ONE point ended the Newcastle Yowies’ hopes of defending their men’s title on Saturday, as the hosts went down 7–6 to Dunghutti RLFC 1 at the NSW Koori Knockout.
The result was among several close contests during the opening two days at King Park Sporting Complex in Raymond Terrace.
Hosted by the Yowies on Worimi Country, the four-day tournament brought Aboriginal communities from across NSW together for football, family and culture.
The women and juniors opened proceedings on Friday, with the Yowies’ younger players giving the club plenty to celebrate.
Their under-13 boys defeated Dunghutti 24–12 before recording a 32–0 win over Newcastle All Blacks.
The under-15 boys also started strongly, beating Central West Black Trackers 28–0 and WAC 26–0.
Saturday brought the men into action, with some teams scraping through and others recording convincing wins.
La Perouse Panthers 1 edged past Jayzuarne “Jay Jay” Clarke Memorial RLFC 14–12, while Moree Boomerangs 2 defeated Wonnarua Wayila by the same margin.
Bourke Warriors beat Riverina Warriors 52–0, and Sydney All Blacks overcame Waterloo Storm 20–16.
In the women’s competition, Redfern All Blacks followed Friday’s 8–0 win over Cabbage Tree Island with a 30–0 victory against Narwanettes on Saturday.
Alongside the football, road safety was another focus of the weekend, with Transport for NSW’s ‘Pass the Ball’ activation encouraging players, families and supporters to make safer choices.
In a statement ahead of her planned visit, Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said the Knockout was an opportunity to take those messages directly to the community.
“One of the most powerful ways we can get road safety messages out is by meeting people where they are,” Ms Aitchison said.
She said the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan’s ‘Bringing Mob Home Safely’ focus aimed to ensure messages were meaningful and relevant to Aboriginal communities.
“Activations like these are crucial in encouraging safer choices on our roads and reinforcing the message that one bad decision can change lives forever.”
The tournament continues through the October long weekend, concluding on Monday 5 October.
“Activations like these are crucial in encouraging safer choices on our roads and reinforcing the message that one bad decision can change lives forever.”
By Althea GUINSBERG
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