Billed as a ‘modern day Corroboree’*, the 2022 Koori Knockout held in Nowra on the South Coast was not only a celebration of rugby league but of indigenous community and culture.
Greater Bank lent its support of this year’s event sponsoring the Newcastle Emus, the Hunter Region’s oldest Indigenous community owned and led sporting group.
The Newcastle Emus were formed 40 years ago to participate in the NSW Aboriginal Knockout rugby league tournament, and again lined up in the tournament held across the October Long Weekend.
The Koori Knockout began in Sydney in 1971, and features teams and supporters from across the state who gather and reunite with family and community, support their hometown and mob, relive past glories and remember those who have passed on.
It was initially established to showcase the talents of Aboriginal footballers, who were often overlooked and found it difficult to break into the state league. Since then, the carnival has grown to encompass more than 150 teams and plays an important role in bringing First Nations people together.
This year’s event saw a number of NRL stars turn out to support the tournament and their communities, including South Sydney duo, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, as well as Bulldogs star, Josh Ado-Carr.
While the Emus didn’t feature in the tournament decider, it was another Newcastle team, the All Blacks, who were crowned men’s Koori Knockout champions after downing Walgett Aboriginal Connection 22-16 in the final in Bombaderry on Yuin country. This means the Knockout will be hosted in Newcastle in 2023.
While rugby league continues to be a focus for the Emus, they also take part in various national and state events including touch football, netball, cricket and soccer.
The partnership with the Emus is a natural fit, with their vision to enrich their community through the power of sport, culture and community spirit.
Aligning with our focus on community, the Emus bring people together from across the Hunter to promote healthy communities, social and economic inclusion, and continue to sponsor and mentor young people in achieving their potential.
*Castlereagh All Blacks president Dewayne Sampson, view at: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/how-the-koori-knockout-became-a-modern-day-corroboree-over-five-decades-20220927-p5blez.html
