The 49th annual New South Wales Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout — widely known as the Koori Knockout — kicked off on Friday on the Central Coast with the women's and junior teams going to head-to-head in efforts to make it to the final round on Monday.
Families and supporters began arriving to the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex as early as 7.30am to ensure they secured a prime spot along one of the five playing fields.
The noticeable talent and skill of the women and young men's rugby players, who were the two competitions running, set a high standard for the days' to come. as fierce players tackled their opponents to the ground and shook hands in solitude after their game came to wrap.
Cody Walker, NRL South-Sydney Rabbitohs player, was one of the familiar faces among the supporting crowd who told NITV News that the Koori Knockout is an event he looks forward to every year.
“To come here and be with a lot of family and to see a lot of people you don't normally see ... you usually see a lot of your family in and around funerals and everything like that, so it’s a great opportunity to see everyone in a happy environment,” he said.
As midday rolled around, the women’s Newcastle Yowies, coached by former NRL player Timana Tahu, were tipped as a team to watch out for with player Caitlin Moran a known talent everyone had their eyes on.
Ms Moran is known for slotting the 29th minute World Cup field goal in 2017, which saw her sign a contract with the Brisbane Broncos ahead of the inaugural NRL W Competition last year.
Before even making her debut with the Broncos, Ms Moran tore her ACL in one of the first season matches with the Queensland-based side South Slogans.
Now back in the Koori Knockout after a two-year break from playing in the sporting event, nervousness sunk in before the time came to step onto the field.
"I’m a little bit nervous but I'm also keen," she told NITV News. "I haven't played football for the past two years now ... [it's the] first game back but I've trained and everything with it so I'm hoping for the best."
The Yowies went up against the La Parouse Panthers winning 12-4 in a memorable match, including a heart-stopping moment by Ms Moran, who scored a conversion kick putting the Yowies ahead.
Making it to round three, the Yowies versed the Riverina Sisters, winning 8-2 seeing them off to the finale on Monday.
Day 1 results:
Women
Round One
South Tree 0 – 24 Bellbrook Dunghutti Connections
Central Coast Pelicans 0 – 20 Toomelah Tigers
Newcastle Hunter Connections 0 – 16 Bundjalung Connections
Hunter Wayila 4 – 12 Redfern All Blacks
Walgett Aboriginal Connection 38 – 0 Serpents
Maitland United 0 – 16 Yuin Fitt
Round Two
Toomelah Descendants 4 – 20 Riverina Sisters
La Perouse Panthers 4 – 12 Newcastle Yowies
Western Sydney United 0 – 38 Bellbrook Dunghutti Connections
Toomelah Tigers 6 – 22 Bundjalung Connections
Leonie Drew Memorial 0 – 6 Red Belly Blacks
Campbelltown Ghosts 8 – 6 Newcastle All Blacks
Wellington Wedgetails – Redfern All Blacks
Walgett Aboriginal Connection - Yuin Fitt
Round Three
Riverina Sisters 2 – 18 Newcastle Yowies
Bellbrook Dunghutti Connections 12 – 0 Bundjalung Connections
Red Belly Blacks 6 - 0 Campbelltown Ghosts
Welington Wedgetails 10 - 10 Walgett Aboriginal Connection
U-12s boys
Round One
Wiradjuri United 4 – 6 Goodooga Magpies
Castlereagh Connection 16 – 4 Bellbrook Bulldogs
Gomeroi Allstars 26 – 6 Kamilaroi Galmaay’s
Wandiyali Djurrgais 18 – 16 Iwata All Blacks
Round Two
Newcastle Emus 4 – 18 Narwan Eels
Central Coast Pelicans 4 – 4 Moree Boomerangs
Mindaribba Warriors 6 – 28 La Perouse Panthers
Goodooga Magpies 4 –0 Castlereagh Connection
Newcastle All Blacks 28 – 12 Cabbage Tree Island
Butucarbin Warriors 30 – 18 Bundjalung Baygal Warriors
Campbelltown Ghosts 4 – 16 Newcastle Yowies
Gomeroi Allstars 22 – 12 Wandiyali Djurrgals
Round Three
Narwen Eels 6 – 22 Central Coast Pelicans
La Perouse Panthers 48 – 0 Goodooga Magpies
Newcastle All Blacks 10 – 16 Butucarbin Warriors
Newcastle Yowies 22 – 0 Gomeroi Allstars
U-15s boys
Round One
Koori Brothers United 0 – 0 Wahroonga Goannas
La Perouse Panthers 18 – 6 Jordos Rabbitohs
Butucarbin Warriors 14 – 0 Newcastle All Blacks
Wiradjuri United 4 – 30 Goodooga Magpies
Wiradjuri Djurrgals 6 – 30 Combined Countries
Round Two
Narwan Eels 6 – 30 Toomelah Tigers
Cabbage Tree Island 12 – 10 Gomeroi Allstars
Castlereagh Connections 4 – 46 Bellbrook Bulldogs
Koorie Brothers United 0 – 40 La Perouse Panthers
South Taree 34 – 4 Kamilaroi Galmaay’s
Newcastle Brothers United 32 – 6 Mungindi Grasshoppers
Blacktown Western Warriors 0 – 24 Butucarbin Warriors
Doodooga Magpies 6 – 10 Combined Countries
Round Three
Toomelah Tigers 20 – 12 Cabbage Tree Island
Bellbrook Bulldogs 8 – 10 Le Perouse Panthers
South Taree 18 - 0 Newcastle Brothers United
Butucarbin Warriors 10 – 0 Combined Countries
U-16 girls
Round One
Newcastle All Blacks 4 – 32 La Perouse Panthers
Butucarbin Warriors 4 – 10 Redfern All Blacks
Gumbaynggir 10 – 18 Narwen Eels
U-17s boys
Round One
Moree Boomerangs 12 – 22 Wiradjuri United
Bellbrook Bulldogs 6 – 22 Yamboora Roos
Central Coast United 8 – 12 La Perouse Panthers
Combined Countries 20 – 0 Campbeltown Ghosts
Toomelah Tiger 4 – 26 Cabbage Tree Island
Western Koori Eels 20 – 4 Western Sydney United
Round Two
Kempsey Sharks 28 – 0 Koori Brothers United
2829 CAB Next Ten Coonambie 16 – 8 Redfern City
Toronto West Lakes 6 – 24 Wiradjuri United
Yamboora Roos 18 – 20 La Perouse Panthers
Koori Connection 6 – 12 Gomeroi All Stars
Dhinawhan Dreaming Connections 6 – 16 Butucarbin Titans
South Taree 6 – 10 Combined Countries
Cabbage Tree Island 0 – 14 Western Koori Eels
Round Three
Kempsey Sharks 24 – 0 2829 CAB Next Ten Coonamble
Wiradjuri United 16 – 8 La Perouse Panthers
Gomeroi All Stars 0 – 20 Butucarbin Titans
Combined Countries 6 – 18 Western Koori Eels
NITV is the official broadcaster for the Koori Knockout.
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