Thousands gather for NSW's Koori Knockout to showcase Indigenous rugby league talent
Thousands have gathered on the Central Coast to celebrate the annual Koori Knockout rugby league tournament. The event is one of the highlights of the Indigenous calendar and showcases some of the best footballing talent in the country.
Transcript
00:00 It's one of the biggest Indigenous community events held in Australia, giving mob from
00:07 all over the country a chance to celebrate culture and football.
00:12 It's really that modern day corroboree where we get together.
00:14 It's good connecting with all the people, like all your brothers and that.
00:17 The Koorie Knockout started in Sydney in 1971 as a means to showcase Indigenous players
00:24 paving a pathway to first grade competition. Since then it's continued to grow and been
00:30 hosted by towns across New South Wales.
00:33 Our family come to this event for years and years. My grandfather was one of the founders
00:38 of the Knockouts.
00:39 It's getting bigger and better and all the younger generation are coming through too
00:43 as well and looking at their pops and actually sons and fathers actually playing together.
00:49 150 teams will play at Tuggera on the Central Coast over the weekend. The kids and women
00:55 took to the field today, with the men gearing up to play tomorrow.
00:59 The event also attracts some big NRL names, with many saying it's a footy highlight.
01:04 I love this weekend and it's always marked down in the calendar for me so I look forward
01:07 to it.
01:10 The gathering comes just weeks before Australia heads to the polls to vote on whether to enshrine
01:14 an Indigenous voice to parliament in our constitution.
01:18 But the referendum wasn't the focus for most people here today.
01:21 It's about family, culture, bringing everyone together for a good cause. In Aboriginal families
01:26 we get together a lot for sorry business. Knockouts bring family from afar and it's
01:30 for a good time.
01:32 The winner of the tournament gets to host next year's event in their own town.
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