’ Manisha Seebeck is back for another NSW Women’s Premiership campaign with Sydney Roosters, lining up on the wing in a 22-all draw with Wests Tigers.
SUPER LEAGUE
Wakefield Trinity came back to earth via a 48-10 loss to Wigan, but Hornby Panthers product and ex-Canterbury Bulls forward Caius Faatili nevertheless impressed off the bench with 10 runs for 118 metres and 31 tackles.
Aranui Eagles product and former NRL utility-back Daejarn Asi was also a standout in a losing effort, producing three try assists in Castleford’s 34-28 defeat to Catalans.
