The NSW Waradas have crowned their inspiring campaign at the First Nations Netball Tournament with a thrilling gold medal victory, edging out Queensland 53-51 in extra time. Showcasing resilience and belief under pressure, it was the Warada’s relentless attitude that carried them over the line in a memorable grand final.
Head Coach Colleen Mitchell praised her players for their ability to embrace the challenge of a demanding week, which saw them collectively play close to 10 matches.
“”I’m so proud of this incredible group of athletes. This was a big ask for such a young team, but their resilience and energy were outstanding. They not only held their own against older and more experienced opponents, but also grew stronger with each match.”
Mitchell also highlighted the team’s versatility throughout the tournament.
“We used the week to trial different combinations, and that really helped us adapt to the intensity of finals netball. The players showed real maturity in how they embraced those changes and supported each other on and off the court.”
NSW started strongly, edging ahead by one at the first break before extending their lead to five midway through the second quarter. Relentless defensive pressure from Jaylah Boney combined with the sharp shooting of Charlotte Ryan kept Queensland on the back foot. But as half time approached, Queensland clawed their way back, narrowing the margin to just two goals, with NSW leading 21-19.
The third quarter shifted the momentum. When Acacia Ellers was handed a two-minute penalty, Queensland capitalised, turning a five-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage by the three quarter break. NSW showed their resilience in the last term, fighting back from four goals down to draw level at 40-40, even having a chance to steal the lead in the dying minutes. At full time, the scoreboard read 42-42, sending the contest into extra time.
With the pressure at its peak, the Waradas held their composure. Their determination and grit shone through in the final minutes as they steadied, regrouped, and pushed ahead to claim a famous victory – and the gold medal.
“It was a great dynamic among an amazing group of young athletes – there was lots of determination and grit about them,” Mardi Aplin, Netball NSW General Manager of Performance and Pathways said.
Featuring a dynamic new line-up of athletes aged just 17-21 years, the Waradas impressed across the week with their determination, grit, and ability to adapt. Most of the 10 athletes had previously crossed paths at state tournaments, but this was the first time they united on the national stage as one team.
Across the campaign, the Waradas produced dominant performances, recording victories over Northern Territory (45-19), Yakanarna (43-28), Victoria (48-32), Netball Lutruwita (44-32), Western Australia (55-39), and the ACT (37-23). Their only loss in the preliminary rounds came against the more experienced Queensland side (35-51), setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch in the decider.
A highlight of the First Nations Netball tournament was the cultural immersion day, where athletes came together to experience bush tucker making and combination painting.
“It was great for allowing different mobs from around Australia to come together for a common reason,” Aplin said.
Mitchell added:
“That cultural experience was just as important as what happened on court. It reminded the athletes of the bigger picture – the power of connection, identity, and pride in representing their communities.”