NRL players in Bathurst competing at Carrington Park – that as well as plenty more rugby league action is what the 2011 NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout carnival will offer.
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Organised by defending champions Walgett Aboriginal Connection, the September 30 to October 3 carnival is set to attract more than 100 teams and fans numbered in their thousands.
Matt Rose, a member of the Walgett Aboriginal Connection team, is not only looking forward to the chance to take out the 41st edition of the knockout, but playing alongside his brothers Trent and George. All three are Bathurst Penguins/Panthers juniors as is another of their Walgett team-mates Scott Morgan.
George Rose is a member of Manly’s NRL line-up and will be one of the drawcards of the Bathurst event, the barnstorming prop having attracted a cult following for his efforts in the country’s elite rugby league competition.
“We don’t really get much of a chance to play with each other, so to do that and come back to Bathurst to play as well ticks all the boxes,” Matt Rose said.
“Our side organises this event and it is great to be able to bring it to Bathurst. We are called Walgett Aboriginal Connection because that is where we have our heritage.”
Matt Rose will this year line up for Group 10 outfit Lithgow Workies while younger brother Trent Rose is a member of the Wenworthville Magpies NSW Cup side.
While all three Rose brothers will be doing all they can to guide their teams to premiership success, winning in Walgett Aboriginal Connection colours is also something they treasure.
Last year their side, which included three other NRL stars in Ben Barba (Bulldogs), Anthony Mitchell (Parramatta) and Ben Jones (North Queensland), claimed the title with victory over Mindaribba in the final at Woy Woy. That knockout carnival attracted 95 teams and some 18,000 fans.
Matt Rose is hoping to top that in Bathurst.
“There will be 100 teams, there will be up to 65-70 in the main draw and the rest of the teams will be the women’s and kids,” he said.
The availability of NRL players will depend on which teams make the finals series, with the decider of the national competition set for October 2.
“A lot of the NRL players are involved in this competition, basically if they are not in the grand final they play in this tournament,” Rose said.
“It really is a fantastic four days, it is an alcohol free event and everyone loves sitting down to watch the football.”
