‘I didn’t hold back’: Dean Widders looks back on his first Koori Knockout, names his KO GOAT

Dean Widders rates winning a Koori Knockout up there with his best moments in his career, as well as a former teammate being the Knockout GOAT. Here’s PART ONE of our chat with Widders.

Dean Widders. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Dean Widders has over 200 combined games of NRL and Super League to his name, but few moments mean more to him than what he achieved at the Koori Knockout.

A proud Anaiwan man and host of NITV’s Over The Black Dot, Widders reminisces about his dream as a kid being able to run out at the event for the Narwan Eels alongside his father Jake.

“It was a very special memory for me,” he said.

“I got to play for my beloved home town Narwan Eels up there in Armidale. It’s one of the most famous Aboriginal rugby league teams, particularly in the bush.

“All I wanted to do as a kid was play in the Aboriginal Knockout with Narwan. My dad was my hero, I looked up to him and I got to play with him.

“It was in 1995 I made my debut as a 15-year-old kid in Moree. I remember how great it felt for me to play football with my dad and how safe he made me feel on the field.

“I couldn’t wait, I was that excited. I didn’t hold back I just wanted to get in there and run as soon as I could.

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“I was so pumped up to wear the jersey that I was dying to wear in a Knockout.

“He was there to protect me, look after me, inspire me. There’s nothing better than being on the football field with your dad.

“I also got to play with my son (Dean Jnr) in his first Knockout playing for Narwan, so it’s something very special being able to play for the home town.”

It’s why being able to win the first of his five Knockouts in 2000 for Narwan meant the world to Widders.

“The first time to win it with Narwan, I grew up listening to the stories and what my dad said about the teams that he coached and was part of winning

“For me to lead the Narwan boys as a young man, I was only 20 years of age when we won our first Knockout.

The Narwan Eels featured a junior team in last year’s Koori Knockout. Picture: Andrea Francolini

“It was all family. There were probably 18 players who’s fathers had won the Knockout, so we were walking in the footsteps of our fathers.

“We’re all related, we’re all connected and we were all like brothers going up together, so for us to grow up and do what our fathers did was certainly a highlight.”

He achieved that feat with fellow Armidale-born talent Dennis Moran, who Widders rates as the best player to lace the boots up at the Koori Knockout.

“Dennis Moran is like my brother. He’s the GOAT of the Knockout and the best player that’s played in it,” he said.

Dennis Moran is an icon of the KO. Picture: Jeff Herbert

“We grew up together like brothers and for me to share a special history with Den in leading the Narwan team, it doesn’t get any better than that.

“He’s still running around and he’s still a dominant player at that age (47 years). I don’t know when he’ll retire, but he’s certainly set the bar high for Knockout players and has been an inspiration for our players in Armidale.”

You can watch the Koori Knockout on NITV and SBS On Demand on Sunday 6 October, live and free in HD. The finals will be broadcast on NITV, SBS and SBS On Demand on Monday 7 October, and results will be published online across the long weekend.

Originally published as ‘I didn’t hold back’: Dean Widders looks back on his first Koori Knockout, names his KO GOAT