RED AND BLACK REPORT 2026: EDITION NO.34
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 weekend’s NRL and Super League finals matches, NSWRL and QRL grand finals.
Have we missed anyone? Email will@crfl.co.nz to let us know!
NRL
Burnham Chevaliers junior Siua Wong is set to play in his first NRL grand final after helping Sydney Roosters to a 36-20 preliminary final victory over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium.
The 23-year-old second-rower, playing his 66th NRL game, racked up 114 metres on 13 runs and 35 tackles.
The result brought Melbourne Storm-bound Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako’s tenure at the Dolphins to an end. But the winger’s two tries and two goals (along with 18 runs for 162 metres) saw him pass a significant milestone.
Isaako became just the fourth player in premiership history to score 300 points in a season, finishing with 310 – the third-highest tally of all time. The 30-year-old played all 98 of the Dolphins’ games over their first four seasons, scoring 70 tries and 1,055 points.
Including his seasons with the Broncos and Titans, Isaako’s NRL career record stands at 97 tries and 1,627 points from 186 games.
Another Dolphins foundation player and Burnham Chevaliers junior, Kodi Nikorima, also played his last game for the club. Signed by St George Illawarra Dragons for 2027, the five-eighth had nine runs for 61 metres, four tackle-breaks, a line-break assist and 22 tackles in the loss.
The former Bronco, Warrior and Rabbitoh has played 244 NRL games – 84 of them for the Dolphins, during which time he scored 22 tries and produced 68 try assists.
NSW CUP
Newtown was overrun 36-6 by Penrith in the NSW Cup grand final, but Hornby Panthers product Felix Faatili made a typically strong impression off the bench for the Jets.
Making his 25th appearance of the season, the Cronulla-contracted front-row tyro churned through seven runs for 71 metres and 17 tackles in 28 minutes in the defeat.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Penrith also ran riot in the Jersey Flegg Cup grand final, thumping Canterbury-Bankstown 62-16, but the Bulldogs’ Canterbury (NZ) contingent nevertheless left their mark on a one-sided contest.
Linwood Keas winger Chelden Hayward flashed over for the Bulldogs’ only try of the first half, while Northern Bulldogs five-eighth Bronson Reuben stepped through for an impressive four-pointer after the break and slotted two conversions.
Hornby Panthers centre Sosaia Alatini, a NSW Cup regular in 2026, also lined up for the Bulldogs.
QUEENSLAND CUP
Northern Bulldogs product and Redcliffe stalwart Sheldon Pitama captained the Dolphins to a thrilling 28-18 victory over Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup grand final.
In his 151st game for the club, the 30-year-old hooker/lock came off the bench and made five runs and 15 tackles before hoisting the trophy post-match. Pitama will lead the Dolphins into the State Championship against Penrith on NRL grand final day.
WATCH QUEENSLAND CUP GRAND FINAL HIGHLIGHTS HERE
SUPER LEAGUE
Burnham Chevaliers junior Jazz Tevaga and Hornby Panthers product Caius Faatili featured in one of the great Super League upsets, helping propel Wakefield Trinity into its first grand final with a stunning 33-6 win over perennial heavyweight Wigan.
Wildcats lock Tevaga bounced back from a first-half sin-binning to notching 117 metres on 16 runs and 21 tackles. Powerhouse prop Faatili was damaging off the bench with 16 runs for 118 metres – including seven tackle-breaks – and made 20 tackles.
Wakefield face Warrington in the grand final on Sunday morning (NZT).
