Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THE 2015 Koori Knockout was held at Dubbo in sweltering conditions with Lithgow represented by a quartet of well known local rugby league players in Tony and Mark Northey, Joel Stapleton and Boe Biles.
“Although we got knocked out early, it was a great experience being part of the event,” Tony Northey said.
“There were some great football players on show and hopefully we will be back next year with a few more locals who could not make it this weekend.”
The knockout was the 45th running of the event with over 130 teams taking part with hundreds of spectators joining in to support their teams.
This year’s knockout was held at Dubbo’s Apex Oval and featured 14 under 12 teams, 22 under 15s, 19 under 17s, 15 women and 63 men’s teams.
The very first knockout was held at Camdenville Oval, St Peters with the event having eight teams participating and each year it has grown to what is now a major event.
The Lithgow contingent played with the Gundungurra Goannas who were knocked out early by the strong Nanima Common Connection.
There were also a large number of Group 10 players in various sides.
The NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout boasted a star studded line up of over 50 current and former NRL players on display.
Playing with the Walgett Aboriginal Connection were George Rose and Joel Thompson from the St George Illawarra Dragons; from the Indigenous All Stars team were Dane Gagai and Tyrone Roberts from the Newcastle Knights; the Cronulla Sharks’ Ben Barba and Andrew and David Fifita, Parramatta Eels’ speedster Reece Robinson, New Zealand Warriors Jonathan Wright and Tyrone Peachey from the Penrith Panthers all joined their local communities in an effort to win the coveted event.
There were also a large number of former NRL players including Timana Tahu, Joe Williams, Nathan Merritt and Dean Widders.
After a multitude of games, the final was between the Newcastle All Blacks and Redfern All Blacks who took the title thanks to a field goal in extra time after the two sides were locked up at 32-all at full time.
In the women’s final, Redfern All Blacks had a big win over Kempsey United winning 54-nil.
The Player of the Series went to Steven Walker from the Redfern All Blacks and Nakia Davis-Welsh also from the Redfern All Blacks No 1 side took out the women’s award.
As champions of the 2015 Knockout, Redfern won the hosting rights for next year’s carnival and took away $63,000 prizemoney.