CRL NEWS
Real the latest local league news
TRILLO METALS CANTERBURY WOMEN’S SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR NZRL PREMIERSHIP
The Trillo Metals Canterbury Women’s squad has been named for the upcoming NZRL National Premiership, which gets underway on September 2. The competition returns to its usual post-season place on the calendar after being held in March-April in 2022 in the wake of two COVID-interrupted rep seasons. Canterbury’s most recent...
MORE GRAND FINAL HISTORY BECKONS FOR KEAS
Linwood Keas have rewritten the Canterbury Rugby League record books several times in recent years – and they can match the most dominant dynasty in CRL Grand Final history with another victory over fierce rivals Hornby Panthers on Sunday. Linwood’s run of five straight Pat Smith Trophy Challenge triumphs from...
PANTHERS PRIMED TO REDRESS FINALS BALANCE AGAINST KEAS
Few clubs in the world of rugby league would be as familiar with one another as Hornby Panthers and Linwood Keas. The archrivals have met almost 30 times in the past eight seasons, while they are preparing to square off in the Pat Smith Trophy Challenge for the seventh time...
SWANS FIND IDEAL MIX AHEAD OF GRAND FINAL SHOWDOWN
Sydenham Swans are banking on their blend of experienced premiership-winning stalwarts and exuberant first-timers to regain the CRL Women’s Premiership from Linwood Keas on Happy Hire Grand Final Day at Ngā Puna Wai on Sunday. Champions in 2020-21, the Swans were run down late in a 22-20 thriller in the...
KEAS COMBAT LONG BREAK IN BID FOR BACK-TO-BACK WOMEN’S TITLES
By the time Linwood Keas run out onto Ngā Puna Wai for the CRL Women’s Premiership Grand Final to face Sydenham Swans, it will have been 42 days since their last game. A combination of weather cancellations, byes and defaults have conspired against the defending champions, who have also taken...
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: MEL COOKE’S BRILLIANT TEST DEBUT
Ahead of the Mel Cooke Trophy being awarded for the 10th time to the standout player in Sunday's Grand Final, this week's Flashback Friday goes back 64 years to the Test debut of the player recognised by most as Hornby's - and indeed Canterbury's - greatest rugby league product, the...
LINWOOD V HORNBY: THE RIVALRY CONTINUES
This Sunday’s CRL Men's Premiership Grand Final at Ngā Puna Wai will see another chapter of one of Canterbury Rugby League’s greatest club rivalries unfold. Linwood Keas and Hornby Panthers will go toe-to-toe for the Pat Smith Trophy for the seventh time in eight years – and the 10th time...
CRL PREMIERSHIP DECIDERS: A GRAND HISTORY
The Pat Smith Trophy has been Canterbury Rugby League’s ultimate prize for more than half a century, awarded to the winning side in each year’s Grand Final since a playoffs system replaced the first-past-the-post format to decide the premiership in 1967. Sunday’s Men’s Premiership decider between defending champs Linwood Keas...
PAT SMITH’S ENDURING LEGACY
Most know the Pat Smith Trophy is the greatest prize in Canterbury Rugby League, but how much do you know about the man it is named after? As the silverware is polished up and prepared to be awarded for the 57th time on Sunday, to either Linwood or Hornby after...
CANTERBURY BULLS SECURE SENZ AS NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR
The SENZ Canterbury Bulls will compete in next month’s NZRL National Premiership following a partnership between Canterbury Rugby League and the national sports broadcaster to become the naming rights sponsor of the region’s flagship men’s representative team. “We are grateful and excited with the opportunity to partner with our national...
RED AND BLACK REPORT 2023: EDITION NO.12
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League products featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions. NRL The Dolphins have faded out of NRL finals contention, but Aranui Eagles product Jamayne Isaako and Burnham Chevaliers junior Kodi Nikorima remain in great form. Isaako scored a scintillating...
CRL 2023: FINALS WEEK 2 WRAP
Linwood and Hornby will meet in the Pat Smith Trophy decider for the seventh time in eight years after the Panthers carved out a 26-12 victory in Saturday’s CRL Men’s Premiership preliminary final against Halswell Hornets. The Panthers, who bundled the Hornets out of the finals at the corresponding stage...
