NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Tiwi Bombers vs Waratah Round 7 live

Waratah skipper Dylan Collis played a brilliant hand as his side flew home with a wet sail to topple a sensational Tiwi side and hoist the Maurice Rioli Cup. Watch the REPLAY.

Waratah’s pressure game and coolness saw them through a difficult contest against an exciting Tiwi Bombers outfit that so often showed the talent they possess.

The battle between attack and defence was finally decided in a final quarter where Waratah’s relentless pressure allowed them to break free of their foes.

Led by a four-goal haul to skipper Dylan Collis, the Tahs dominated the fourth term to hoist the Maurice Rioli Cup with a 14.14 (98) to 10.12 (72) win.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

Tiwi appeared to grapple hold of the contest at the top of the second quarter, after a tight opening period, outmatching their foes for leg speed and intensity.

Young gun Thaddeus Puautjimi was one of the more dominant players getting plenty of the ball on the wing and using it well to provide those ahead of him.

Kim Kantilla enjoyed one of his better games of the season, popping through two important goals, while a Karlson Kantilla assist attempt bounced through to become a goal instead.

However, as they’re known to do, Waratah kept their heads in the game and bit by bit were able to apply pressure across the ground to force mistakes from their foes.

The likes of Marlion Pickett, who had his hands on plenty of positive, were forced to take riskier options and as a result the Tahs were able to turn the ball over in their favour.

Scott Carlin was his usual busy self and provided his forwards with plenty while Tanner Lovell, Joshua Saltalamacchia and Bailey Scott were other Tahs to get stuck into the contest.

But it was Liam Odea, playing a strong game, who finally broke the run of Tiwi scores off a turnover and then it was almost a complete reversal of fortunes in every aspect except in front of goal, where Tahs struggled.

Liam Odea playing for Waratah in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Jack Riddiford / AFLNT Media

Tall Mitchell Jorgensen, carrying VFL experience, was the man to offer himself for Waratah in the third taking some great marks in front to bolster a lead for the red and whites.

But Tiwi were eager not to drop off the pace for a second week in a row, and some brilliant hangers from Puautjimi and Anthony Munkara inspired another resurgence.

The experienced heads of Sam Darley, Pickett and Ashton Hams tempered the side and though they too struggled for consistency in front of goal they again slipped ahead by three quarter time.

Waratah kept their cool into the final term and it was their ability to do so that saw them get the better of the exits.

Brodie Carroll proved crucial supplying the ball to his skipper Dylan Collis, who knocked through three goals on the bounce to see his side go ahead.

Thaddeus Puautjimi had a strong showing against Waratah. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Matters got heated when Tiwi’s Tanner Blackney-Noter knocked the ball through in defence, which was declared deliberate by the umpires to the side’s ire.

Carroll was given an easy shot at goal, which would probably have been the nail in the coffin itself, but it was backed up by free kicks for Tahs that only helped them build the lead.

A ripper goal from Munkara bursting through afterward did give the Bombers something more to celebrate, but it was too little too late and was answered immediately.

“That took a four quarter effort, we stuck with Tiwi all game and had to as they were very hot early on and it took a full game’s effort to beat them,” Odea said.

“Staying composed and keeping a level head kept us in the game and then it came down to our style standing up against them, we had done a lot of revision on them in the lead up.

“There was a few players we knew we needed to shut down and nullify being their big distributors, and we did a good job on that setting us up for what was an important win.

“The win was particularly important for the club being the Maurice Rioli Cup, he was a big part of Waratah and the boys were happy to bring that home.

“I’m personally loving playing up here, it’s hot but the Waratah boys have made me feel very welcome and they’re a great group to be around.”

Score:

Bombers: 2.3 5.5 9.9 10.12 (72)

Waratah: 2.2 4.8 8.11 14.14 (98)

Goals:

Bombers:

Kim Kantilla 4, Brendan Kantilla 2, Adam Tipungwuti, Malachi Walley, Karlson Kantilla, Anthony Munkara

Waratah:

Dylan Collis 4, Brodie Carroll 2, Mitchell Jorgensen 2, Joshua Saltalamacchia, Blair McCutcheon, Tanner Lovell, Maxwell Kelly, Scott Carlin, Liam Odea

Best:

Bombers:

Kim Kantilla, Ashton Hams, Marlion Pickett, Karlson Kantilla, Brendan Kantilla

Waratah:

Bailey Scott, Liam Odea, Scott Carlin, Mitchell Jorgensen, Tanner Lovell

PREVIEW

The Bombers came within a whisker of knocking off the reigning premiers last week, but can they keep up their incredible run against rivals Waratah?

The NT News and KommunityTV will stream every moment of this clash from 5pm on Saturday.

The Bombers will rue a missed opportunity after they let a 30-point lead against St Mary’s crumble to a one-point defeat at the death.

But the fast start caught their old foes off guard and if they can fix up a few inaccuracies on goal, they will put the scare through a side like Waratah.

Any of their speedsters can do the damage across the field, while the steadiness of more experienced heads like Marlion Pickett and Sam Darley has helped them see out hard games.

Brayden Rioli playing in the St Mary's vs Tiwi Bombers match in Round 6 of the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Waratah will prove a formidable foe having picked up wins over St Mary’s and PINT over the opening rounds to firmly entrench themselves in the top five.

The red and whites have also had a blueprint laid out in front of them on how to dissect a flash Bombers as the game gets into the late stages.

Waratah’s hard-defending has caught many an attacking unit out and they will look to keep the pressure up against a side that’s almost their opposite in Tiwi.

Watch the full replay at the end of the game.

The NT News and AFL Northern Territory have come together in a partnership to live stream both the men’s and women’s Premier League games for this TIO NTFL season.

Originally published as NTFL 2024-25 live stream: Tiwi Bombers vs Waratah Round 7 live