TRANSCRIPT
The contribution of Indigenous people to Australian life is seen through sport perhaps more prominently than in any other field.
And, within sport, Indigenous Australians are particularly prominent through rugby league.
It makes a gathering of Indigenous Australians based around rugby league particularly poignant, significant, and looked forward to.
Welcome to the Koori knockout.
The idea of gathering the best Indigenous rugby league talent from around New South Wales first came in the 1960s, during a meeting of six young Indigenous men at the Clifton Hotel in the inner-Sydney suburb of Redfern.
The first tournament was held in Redfern in 1971 on the New South Wales Labour Day long weekend in October, featuring seven teams.
More than half a century later, 170 junior and senior teams, both men's and women's, will compete this weekend in Tamworth, in north-western New South Wales.
It's community-run, community-led.... and now thought to be the largest annual gathering- sporting or otherwise- of Aboriginal people in Australia.
And just how special it is, is not lost on the participants.
Ronald Griffiths is the coach of the New Zealand Warriors women's team in the National Rugby League.
He's coaching the Newcastle Yowies in this year's knockout.
He says the tournament is a pathway to success for Indigenous folk- both in sport, and in broader life.
"It's a really important time of the year for our people. And we spoke about the founding members previously. And I think the boys alluded to the fact that when this started...there's been so many who've been able to leverage this and go on to great things- run their own businesses... people that have gone on to play NRL. And you look at it now- 170 teams participating this weekend."
South Sydney Rabbitohs playmaker Cody Walker is one of the many who've gone on to make it in the N-R-L, even playing State of Origin for New South Wales.
He says one of the proudest achievements of his career still is being a winner at the Koori knockout.
"Yeah I am- 2011 in Bathurst, which was a huge highlight of my career. And... gunning for another over the next couple of years, which will hopefully happen."
He won't be playing this year, but many NRL stars will be there, turning out for community teams.
Those who currently have the right to call themselves men's champions are the Walgett Aboriginal Connection, whilst the Redfern All Blacks are the senior women's champs.
Walgett is led by former NRL player... now prominent boxing promoter... George Rose.
They've copped a tough draw in Group C of the men's competition.
Not that Rose minds.
"I think it must be the tough draw that works in our favour, so I think it's the best thing we could have had. If you want to win the knockout, you've got to play the best teams anyway. I think we enjoy tough games, we enjoy hard games. So I'm excited to be here, I'm excited to be a part of the 53rd knockout."
Walgett won in 2023 as well, making this year their attempt at a hat-trick of titles.
That's obviously an aim... but, as thousands gather to celebrate sport, identity, and culture... he knows what's truly important.
"We'll give it our best crack. We'll give it a red-hot crack. But it's going to be tough. The target on our back is as big as it can possibly get. Nobody wants to see us win it three in a row. We'd love to do it. Nobody wants to see it. So, every team that we play, doesn't matter who it is, it's going to be a hard game. Everyone's going to be gunning for us. But we love it. We play hard. We shake hands after it. If we win, we win. If we don't... thanks for coming to Tamworth."
The action runs all weekend, with the finals on Monday, broadcast live on NITV and SBS on Demand.
