Walgett Aboriginal Connection (WAC) has claimed Koori Knockout glory yet again, with a 46-12 win over Nanima Common Connection (NCC) in the men’s first-grade grand final.
It is the second consecutive year that WAC has won the Indigenous rugby league tournament, representing a small community in the far west of New South Wales.
“I feel unreal, hey,” said WAC’s Will Kennedy, who typically plays fullback for the Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this, to get into a grand final, but to win one … it’s the best.
“It’s special, just coming back playing with your family and playing for all your community and your family back at home.”
Walgett Aboriginal Connection hosted the 2024 Knockout, and their win means they’ll host again in 2025. (ABC Indigenous: Anna-Marie Harding)
NCC came out firing as newly-retired Panthers star Tyrone Peachey opened the scoring in the first few minutes with a try from his own grubber kick.
But Kennedy responded in the seventh minute for WAC, before the team secured another three tries in the first half.
WAC came through with an avalanche of tries after the break, while NCC scored one.
A try for WAC in their Koori Knockout grand final win. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)
Footy superstars, elders and fans from all over descended on Bathurst, Wiradjuri Country in Central West NSW, for the four-day tournament.
Not only were some of the stars playing on the field, including Connor Tracey and Ben Barba, but they helped out elsewhere too.
Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best, who has just been selected for the Kangaroos, was on the sideline helping the Newcastle Yowies coaching staff.
His Knights teammate Dylan Lucas, who will play in PNG for the Australian Prime Minister’s squad this weekend, was running water bottles for NCC alongside Kotoni Staggs.
Knights star Bradman Best was for Newcastle Yowies. South’s Cody Walker had a yarn with Sharks fullback Will Kennedy. (ABC: Anna-Marie Harding, Jenaya Gibbs-Muir)
The tournament welcomed 140 teams to play in multiple age grades and organisers said about 30,000 people attended over the long weekend.
Off the back of the men’s win, WAC has yet again secured the hosting rights for next year’s Koori Knockout.
A second-half try avalanche secured WAC a repeat Koori Knockout title. (ABC News: Hamish Cole)
All Blacks victory
The women’s first-grade final saw the Redfern All Blacks right the wrongs of their 2023 grand final loss to the Newcastle Yowies.
They faced the Bourke Warriors, who entered a women’s team for the first time in their 41-year history.
The Warriors drew first blood, with a try from Tiffany Stanley, and kept the four-point lead into half-time.
But Redfern responded in the second half with Kyla Gordon breaking through a suite of defenders.
Three more Redfern tries, with only one failed conversion, gave the All Blacks the 22-4 win.
The Redfern All Blacks won the women’s Koori Knockout grand final, over the Bourke Warriors. (ABC News: Hamish Cole)
“We got in the final last year, and went down in golden point, and I think the girls took that in their stride, and we used that as fuel leading into this time,” Redfern captain Lavina O’Mealy said.
“At 40 years old, it’s an unreal feeling, I didn’t think my legs would last.”
She said the Knockout is a modern-day Corroboree.
“Our people, we all congregate here, and it’s a beautiful thing to see us all get together.”
WAC’s first-grade men’s team celebrating the 2024 finals win. (ABC News: Hamish Cole)
More than just footy
Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Shirley Scott said she loved to see the connection with the next generation at the Koori Knockout.
Local Elders said the event was important to connect kids with culture. (ABC Indigenous: Anna-Marie Harding)
“It’s teaching them part of the culture, what culture is all about, you know, song and dance and being together,” she said.
“Over a lot of years, the kids have forgotten where they come from, and part of this is helping them learn this is where they come from, this land.”
There was a smoking ceremony on Saturday acknowledging 200 years since martial law was declared in Bathurst, which saw colonial soldiers deployed against the Wiradjuri people.
Koori Knockout spokesperson and Kamilaroi man Geoff Simpson said the Indigenous community continues to feel the impact of that declaration.
“It is never forgotten”, he said.
“[The ceremony was] to understand and know a bit more about some of those horrific things that went on in this community.”
Geoff Simpson says it is important to acknowledge the impact of martial law in Bathurst. (ABC News: Jenaya Gibbs-Muir)
Full results
Men’s first grade:
WAC 46 – NCC 12
Women’s first grade:
Redfern 22 – Bourke 4
Under 17 boys:
La Perouse 22 – Bundjalung 0
Under 17 girls:
Mindaribba 10 – Waterloo 14 (golden point try victory)
Under 15 boys:
Mindaribba 16 – Narwan 4
Under 15 girls:
Newcastle Yowies 26 – CW Maliyan 4
Under 13 boys:
Queanbeyan 26 – La Perouse 10
