Mackay Indigenous Carnival: How Coast Neurs claimed open women’s crown for second-year running

Winning back-to-back Indigenous Carnivals is no small feat. Here’s how Coastal Neurs defied the odds to make it happen.

Hannah Dedauntan, Ana Malupo, Courtney Reynolds, Xanthe Topping, and Zoe Aitken celebrating Coastal Neurs' triumph at the Mackay Indigenous Rugby League Carnival. Picture: Mitch Bourke

Coastal Balaz may have come up short in the open men’s, but its sister side Coastal Neurs held its weight against an imposing Kulpiyan side at the Mackay Indigenous Rugby League Carnival.

The 22-16 grand final victory saw Coastal Neurs claim the open’s women crown for the second year running at the Mackay Indigenous Rugby League Carnival.

It means the team is yet to lose at the Mackay carnival, having only featured for the first time last year.

Theophelia Mosby-Nana, Solehl Henon, and Zaleah Mosby-Nana at the Mackay Indigenous Rugby League Carnival. Picture: Mitch Bourke

This year’s decider was locked at 16 apiece before the Kulpiyan defence parted perfectly for Courtney Reynolds with just three minutes on the clock.

She didn’t waste her chance, shot through the space and into the in-goal almost untouched to secure the result.

Coastal Neurs captain Xanthe Topping was thrilled with her side‘s win.

Captain Xanthe Topping celebrating Coastal Neurs' win at the Mackay Indigenous Rugby League Carnival. Picture: Mitch Bourke

“Those last five minutes were super, super tough, it was really just who had the most will power to get across the line,” Topping said.

It was an equally as tense affair when the two teams met earlier in the carnival, with Neurs prevailing 8-6.

“To get up and get a few more points against them was a good achievement, the girls hustled it out, we weathered the storm and the hard hits.

“It was just an all-round good team, we all worked together towards the end.

“There were a lot of girls playing through injuries that were just astronomical and pushed through it.

“Mind over matter I suppose.”