NELSON Bay’s elite junior touch footballers can stand tall after achieving success at this year’s National Youth Championships (NYC) in Coffs Harbour.
In a phenomenal feat, 33 Neptunes products from the Port Stephens region represented Hunter Western Hornets or Combined High Schools with pride at the prestigious annual four-day tournament.
Five Nelson Bay juniors – Maebel Colley, Abi Olatunde, Cruiz Manning, Jayden Hotene and Jed Hay – helped the Hornets 14-years Girls and 14-years Boys teams clinch NYC championship titles to cap a memorable 2026 campaign.
Staged at the Coffs International Stadium, the National Youth Championships showcased the depth of emerging touch football talent from across Australia and produced plenty of magic moments.
Hunter Western Hornets dominated both 14-years divisions and showed their class in the finals to celebrate multiple titles.
The Hornets edged Brisbane Cobras 5-4 in the 14-years Girls grand final before their 14-years Boys side defeated South Queensland Sharks 6-4.
Maitland’s Scarlett Clydsdale was judged Player of the Final in the 14-years decider, with rising Newcastle City ace Toby Burgess named Player of the Final in the 14-years Boys clash.
Nelson Bay’s Zeke Hay and Lachlan Parker helped the Hornets 16-years Boys team finish runners-up to South Queensland Sharks in a grand final that required extra time.
The Sharks fought back to level the scores before Harlan Strugnell produced the decisive moment in the drop-off, sealing a 7-6 win.
Nelson Bay trio Bowie Manning, Lexie Manning and Breanna Rawlins helped the NSW CHS 18yrs Girls team claim a silver medal in their showdown with Queensland Representative School Sport.
The QRSS Girls produced a dominant performance, taking a 5-0 advantage into half-time before going on to record a 10-3 victory and secure back-to-back championships.
Nelson Bay Touch Football Association officials said they were ‘incredibly proud’ of their players.
“It is something special to have so many of our juniors representing at this level and a true reflection of the talent, dedication and hard work within our club,” a representative said.
Other Nelson Bay juniors that represented Hunter Hornets at the nationals were Hunter McCallum and Harley Clark (12yrs Boys A); Talon Rolston and Rhylin Green (12yrs Boys B); Zoe Peters and Luna Kneipp (12yrs Girls A); Stella Schein and Eden Colley (12yrs Girls B); Harlow Colley and Zahli Read (14yrs Girls B); Delainey Borg and Mia McDonald (16yrs Girls A); Jack Costello (16yrs Boys B); Charlize Fines, Amelia Nicholas, Heidi Gibson, Brooke McElevey-Hicks and Indi Scully (18yrs Girls); Oliver Shaw, Ethan McFadden, Tyrone Clark and Zev Drury (18yrs Boys) and Will Doherty (18yrs Boys Combined High Schools).
By Chris KARAS
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