Yowies celebrate Koori Knockout success
The Newcastle Yowies were the big winners of the annual Koori Knockout on Gomeroi Country, Tamworth, over the NSW long weekend, winning both the mens and women’s grand finals and will now have there chance to nominate where next year’s event will take place.
A field goal from Kyle Laybutt three minutes from time earned the Yowies a 25-24 victory over the Bourke Warriors and the Yowies women’s team defeated Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers in their major final
Yowies player Rhys Williams said the club had played to honour Aunty Gwen Wright, known as the ‘grandmother’ of the Yowies’, who had recently passed away.
“We lost Aunty Gwen six or seven weeks ago. It’s special to bring the shield home on her Country,” he said.
In the women’s final winger Shanelle Lyons crossed first in the 14-0 win, with further tries from NRLW Knights Caitlin Moran and Caitlin Johnston-Green.
The Knockout is one of the biggest gatherings of Aboriginal people in Australia and is growing each year, with thousands turning out in Tamworth.
Over 170 teams and 4,000 players took part win this year’s event, with 10,000 spectators converging on Tamworth with an estimated $10-12m boost for the local economy.
LALC co-ordinator Brittni Wann said the event not only showcased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent to the wider Tamworth community, but also remembered and celebrated elders and community legends through a tradition of naming memorial teams for them.
“We remember elders and the legends that come before us,” she said.
“We’ve got a memorial team for my Pop. He passed away quite a few years ago. It’s so special for us to be able to remember the legends that we’ve lost.”
Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council’s Brittni Wann and Mathew Nean.
Commonwealth Bank sponsored the Knockout for the third year running, with bank staff volunteering to support the event.
CommBank Chief People Officer Kiersten Robinson said sponsoring the Knockout helped to bring people together and strengthen the bank’s ties with the community.
“It’s a powerful celebration of culture and connection, and I’m proud that CommBank had the opportunity to partner with the organisers and engage with First Nations peoples about what matters most to them,” she said.
Results
Field 1
Griffith Three Ways 6 vs Newcastle All Blacks 10
Boomerangs Sports Club 32 vs Bill Toomey Memorial 0
Newcastle Yowies 20 vs John Wisso Porter Memorial 0
WAC Dragons 42 vs South Taree 2 6
Waterloo Storm 44 vs Red Chief Warriors 4
Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers 16 vs Redfern All Blacks 8
Tingha ARLFC 0 vs Nanima Common Connection 52
WAC 42 vs Campbelltown Ghosts 4
South West Connections 36 vs Dubbo Aboriginal Kinnections 0
Central West Black Trackers 0 vs Bourke Warriors 82
Field 2
Waterloo Storm ARLFC 30 vs Narwan Eels 12
Tweed Connexions 18 vs Dunghutti 12
RUU United Hunters 14 vs South Taree 1 30
Cabbage Tree Island Green 12 vs Cabbage Tree Island Gold 28
Tamworth Crows 6 vs Maitland United 16
Blacktown Red Belly Warriors 24 vs Narrungdera Wanderers 0
Armidale Bloodline Memorial 0 vs Wellington Wedgetails 76
Sydney All Blacks 34 vs Narrungdera United 0
Narrandera Wiradjuri Warriors 60 vs Wildcard Brothers United 0
Queanbeyan Kanberri Connections 34 vs Quirindi Connections 6
Barwon United Swans vs Mungindi Grasshoppers
Field 3
Darkinjung Waters 2 0 vs La Perouse Panthers 1 42
Moree Boomeranges 2 20 vs Yuin Connections 0
Wilcannia Boomerangs 6 vs Baryugil Descendants 34
Rams 81 ARLC 32 vs 2829 Gathering 0
Dhiniwan Boys Toomelah 4 vs La Perouse Panthers 2 24
Narwan Eels 2 4 vs Darkinjung Waters 24
Brothers United 22 vs Erambie All Blacks 8
Kamilaroi Galamaays 0 vs Bundjalung Baygal Warriors 54
Toomelah Tigers 52 vs Tamworth Crows Waagan 0
Gomeroi Jets 0 vs Googars RLFC 14
Women’s Results
Cabbage Tree Island RLFC 32 vs Central West Black Trackers 0
Bourke Warriors 44 vs Tamworth Crows 0
Blacktown Red Belly Warriors 4 vs WAC 24
Bundjalung Tiddas 0 vs Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers 24
Toomelah Tigers 6 vs Moree Boomerangs 8
Newcastle Yowies 30 vs Narwanettes 0
Darkinjung Waters 4 vs Redfern All Blacks 24
Waterloo Storm 12 vs VRL Memorial 6
U15 Girls
Central West Maliyan 0 vs Newcastle Yowies 24
Redfern All Blacks 28 vs Blacktown Red Belly Warriors 0
U17 Girls
La Perouse Panthers 6 vs Bundjalung Sistas 20
Central West Maliyan 6 vs Newcastle Yowies 30
