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NSW Koori Knockout

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NSW Koori Knockout
SportRugby league
Inaugural season1971
Winners & HostWalgett Aboriginal Connection (2024)
Most titlesRedfern All-Blacks (8 titles)
Broadcast partnerNITV, SBS
Related competition

The NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout carnival is one of the biggest Indigenous gatherings in Australia. The winning team gains the right to host the next knockout. Organisers created the knockout to provide further access for Indigenous players to state rugby league.

The carnival is a significant annual event in Indigenous Australian culture and sport. It is a rugby league competition that brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teams from various communities across New South Wales. The event typically takes place over the October long weekend. The Koori Knockout not only showcases talented rugby league players but also serves as a gathering for Indigenous communities to celebrate culture, heritage, and community pride. It is a highly anticipated event, with teams competing for the title, and communities coming together to support their local teams.

The first knockout was held at Camdenville Park, St Peters, on the October long weekend of 1971 with seven participating teams. The knockout celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.[1][2]

History

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Concept[3]

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The Knockout emerged from the new and growing mostly inner-city Sydney Aboriginal community in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The emerging political movement in Redfern for self-determination and justice, increased opportunities arising from post-referendum federal government initiatives and greater employment prospects in the industrial areas of Sydney influenced Aboriginal families' migration to the inner-city, particularly South Sydney. The Knockout emerged within this complex economic and social context. It was initiated by six men, and one woman, affiliated with Koorie United: Bob Smith, Bob Morgan, Bill Kennedy, Danny Rose, Victor Wright, the late George Jackson, and Barbara Flick. They formed Koorie United in response to the rapidly expanding Sydney Aboriginal community. The established Sydney-based Aboriginal sides, the Redfern All Blacks and La Perouse Panthers (or Blacks as they were sometimes called), were aligned with the South Sydney football district. There were many Aboriginal men looking for a game of football and so Koorie United formed joining the rival Newtown Jets district, with sponsorship from Marrickville Council, where some of the committee members worked.

The Koorie United committee were connected through kinship and the shared experience of relocating to the city. Bob Morgan, Danny Rose and Bill Kennedy hail from the New South Wales north-western town of Walgett in Gamilaroi country. Bob Smith and Victor Wright had relocated from Kemspey on the New South Wales north coast, and while the late George Jackson was based in Sydney, he also had connections with Gamilaroi as his wife was from Coonabarabran. Barbara Flick hails from Collarenebri.

Following a meeting at the Clifton Hotel, a well-known gathering place for Kooris in Redfern in the 1960s & 70s, the Koorie United committee proposed holding a statewide Knockout competition. Prior to this there had been many town-based knockout football and basketball competitions. However, the establishment of the Knockout set out with some different objectives. Bob Morgan says:

Our concept at the time was to also have a game where people who had difficulty breaking into the big time would be on show. They could put their skills on show and the talent scouts would come and check them out.

The Knockout was formed with a view to providing a stage for the many talented Aboriginal footballers playing at the time who had been overlooked by the talent scouts. Although there were some notable exceptions, like Bruce (La Pa) Stewart playing on the wing for Easts and field goal specialist, Eric Simms, with South Sydney, Aboriginal footballers experienced difficulty breaking into the big time. It was thought the Knockout would provide a chance for Aboriginal footballers to get noticed, where for reasons of racism and lack of country-based recruitment they were overlooked. There was also some talk of entering an all-Aboriginal side in the National Rugby League competition. But the instigation of the Knockout was intended to be far more than sporting competition, as original committee member Bob Morgan said:

The Knockout was never simply about football, it was about family, it was about community, it was getting people to come together and enjoy and celebrate things rather than win the competition football.

The first knockout

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In 1971 Koorie United hosted the first knockout at Camdenville Park, St Peters, which attracted seven teams: Koorie United, Redfern All Blacks, Kempsey, La Perouse, Walgett, Moree and a combined Mt Druitt / South Coast side. It was won by La Perouse United.[4] The tournament remained at St Peters until 1975.

Venues

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With Kempsey winning the Knockout in 1975, the first non-Sydney side, it was decided that the winning team would host the Knockout the following year, and the tradition began.[5]

The Kempsey Knockout was a memorial to the late Victor Wright Senior, a long-time supporter of the Knockout and of Aboriginal Football. The original winning trophy was donated by the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs.[6]

The inscription on the trophy reads, NSW Koorie Sports Committee Annual Football Knockout Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Foundation of Aboriginal Affairs.[6]

BAC Walgett became the first team to win the Knockout on three consecutive occasions. Their first win in 1988 (at Newcastle) resulted in some controversy regarding the tradition of the winner hosting the carnival, questioning the capacity of a small remote country township (population around 2200) to stage such a major event. With upwards of 6000 footballers, 50-odd teams and officials, supporters and family coming to town in 1989 for the three-day carnival, the Walgett community carried the day and went on to win it at Walgett in 1989 and again in 1990. The BAC management team chose to stage the carnival in Sydney in 1991 for its 21st anniversary.[citation needed]

Knockout winners

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Year Men's Knockout Winners Women's Knockout Winners Under 17 Boys Knockout Winners Under 16 Girls Knockout Winners
Team Team Team Team
1971 La Perouse United
1972 Redfern All Blacks
1973 Redfern All Blacks
1974 Koorie United
1975 Kempsey All Blacks
1976 Louis St Dodgers
1977 West Kempsey
1978 Redfern All Blacks
1979 Redfern All Blacks
1980 Narwan Eels
1981 Zetland Magpies
1982 Zetland Magpies
1983 Dubbo Pacemakers
1984 Koorie United
1985 Moree Boomerangs
1986 Narwan Eels
1987 Newcastle All Blacks
1988 BAC Walgett
1989 BAC Walgett
1990 BAC Walgett
1991 La Perouse All Blacks
1992 Redfern All Blacks
1993 Redfern All Blacks
1994 Toomelah Tigers
1995 Bourke Weilmoringle
1996 Nambucca Valley Rams
1997 Nambucca Valley Rams
1998 Wellington Wedgetails
1999 Nambucca Valley Rams
2000 Narwan Eels / Louis St Dodgers
2001 Narwan Eels / La Perouse Panthers
2002 Moree Boomerangs / La Perouse Panthers
2003 Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2004 Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2005 Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2006 Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial
2007 Wollumbin Warriors/Newcastle All Blacks Casino
2008 Narwan Eels Casino
2009 BAC Walgett
2010 Walgett Aboriginal Connection
2011 Mindaribba Warriors
2012 Newcastle Yowies[7] Mindaribba Sisters[7]
2013 Newcastle Yowies Newcastle Yowies La Perouse
2014 Walgett Aboriginal Connection[8] Redfern All Blacks Newcastle All Stars
2015 Redfern All Blacks Redfern All Blacks Toomelah Tigers
2016 Redfern All Blacks[9] Redfern All Blacks[9] La Perouse
2017 Newcastle Yowies[10] Redfern All Blacks[10] Illawarra Titans[10]
2018 Newcastle All Blacks[11] Newcastle Yowies Western Koori Eels
2019 South Coast Black Cockatoos[12] Wellington Wedgetails[12] Kempsey Sharks La Perouse
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Australia[13]
2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Australia[14]
2022 Newcastle All Blacks[15] Dunghutti Connexions[15]
2023 Walgett Aboriginal Connection[16] Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers La Perouse Panthers
2024 Walgett Aboriginal Connection[17] Redfern All Blacks La Perouse Panthers

Koori vs. Murri Interstate Challenge

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Extended content

The QLD Murri vs. NSW Koori Interstate Challenge is an annual rugby league game played between the Open Men's winners of the NSW Koori Knockout and Murri Rugby League Carnival.

Year Koori vs. Murri Interstate Challenge
Winners Score Runners-up
2012 Mindaribba Warriors 40–18 Southern Dingoes
2013 Argun Warriors 28–24 Newcastle Yowies
2014 Newcastle Yowies 18–12 Southern Dingoes
2015 Badu Kulpiyam 30–22 Walgett Aboriginal Connection
2016 The Southern Dingoes 26–12 Redfern All Blacks
2017 Redfern All Blacks 34–12 Cherbourg Hornets
2018 Newcastle Yowies 38–26 Dhadhin Geai Warriors

Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

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Extended content

2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

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The NRL launched a Festival of Indigenous Rugby League program to take the place of the prestigious pre-season Rugby League All Stars game following every World Cup year. The 2014 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League featured a trial match between the Newcastle Knights and an Indigenous team, drawn from the NSW Koori Rugby League Knockout and Murri Rugby League Carnival in Queensland, as well as the NRL Indigenous Player Cultural Camp, Murri vs Koori women's and Under 16s representative games, a Murri v Koori match, a jobs expo and community visits.[18]

First Nation Goannas
2014 squad Coaching staff
  •  1 Javarn White – FB
  •  2 Kieran Vale – WG
  •  3 Rickki Sutherland – CE
  •  4 Joshua Benjamin – CE
  •  5 Malcolm Congoo – WG
  •  6 Kareel Phillips – FE
  •  7 Adrian Davis (c) – HB
  •  8 Reggie Saunders – PR
  •  9 Roy Smith – HK
  • 10 Matthew Pittman – PR
  • 11 Noel Underwood – SR
  • 12 Davin Crampton – SR
  • 13 Phil Dennis – LK

Head coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)



8 February 2014, 7pm (AEDT)
Newcastle Knights 52–12 First Nation Goannas
Tries
Jake Mamo 3
Joseph Tapine 2
Alex McKinnon 1
Korbin Sims 1
Sione Mata'utia 1
Josh Mantellato 1
Matt Minto 1
Goals
Josh Mantellato 6/10 		Tries
1 Davin Crampton
1 Rod Jensen
Goals
2/2 Adrian Davis
Hunter Stadium
Attendance: 6,826
Referee: Gavin Badger, Chris James, Jeff Younis, Dave Ryan

2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League

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2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League created a strong connection between the Maori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The First Nations Goannas are chosen from the Koori Knockout and the Murri Carnival. With a strong showcase of cultural celebration from both teams. The 2018 Festival of Indigenous Rugby League was held at Redfern Oval featuring a Double header between the First Nation Goannas v NZ Maori and First Nation Gems v NZ Maori Ferns, And a curtain raiser game for the Koori vs Murri Interstate challenge Between Newcastle Yowies and Dhadin Geai Warriors .[19]

First Nation Goannas
2018 squad Coaching staff
  •  1 Ryan Walker – FB
  •  2 Michael Purcell – WG
  •  3 Kieran Vale – CE
  •  4 Josh Charles – CE
  •  5 Greg Davis – WG
  •  6 Maipele Morseu – FE
  •  7 Adrian Davis – HB
  •  8 Dan Tanner – PR
  •  9 Wes Middleton (c) – HK
  • 10 Zac Merritt – PR
  • 11 Noel Underwood – SR
  • 12 Justin Toomey-White – SR
  • 13 Trent Rose – LK
  • 14 Randall Briggs – FE
  • 15 Bennett Leslie – LK, SR
  • 16 Will Merritt – PR
  • 17 Isaac Briggs – PR
  • 18 Tristan Lumley – SR, LK
  • 19 Wes Conlon – FB, HK
  • 20 Shane Nolan-Carr – HB, HK

Head coach

Assistant coach

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 10 February 2018
Source(s): Festival of Indigenous Rugby League Squads


10 February 2018
First Nation Goannas 22–16 New Zealand Maori
Tries
Ryan Walker 1
Michael Purcell 1
Dan Tanner 1
Kieran Vale 1
Goals
Adrian Davis 3/4 		Tries
1 Ozzy Tuwhangai
1 Carne Doyle-Manga
1 Jayden Horo
Goals
Manaia Rudolph 2/3
First Nation Gems
2018 squad Coaching staff
  •  1 Kazzia Lemmon – FB
  •  2 Tanika Marshall – WG
  •  3 Amber Piley – CE
  •  4 Taleenna Simon – CE
  •  5 Paris Robinson – WG
  •  6 Sarah Field – FE
  •  7 Sharon McGrady – HB
  •  8 Rhianna Sutherland – PR
  •  9 Kiara Maza – HK
  • 10 Layla Fauid – PR
  • 11 Samartha Leisha (c) – SR
  • 12 Stephanie Mooka – SR
  • 13 Carly Phillips – LK
  • 14 Ashleigh Sowter
  • 15 Shakia Tungai
  • 16 Rikki Lane
  • 17 Kyara Nean
  • 18 Candice Clay
  • 19 Chloe Caldwell

Head coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 10 February 2018
Source(s): Festival of Indigenous Rugby League Squads


10 February 2018
First Nation Gems 18–0 New Zealand Maori Ferns
Tries
Samartha Leisha 1
Taleena Simon 2
Goals
Sarah field 3/3

Championships By Team

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Open Men's

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Teams Wins Years
Redfern All Blacks 8 1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 1993, 2015, 2016
BAC / WAC Walgett 8 1988, 1989, 1990, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2023, 2024
Narwan Eels 5 1980, 1986, 2000, 2001, 2008
Cec Patten-Ron Merritt Memorial 4 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
La Perouse Panthers 3 1971, 2001, 2002
Nambucca Valley Rams 3 1996, 1997, 1999
Newcastle Yowies 3 2012, 2013, 2017
Zetland Magpies 2 1981, 1982
Koorie United 2 1974, 1984
Louis St Dodgers 2 1976, 2000
Moree Boomerangs 2 1985, 2002
Newcastle All Blacks 3 2007, 2018, 2022
Dubbo Pacemakers 1 1983
Toomelah Tigers 1 1994
Wellington Wedgetails 1 1998
Bourke Weilmoringle 1 1995
Kempsey All Blacks 1 1975
West Kempsey 1 1977
Mindaribba Warriors 1 2011
Wollumbin Warriors 1 2007
La Perouse All Blacks 1 1991
South Coast Black Cockatoos 1 2019

Open Women's

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Teams Wins Years
Redfern All Blacks 5 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024
Newcastle Yowies 3 2013, 2018, 2023
Casino 2 2007, 2008
Dunghutti Connexions 1 2022
Mindaribba Sisters 1 2012
Wellington Wedgetails 1 2019

Under 17 Boys

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Teams Wins Years
La Perouse 4 2013, 2016, 2023, 2024
Newcastle All Stars 1 2014
Illawarra Titans 1 2017
Toomelah Tigers 1 2015
Western Koori Eels 1 2018
Kempsey Sharks 1 2019

Under 16 Girls

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Teams Wins Years
La Perouse 1 2019

Trophies

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Throughout the history of the Knockout there have been many trophies added. Many of the trophies are memorials. Some of these trophies are dedicated to those who have made a significant contribution to the Knockout and Aboriginal football. These include the William Peachey Memorial Trophy – donated by the Peache family; the Lance Brown Memorial Trophy presented to Bourke/Weilmoringle RLFC, Gary "Mad Mick" Kennedy; McGrady Memorial Shield; Tommo Tighe Memorial Shield; Tabulam Rugby League Football Club Paul Roberts Memorial Shield; Wesley McGrady Memorial Trophy; Vincent Clyde Donovan Memorial Trophy – donated by the South Taree Footballers for the best 5/8 of State Knockout; and the George "Pedro" Squires Perpetual Trophy – donated by the Greenup Family Bowraville.[20]

NRL players to play in Koori Knockout

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'It's like a modern day corroboree': How the Koori Knockout was born from a chat at the pub". ABC News. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  2. ^ Muroi, Millie (30 September 2022). "How the Koori Knockout became 'a modern-day corroboree' over five decades". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  3. ^ "From a meeting in Redfern to the largest Aboriginal sporting event in the country". NITV. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Aboriginal Rugby League". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Koori Knockout | The Dictionary of Sydney". dictionaryofsydney.org. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b "From a meeting in Redfern to the largest Aboriginal sporting event in the country". NITV. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b "2012 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout". www.indigenous.gov.au. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  8. ^ Kerry, Craig (6 October 2014). "Walgett win Koori Rugby League Knockout". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Koori knockout a colourful meeting of mobs united by rugby league | Patrick Skene". the Guardian. 4 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c DESK, SOCRATES NEWS (21 October 2017). "2017 Koori Knockout - where NRL superstars and small town athletes come together to represent their communities". Sportsocratic. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Will Smith Wins Koori Knockout". Parramatta Eels. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Congratulations to the 2019 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Winners - NSW Aboriginal Land Council". 8 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  13. ^ "2020 Koori Knockout Tournament Officially Postponed Until Next Year". 7 July 2020.
  14. ^ "NSW Koori Knockout cancelled second year running". NITV. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Thousands watch Newcastle All Blacks win 50th Koori Knockout final". ABC News. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Koori Knockout: WAC crowned champions after fierce Grand Final battle".
  17. ^ "Walgett takes home back-to-back Koori Knockout titles with help from NRL stars". ABC News. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Festival of Indigenous Rugby League launched". NRL.com. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  19. ^ "Festival of Indigenous Rugby League launched". Queensland Rugby League. 6 February 2018.
  20. ^ "About us". foxsportspulse. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
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