Organisers of the 2018 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout have paid tribute to the Dubbo community after another successful edition of the event.
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Now in its 48th year, the Koori Knockout was won last year by the Newcastle Yowies, who opted to bring the 2018 event back to Dubbo.
The Yowies’ Abi Wright thanked the Dubbo Regional Council, the local business sector and wider community for embracing the Knockout – and the 30,000 people in attendance – once again.
“Dubbo has really delivered,” Wright said.
“It’s been a huge influx of of benefits for the community itself.
“The businesses have all benefited, everyone in Dubbo and the surrounding towns have benefited and … we have got a great reception for all of our mob that’s come from all over the state and Queensland and Victoria.”
The Yowies searched high and low to find a suitable location for this year’s Knockout, scouting locations in Newcastle, Port Stephens and even the South Coast before settling on Dubbo.
Wright said he would recommend Dubbo to hosts of the 2019 and future Knockouts.
“[Dubbo] is the centre of the state, it’s a huge regional centre for western NSW, there’s a huge Aboriginal population around this area … it’s a great venue … so why not?” he said.
“It’s the perfect place to host the Knockout carnival.”
Some controversy overshadowed the lead-up to the Knockout, as NRL stars including Greg Inglis called for NSW Rugby League to sanction the event.
Just days out the NSWRL still hadn’t provided approval to supply referees to the event, however the body defended its actions, saying the Yowies hadn’t applied for the event to be sanctioned until 12.02pm last Tuesday.
In the end clubs gave approval for their players to take part, with Inglis and Rabbitohs teammates Cody Walker and Braidon Burns, Gold Coast Titan Ash Taylor, 2018 Dally M prop of the year Andrew Fifita (Cronulla Sharks), outgoing Sharks centre Jesse Ramien, Parramatta Eel Will Smith and NSW Origin stars Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers) and James Roberts (Brisbane Broncos) all taking the field.
Wright said it was important for the Knockout to be run “by the people, for the people”.
“It’s all about empowerment as far as we’re concerned, empowering our communities to make decisions on behalf of ourselves,” he said.
“That’s really how you’re going to make change in communities; giving people the power to make decisions on their own and their futures and I think this event is perfect in that it enables us to do those exact things.
“It’s the people’s Knockout.”
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