Newcastle Yowies are 2025 Koori Knockout champions after a historic final day of the 54-year-old tournament on Gomeroi Country.
The club won four grand finals on Monday - clinching the men's title in a one-point thriller comeback win over Bourke Warriors 25-24 to wrap the event after keeping Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers scoreless in a stacked conclusion to the women's draw.
All five Yowies sides entered into this year's Knockout featured in the final four of their competitions with their U17s girls and U15s girls also crowned champions.
It comes just six weeks after the passing of co-founder and matriarch of the club, Aunty Gwen Wright.
"I've been fortunate enough to be involved in an All Stars win in Rotorua, two NRLW grand finals, as captain-coach winning a Knockout. This is up there with them..I haven't felt anything like it," Yowies men's coach Ronald Griffiths told National Indigenous Times after the final siren.
Griffiths is also assistant coach of the Newcastle Knights NRL team, having previously lead their women's team to premierships alongside success in charge of the Indigenous All Stars.
"We lost our matriarch of the Yowie family six weeks ago. So to honour her like this, it's just marvellous."
Ex-North Queensland Cowboys NRL player Kyle Laybutt was the hero in the men's.
After crossing over early in grand final proceedings, Bourke, fresh off ending Walgett Aboriginal Connections' dream of a three-peat in the semis, responded quickly with four of the next five to enter the half time break up 20-12 after an action-packed six try opening 40 minutes.
It was failures to convert which proved Bourke Warriors downfall - Penrith and Super League veteran Luke Walsh having trouble from the tee to leave the door open for the Yowies.
With scores tied in the dying minutes, Laybutt's extra point from solid distance got the Newcastle side's nose in front.
Bourke, representing their community in a Knockout grand final for the first time as a club, three decades on from the last time a local side made their way into a decider, fell heartbreakingly short of the line with 30 seconds remaining.
It looked like theirs to win after a strong 30-16 win in the semis over two-time consecutive reigning champions WAC (who put on late consolation points) in the morning.
An error with the ball during the following play sealed the result for the Yowies.
"We did it for the initials on our chest," veteran Dave Dryden said post-match.
"Far out. That's some of the hardest footy we've played. Credit to Bourke, they were tough.
"I just can't believe it. We've done it again."
"I know they're upstairs looking down at us", Dryden said of club founders and leaders no longer with us, after four grand final wins on the day.
"I couldn't be prouder," he said.
90 minutes earlier, Yowies women's side were celebrating their second grand final win in three years.
Their final featured a handful of stars to have pulled on the green and gold Australia jumper in recent years.
Shaylee Bent and Tahlia Fuimaono lined up for Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers (WAR) while the eventual champions featured their 2021 World Cup-winning teammate Caitlan Johnston-Green alongside former Jillaroo Caitlin Moran.
Yowies were tested with repeat sets on their defensive line before opening scoring and taking a slim lead into the break.
A silky cross-field kick for the corner handed them their second shortly after play returned, before Johnston-Green crashed over to hand her side the title 14-nil in a tough contest not reflected in the one-sided scoreline.
"It was a very important one this year. It goes to the matriarch, for our Yowies women," halfback, former Knight and Jillaroo, Moran said.
"She took me in when I was a little girl. It's family, you know."
"I've played all over the world. Nothing compares to being able to come out of retirement to play for (Newcastle Yowies)."
Moran said a group of older girls pulled the boots back on after phone calls to run out with the side in 2025.
"There's nothing like Knockout footy…nothing compares to Knockout footy, at all. When you play with passion and with your culture, it's the best footy in the world," she said amid celebrations.
Newcastle Yowies now take hosting rights for the 2026 tournament.
