Koori Knockout 2026 Comes to Raymond Terrace This Long Weekend
One of Australia's biggest First Nations sporting and cultural gatherings arrives in Port Stephens this October long weekend. The 2026 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Koori Knockout runs from Friday 2 to Monday 5 October at King Park Sporting Complex in Raymond Terrace, on Worimi Country.
Hosted by defending champions the Newcastle Yowies, the carnival brings together more than 170 rugby league teams and their families from right across the state. Around 10,000 people a day are expected through the gates, with up to 40,000 visitors over the four days.
- Dates: Friday 2 to Monday 5 October 2026
- Time: Ticket booths open 7am daily, with games across the day
- Where: King Park Sporting Complex, Raymond Terrace
- Cost: $15 daily pass, $50 four-day pass, children 12 and under free (cash only at the gate)
When and Where
All games are played at King Park Sporting Complex, beside the western bridge where the Hunter and Williams rivers meet. The ground is better known for cricket and soccer, and was chosen over Lakeside for its extra space and parking.
| Day | What's on |
|---|---|
| Thursday 1 October | Men's draw, 6:30pm, Murrook Cultural Centre |
| Friday 2 October | Junior and women's divisions begin |
| Saturday 3 October | Men's division begins |
| Sunday 4 October | Knockout rounds continue across all divisions |
| Monday 5 October | Men's semi-finals in the morning, then grand finals for all grades |
Division Playing Days
Not every division plays every day, so families following a particular team should check which days their division is on.
| Division | Playing days |
|---|---|
| Men's | Saturday, Sunday, Monday |
| Women's | Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday |
| Under 17 boys | Friday, Sunday, Monday |
| Under 15 boys | Friday, Monday |
| Under 13 boys | Friday, Sunday, Monday |
| Under 17 girls | Friday, Sunday, Monday |
| Under 15 girls | Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday |
Tickets
Tickets are sold at the gate only, and the ticket booths accept cash only. The booths are at the site entry and open at 7am each morning, with one window at each booth set aside for players. There is an ATM beside the ticket booth.
| Pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Daily pass (Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday) | $15 |
| Weekend pass (four days) | $50 |
| Children 12 and under | Free |
Entry is by wristband, and gate staff will not let anyone in without the correct wristband on their wrist. Lost wristbands will not be replaced.
The Men's Draw Is Tonight
The men's draw will be held tonight, Thursday 1 October, at 6:30pm at the Murrook Cultural Centre. It will be streamed live on NITV Facebook and SBS On Demand, so families can find out who their mob is facing before the men take the field on Saturday.
Fixtures and match times for the junior and women's divisions have already been released.
Women's Draw
Twenty teams are entered in the women's division. It opens on Friday evening with four first-round games, then moves to Field 4 on Saturday, where the remaining teams enter the draw. Defending champions the Newcastle Yowies start their title defence against La Perouse Panthers at 4pm on Saturday.
Friday 2 October, 5:50pm
| Field | Match |
|---|---|
| Field 1 | Dunghutti RLFC v Blacktown Red Belly Warriors |
| Field 2 | Redfern All Blacks v Cabbage Tree Island |
| Field 3 | Nulla RLFC v Bourke Warriors |
| Field 4 | South Taree Memorial Team v Darkinjung Waters |
Saturday 3 October, Field 4
| Time | Match |
|---|---|
| 11:40am | VRL Memorial v Bunjalung Doobs |
| 12:40pm | Yuin Connection v winner of Dunghutti RLFC / Blacktown Red Belly Warriors |
| 1:20pm | Wanaruah Goannas v 2829 Gathering |
| 2:00pm | Narwanettes v winner of Redfern All Blacks / Cabbage Tree Island |
| 2:40pm | Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers v Waterloo Storm |
| 3:20pm | Gomeroi Yinarr Miriis v winner of Nulla RLFC / Bourke Warriors |
| 4:00pm | La Perouse Panthers v Newcastle Yowies |
| 4:40pm | Moree Boomerangs v winner of South Taree Memorial Team / Darkinjung Waters |
Finals
The quarter-finals are on Sunday 4 October, with two games at 2:50pm and two at 3:30pm. The semi-finals follow on Monday 5 October at 9:10am and 9:50am, and the women's grand final is played on Monday afternoon.
Who's Playing
Teams are competing across seven divisions, including 64 teams in the men's competition. The men's winner earns the right to host the 2028 Knockout.
The Newcastle Yowies go in as defending champions. At last year's carnival in Tamworth, the Yowies won four grand finals in one day. Their men edged Bourke 25-24 in a one-point comeback, and they also claimed the women's, under-17 girls and under-15 girls titles.
How to Watch From Home
NITV is the exclusive broadcaster, with free coverage on NITV, SBS On Demand and NITV's Facebook page. This is NITV's 18th year covering the Knockout.
- Thursday 1 October, 6:30pm: men's draw, live on NITV Facebook and SBS On Demand.
- Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October: results published on the NITV website.
- Sunday 4 October, from 9am: every Field 1 match streamed live.
- Monday 5 October, from 9am: morning semi-finals streamed, with the men's and women's grand finals live on NITV and SBS On Demand in the afternoon.
NITV has also launched a 24/7 Koori Knockout channel on SBS On Demand, featuring a decade of classic matches and memorable moments.
Getting There and Parking
With thousands of visitors expected each day, Raymond Terrace will be busy all long weekend. Port Stephens Council has been working with Transport for NSW and NSW Police on parking layouts, temporary road closures and traffic management. Check the council's website and Facebook page for the latest updates before heading out.
There are three main parking areas. The largest sits beside the Williams River at the northern end of the ground, with its entry off Newline Road. A second car park is next to the event off Seaham Road. The third is in town off Bourke Street, near Adelaide Street, and a signed pedestrian pathway runs from there along the river to the event entry.
An accessible drop-off zone is located near the Newline Road car park entry. The boat ramp on Seaham Road will be closed for the weekend, and heavy traffic is expected on Seaham Road, William Bailey Street, Newline Road and Kangaroo Street.
Locals travelling through Raymond Terrace on other business should allow extra time around King Park. Visitors are also encouraged to stay a little longer and explore the rest of Port Stephens while they are here.
Around the Ground
The main entry is on the river side of King Park, with tickets and an ATM right beside it. Games are played across four fields, with a warm-up area for teams near Newline Road.
The Sponsorship Zone and Gudida Wellbeing Precinct sits near the entry, and there is an Elders tent, a Kids Zone and a first aid station in the middle of the ground. Food stalls, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets are spread throughout the site.
More Than Footy
The Knockout is as much a family reunion as a football carnival. Alongside the games there will be food stalls and community activities, and NSW Treasury is running a stall from Friday to Sunday with information on government jobs and supplying to government.
The tournament began in Sydney in 1971 with just seven teams. Its founders, Victor Wright, Bob Smith, Bob Morgan, Bill Kennedy, Danny Rose and George Jackson, wanted to give Aboriginal players a stage at a time when they were often overlooked by talent scouts. It has since grown into one of the largest gatherings of Aboriginal people in the country, and the winning team has hosted the following year's event since the mid-1970s.
Useful Links
- Koori Knockout 2026: Everything you need to know (NITV)
- Full broadcast schedule (SBS)
- Junior and women's fixtures (CODE Sports)
- Port Stephens Council
- NSW Treasury stall details
Looking for more local events? Check out the full What's On this week guide.
Visit the Newcastle Yowies website for the latest Koori Knockout updates
