Knockout carnival to celebrate rugby league and community culture

THE best Indigenous rugby league talent from across the country will return to Lismore in September for the Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout Carnival.

It will be played over three days at Oakes Oval and Crozier Oval, with thousands of players and spectators expected.

Nominations and packages are now available with teams to compete across the men’s and women’s divisions.

Lismore City Council supports the event, which has been a regular on the calendar since it outgrew its previous home at Byron Bay.

The carnival has built a reputation as one of the premier regional Indigenous rugby league events on the east coast of New South Wales, regularly attracting current and former NRL stars.

Former Australian and Queensland representative Greg Inglis has featured at the carnival in recent years, while Parramatta Eels winger Brian Kelly is a regular starter for Cabbage Tree Island.

 

Northern United Rugby League Football Club will again run the carnival, which also serves as a lead-in event to the state knockout carnival later in the year.

Carnival coordinator Chris Binge said the knockout was about more than football and plays a key role in the communities.

“It’s an honour to put on a showcase event like this that creates good family and community harmony,” he said.

“It gives people in outlying communities the opportunity to come together.”

Teams from Cubawee, Muli Muli, Tabulam and Tweed are part of the event each year.

The women’s competition has developed in recent years with more local products competing in the NRLW.

Gold Coast Titans and Queensland State of Origin centre Phoenix-Raine Hippi has previously played in the event.

The carnival is supported by volunteers, officials, sponsors, caterers, emergency services, and stallholders.