The touching motivation behind Bindal Sharks All Blacks champions, the Elsie Thompson Memorial Team
Elsie Thompson Memorial Team coach Troy Kennedy says the team’s namesake would have been smiling down on the side’s success. Read why this year’s champions had extra motivation for the carnival.
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Elsie Thompson Memorial Team coach Troy Kennedy says the team’s namesake would be smiling down on the side’s success after it won the Bindal Sharks All Blacks rugby league carnival.
The Elsie Thompson Memorial Team beat the Doogsie Doolan Raiders 33-22 in Sunday’s decider, capping off a spectacular weekend of carnival football with a fifth-straight victory in their fifth game in 30 hours.
The shield-winning team’s coach said his grandmother would have been proud of the performances on display.
“It was a great achievement for us to play for someone special like my nan. I think she would have been looking down smiling at us as we went through the carnival,” Kennedy said.
“She was a big rugby league fan and a big supporter of our family. No matter if we played rugby league, rugby union, AFL – she was always down there.
“To have her chair, and a photo of her on her chair down at the games, it really lifted the boys.”
The Elsie Thompson Memorial Team included a dozen members of the matriarch’s extended family, making up half of the team.
There was also a strong Souths Bulls flavour to the side with Rugby League Townsville and District player of the year Shaun Nona headlining the team alongside the 2023 Dr Rod Ward Medallist Curtis Dempsey.
Nona said his club teammates’ willingness to join the team for the carnival was evidence of the Bulls’ strong family values.
“It was a family side for one of the Souths boys, Braeden Kennedy. Of the 24-man squad, 20 of them were from Souths,” Nona said.
“That just goes to show how many boys said yes when they were asked to play. No one hesitated, they all jumped at the opportunity.
“Carnival footy is just about families and different communities coming together.
“We kicked a field goal with less than two minutes to play in the final. I think if the game went for another two minutes we would’ve been on the back foot because they were coming home strong – we’re lucky we got out to a good lead early.”
Unity Team were crowned winners of the women’s shield after beating the Burdekin Delta Dolphins in the final, while Fantome Hunters won the Men’s SILVER Shield.
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Originally published as The touching motivation behind Bindal Sharks All Blacks champions, the Elsie Thompson Memorial Team
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