2024 NSW & VICTORIA State Championships Report

Thanks to AA Earthworks & Haulage

The AA Earthworks & Haulage NSW & Victoria State Championships took place at the Allen Davis fields, Gateshead in the beautiful Lake Macquarie district from May 17-18. Teams travelled in from Melbourne, Shellharbour, greater Sydney as well as Logan (two invitational sides) to compete across two epic days.

On the Mixed side of the draw, the top four teams through the rounds included Chester Hill Hawks, Minto Tigers, South Sydney Bunnies and the Kingston Kings – all four teams progressing through to the finals. The standout team through the rounds – in terms of attacking flair – was the South Sydney Bunnies who were unstoppable in most games amassing some dominant wins. They did however meet their match when they faced Kingston in what was an epic affair (going down 6-5). There were also notable efforts from the Cronulla Manta Rays and the St George Devils who placed 5th and 6th after the regular rounds.

Once we hit the finals, Kingston were too strong for Chester Hill in the first semi whilst the ‘Bunnies again dominated with a 12-3 win over the ‘Tigers in the other semi-final. In the GF, the Bunnies were the heavy crowd favourites and the atmosphere was electric down at field-level. It was a low-scoring, tense battle which in the end, the Kingston Kings took out. Special mention goes to Indiana Killick from the ‘Bunnies who took out the female player of the Tournament with a dominant display in the GF and across the whole weekend.

On the Men’s side of the draw, the top four teams through the rounds included Strathfield Wolves, Richmond Mad-dogs, Shortland Rebels and the Kingston Kings. The Strathfield Wolves second team also deserves special mention for narrowly missing the top 4. Whilst there were plenty of highlights through the rounds, the game of the weekend was arguably the Strathfield Wolves v Kingston Kings round game which Strathfield won 7-6. It was a game of contrasting styles with the ‘Wolves throwing it around with immense skill and razzle dazzle; whilst the ‘Kings were structured and clinical. In the end the ‘Wolves were too good and it was no doubt the start of a rivalry which we may see rekindled at the Australian Championships.

When it came to the business end of the Tournament, the semi-finals all promised to be tight affairs. Rowan Crouch’s Richmond Mad-dogs were coming in hot and fancied their chances against local boys, the Shortland Rebels. In the end though, the youth and speed of the ‘Rebels was a little too much for the guile and creativity of the ‘Mad-dogs. On the other field, Strathfield again came up against Kingston but this time, the ‘Kings were too clinical closing that game out. This led to a Grand Final rematch between the Shortland Rebels and Kingston Kings who had faced off against one another in 2022 at the same grounds. In typical ‘Rebels fashion, they gave it everything and at various stages threatened to run away with it but in the end, the experience of the ‘Kings was a little too much. Special mention to Will Smith from the ‘Rebels for taking out the male player of the Tournament.