Darwin Rugby Union season 2024-25 preview and players to watch
The Darwin Rugby Union season is back with clubs bringing out all the stops in both the men’s and women’s comps to make it a year to remember. Check out how the sides are shaping up.
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The Darwin Rugby Union season is back with clubs bringing out all the stops in both the men’s and women’s comps to make it a year to remember.
Casuarina triumphed in the men’s competition last year, while University conquered in the women’s, but will they be the sides to lift the trophies at the end of this season?
A-grade
CASUARINA COUGARS
The Cougars will approach the new season full of confidence, buoyed by their back-to-back premiership status.
One of the most consistent sides across the entire NTRU last season, the Cougars held their nerve in the big dance, defeating the Pirates 33-30.
Despite losing a fair number of players through the off-season, Casuarina is on the cusp of history, with the prospect of a three-peat on the cards.
Last year Trey Crowley produced a huge season for the Cougars, and is fresh off a strong NRL NT season with the Nightcliff Dragons to be one of the players to watch.
2023-24 Standouts – Alani Malupo, Trey Crowley
UNIVERSITY PIRATES
After falling agonisingly short in the grand final last year the Pirates are back with a vengeance.
Minor premiership runners-up by a point and grand final runners-up by a penalty goal, University has been stewing over the off-season.
But they’re keen and eager to ensure that doesn’t transpire again with their squad of known performers returning to right those wrongs.
Robbie Butcher is a name known by all in the competition and after winning his third NRL NT Frank Johnson medal, comes into the rugby union season in prime form.
Bulldozing runner Shaun Wauchope and exciting winger Stylianos Vrontos are dangers to any side they face, and are both sure to draw attention from opposition defences too.
“Everone is hyped and ready for the first round to kick off after some strong recent trainings,” Vrontos said.
“Our main aim is to get back to the grand final again and winning it this time around, it’s just about structure and keeping it all composed.
“There’s a few strong opposition sides out there that will be interesting to size up so we know where we’re at.”
2023-24 Standouts – Robbie Butcher, Shaun Wauchope
SOUTH DARWIN RABBITOHS
The Bunnies are looking for consistency and improvement this season after an up and down 2023-24 campaign.
Boasting a 4-8 win, loss record, Souths struggled against the big two (Cougars, University) but showed promising signs nonetheless.
Vincent Mehn will make his return for the season, and as a long time leader of the squad since before their last premiership, will empower his side.
He was one of the men Dylan Solien pointed to among the older crop of players, while a young core continues to creep through.
“We’re slowly getting the numbers after the Dry Season sports have finished, but preseason has mostly been going well,” Solien said.
“Same as everyone else we’re just getting going and seeing how far we can go, and hopefully aim to go all the way.
“But mostly we want to build a strong culture that’s inviting for everyone and continue to build on what we’ve developed in the past few years.
“Hopefully we play a positive brand of footy out there on the ground, but also bring a proper tough spark to our game too.”
2023-24 Standouts – Vincent Mehn, Kanae Gimini
DARWIN DRAGONS
A fourth-place finish on the ladder with a 3-9 record compounded with the controversial decision in their finals clash left a sour taste in the Darwin faithfull's mouths.
Another side that struggled for attacking fluidity, the Dragons will need the likes of NRLNT best and fairest Caleb Niki to lead from the front if they’re to taste success.
Returning player Liam Walker said his side was up for the challenge of the new season and looking forward to playing the Dragons’ style of rugby.
“Preseason has been good, we’ve had plenty of numbers coming down, a lot of boys putting in the work and we’re all really looking forward to getting started,” Walker said.
“As with everyone our main goal is to win the final, but with a few new players coming on board the early target is make sure we’re building the skills levels.
“On the ground we know we want to move the ball a lot, pass plenty and bring a bit of flair, which has always been the Darwin Dragons way of playing footy.
“We know we just need to stick together and let the ball do the work as we take it game by game to pull together a strong season.”
2023-24 Standouts – Hirini Murfitt, Caleb Niki
PALMERSTON CROCS
The Palmerston Crocs are full of enthusiasm ahead of the new season following a poor 2023-24 campaign.
Last on the ladder with a 3-9 record and -173 points against, Palmerston is seeking redemption.
“(We’re) hoping that this season is going to be successful, aiming to make the finals and bring back some silverware to Palmy,” coach Jim Banker said.
“Pre-season has been awesome, a real good feeling in the playing group and the players are buying into the way we want to play.
“We have a few new ideas that will help us adapt to the law changes this season.”
Banker is quietly confident that his team will be better, noting an influx of junior players a potential catalyst.
“We have some young forwards who have been playing seniors for a few seasons and are now really starting to become leaders in A grade,” he said.
“We are lucky that we have a good number of juniors coming up this season too. Drew Bell, Alex Eadie, Judah Te Waite, Toby Mansack, all have been good at training and I expect a few of them will get a run this year.”
Among the squads leaders is Matthew Barker, who is keen to see his side rise back up the ranks and use their team chemistry to find success.
“We started preseason earlier than normal, and that helped us work on the areas that needed nitpicking,” Barker said.
“All the boys are going out there to give 110 percent, it doesn’t matter if you’re out there for 80 minutes or five, and just play our game.
“We’re really happy with our forward pack this season, and are going to work off that.”
Women
UNIVERSITY PIRATES
The reigning premiers are gunning for two in a row and are ready to go.
Triumphing in the grand final after defeating the Darwin Dragons in convincing fashion, the Pirates are looking to continue their winning ways into the new season.
2023-24 Standouts – Paige McCourt, Sharron Jennings
SOUTH DARWIN RABBITOHS
The Rabbits, like their male counterparts, had a turbulent campaign last season.
A side littered with individual talent, they struggled to put together full game performances.
With a 4-8 record last year, the Bunnies will be aiming to continue climbing the ladder, but must improve their defensive resolve.
2023-24 Standouts – Nicki Hickman
DARWIN DRAGONS
Punted off the dias by the Pirates as the queens of the NTRU, Darwin has its sights set on taking back the premiership trophy.
By far and away the best side last campaign the Dragons ploughed through the regular season, recording a 12-0 record with an incredible +376 points differential to boot.
Dragons’ coach Wayne Johnson said a strong influx of new players would be the highlight of the season as they learn directly from some of the comp’s best.
“This season our dominant experienced players guide and shape our new girls,” Johnson said.
“I look forward to seeing the talent develop over the season and being one of the most competitive side in the competition.
“Preseason vibes have been great, trainings have been hard work for the team but they have strived under the pressure.
“Our girls always put in extras through the week with gym or beach sessions. It’s been great to see them develop.”
2023-24 Standouts – Ellie Niki, Keisha Humes, Jacinda Summers
CASUARINA COUGARS
The Casuaina Cougars will be a side to keep an eye on as they try to impose themselves on the competition.
Among their squad this year is Laura Luchetti, who is coming fresh off a strong season with the Litchfield Bears in the NRL NT season.
They struggled for form last season and will need to tighten up their defence, but a new season is a clean slate and they might have made the necessary changes to compete with the top of the comp.
PALMERSTON CROCS
The Crocs are fervent towards their women’s side, also gunning for a finals berth.
Much like Palmerston’s A-grade men, the women have plenty of hope after placing dead last with a 1-11 record and a -302 points differential last season.
Still a team in their infancy, Crocs’ coach Caleb Burke said he believed each player in his squad was committed to the task ahead.
“Finals footy is always the target,” he said.
“(This season) we have a fantastic balance of experience, youth, and new faces, all of whom are bringing something unique to the team.
“Our biggest strength has been the total buy-in from the players in implementing a new game day strategy that will look to both fatigue and frustrate the opposition.
Among the Crocs players to watch are Jesse Thomson who has further shapened hers skills in the off season, and NT representative Meighan Barker has proven she’s ready to shine after a strong Hottest 7s outing.
The powerful ball carrier will be joined by the influential Dailene Doyle who is a gun at chasing down breakaways or putting her body on the line in defence.
B-grade
SWAMPDOGS
The Swampdogs are no longer the underdogs of B-grade.
Snapping their decade long premiership drought last season, the reigning premiers have become the hunted in 2024-25.
The men from Freds Pass are determined to continue their winning ways, with silverware on the mind.
“This victory means a lot,” Swampdogs captain Mark Gilliam said following their 17-15 grand final victory in March.
“There’s players on this side that have been here since the last premiership more than a decade ago.”
This club has rebuilt its identity since moving away from the A-Grade and is building a strong junior base so that it can return to the top competition in the next few years.
This year will be another step towards that goal for the Swampdogs, and if they make it back to back they will be knocking on the door of that A-Grade return.
Players to watch if they’re coming back, Ethan Peters Brodie Morcom
UNIVERSITY PIRATES
Last season’s minor premiers were thwarted of a chance to contest the grand final for the second consecutive year, upset by Casuarina 15-6 in the semi-finals.
The form team of the competition all season capitulated under the pressure, unable to make it through the big one, but they will be there or thereabouts again.
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Originally published as Darwin Rugby Union season 2024-25 preview and players to watch
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