The Koori Knockout is the highlight on the Indigenous sporting calendar for rugby league clubs across NSW. The 2025 Koori Knockout was the biggest ever with over 170 teams including 64 capacity Men’s teams.
Hosted by the Walgett Aboriginal Corporation, the event is in its 53rd year with 168 games played at Tamworth’s Riverside Sporting Complex across the October long weekend.
The Knockout is considered to be one of the largest gatherings of Aboriginal people in Australia and grows each year with more spectators and teams joining in the weekend-long rugby league event.
The teams were sponsored by a number of companies within the mining industry including Whitehaven who sponsored the Gomeroi Roos, Tamworth Crows, Quirindi Grasshoppers and Moree Boomerangs Sports Club teams.
“The NSW Koori Knockout is arguably the highlight of the calendar for Aboriginal communities across the state. It provides a space where people come together to represent their communities and families, and to celebrate cultural connections,” said Bob Sutherland, Whitehaven’s Senior Manager – NSW Indigenous Engagement.
“Whitehaven understands the important role sport plays in Aboriginal communities, and to that end, we’ve proudly supported many local Aboriginal rugby league sides to attend the Knockout for over a decade as part of our broader commitment to investing in Indigenous health and wellbeing.
“Congratulations also to Walgett Aboriginal Connection (WAC) and Tamworth Regional Council for the extraordinary achievement of hosting such a large and meaningful event.”
The Newcastle Yowies dominated the competition with four of their teams securing grand final trophies.
The men’s side clinched their win in a one-point thriller comeback win over the Bourke Warriors 25-24 while the women kept the Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers scoreless. The Yowies U17 girls and U15s girls were also crowned champions.
The wins came with mixed emotions with the Yowies’ victories dedicated to the memory of co-founder and matriarch of the club Aunty Gwen Wright.
Newcastle Yowies Coach Ronald Griffiths, also the former Newcastle Knights NRLW Coach said he was thrilled with the result.
“I’m thrilled the Newcastle Yowies took out the title this year. We have a strong cultural connection to the Gunnedah region. It was notable the strong support provided by Whitehaven for the local communities and teams with the company’s logo adorning many jerseys.
“The significance of Whitehaven’s support needs to be highlighted particularly as the financial burden at times is such that teams are unable to enter the event,” said Ronald.
The Newcastle Yowies now have the hosting rights for the 2026 Koori Knockout.
