CRL News

Shirley Boys’ High School product Cruz Topai-aveai’s barnstorming form for the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NYC team has earned him a lucrative three-year deal with defending NRL premiers Cronulla Sharks from 2018. Topai-aveai was a standout during Shirley 1st XV’s charge to the 2016 UC Championship final, attracting the interest of the Rabbitohs, linking with the…

The following players have been selected in the Canterbury Women’s squad for next month’s national tournament. Angela Petero (Linwood) Amanda Sopoaga (Linwood) Beatrice Korewha (Burnham) Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe (Papanui) Carissa Leka (Celebration) Charntay Poko (Papanui) Corrina Whiley (Papanui) Dayna Napa (Papanui) Easter Savelio (Linwood) Epenesa Ki (Linwood) Fleur Barker (Woolston) Jazz Wynyard (Celebration) Jerusha Whiley (Papanui)…

In a remarkable afternoon of Massetti Cup action on Saturday afternoon, Celebration Lions and Papanui Tigers overturned eight-point halftime deficits to pull off important wins, while Halswell Hornets came desperately close to snatching a last-minute draw after trailing premiers Linwood by 18 points at the break. The Keas were on course for a big win…

The last-ever Anzac Test delivered an all-too-familiar result for David Kidwell’s New Zealand side, with a first-half blitz by Australia laying the platform for a comfortable victory – the green-and-golds’ 17th in 19 mid-season clashes since the inaugural showdown in 1998. THE MATCH: The Kiwis started strongly and remained confident after Josh Dugan climbed over opposing…

The Australian Jillaroos reclaimed supremacy in women’s rugby league with a well-deserved win in a typically bruising and absorbing Test against a gallant Kiwi Ferns outfit, but the disappointment of the 16-4 result was tempered in Canterbury by the outstanding debuts of front-rower Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe and centre Corrina Whiley. The Papanui Tigers pair emphatically proved…

There’s a few heavy hearts around the Canterbury Rugby League offices today, with long-serving Operations Manager Chou Teiwaki finishing up this week to join his family’s property business – after a well-earned break and some quality time with his wife and young son and daughter. Chou played one year with Sydenham Swans and six seasons…

Sydenham Swans haven’t had a team in the Massetti Cup for a decade, but the Canterbury Rugby League foundation club’s determination to survive and prosper remains as strong as ever. And fittingly, a former Swans great is leading the open-ended fight for a return to the glory days. Second-term president David Field is a Sydenham…

Each week we’ll be keeping you up to date with how our Canterbury Rugby League products are performing in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions. Here’s how they went in Round 9: NRL Riccarton Knights’ favourite son Lewis Brown played 23 minutes in the back-row during Manly’s sizzling 46-8 rout of South Sydney, making three runs and seven…

CRL PREMIERS MASSETTI CUP – ROUND 4 RESULTS & SCORERS Papanui Tigers 34 ( Steven Knights, Tane Suavine, Kyle Pauro, Darren Tonihi, Isaac Malitota, Izic Placid tries. Izic Placid 5 goals) bt Halswell Hornets 14 ( Ben Ilalio, Willie Davies, Jamie Nuttridge tries. Jamie Nuttridge 1 goal) Hornby Panthers 36 ( Tauvale Tauvale, Christian Eric 2, James Baxendale 2,…

Via The Press Photo Credit: John Kirk-Anderson The Hornby Panthers will take some stopping in the Canterbury Rugby League premiership based on early-season form. Jeremy Lawrie’s side had their third consecutive win on Saturday, beating the Northern Bulldogs 36-8 to remain the only unbeaten side in the Massetti Cup. Canterbury Bulls captain James Baxendale and Christian Eric both…