2025-26 NTFL live stream: Watch Tiwi Bombers v Waratah in Round 9
A devastating 10-goal second-half Waratah blitz has delivered Tiwi Bombers their first home defeat in almost three years, shattering their fortress reputation. Watch the REPLAY here.
Waratah powered to a commanding victory on Bathurst Island, dismantling the Tiwi Bombers with a relentless 10 goal to one second half display.
The Tahs have played some huge games in recent weeks, with a narrow win against Nightcliff and tight loss to Districts nailing in their spot as one of the competition’s form sides.
That was further confirmed in their dominant 15.16 (106) to 7.8 (50) defeat of the Bombers at Wurrumiyanga Oval, which came about despite trailing at half time.
It marked the first Tiwi home loss in five games dating back to the Round 7 match of the 2022-23 season on November 12, 2022 against Southern Districts.
WATCH A FULL MATCH REPLAY ABOVE
The match opened at breakneck speed, both sides surging end-to-end but struggling for accuracy when it mattered.
By quarter-time, Waratah’s clean transition and superior contest work had earned them a narrow lead.
The second term belonged almost entirely to the Warriors.
A burst of four unanswered goals — sparked by outrageous link-up play and highlighted by a spectacular falling mark and finish from Jack Steel — blew the contest open.
Although Tiwi briefly rediscovered their trademark swagger, a costly 50m penalty halted their momentum.
A desperate defensive scramble from Braedon McLean and Desmond Tipuamantamurri created a late goal that gave the Bombers a narrow one goal lead at the big break.
After halftime, the temperature — literal and emotional — skyrocketed.
Waratah immediately levelled before piling on more scoreboard pressure - their bench firing up the home crowd.
Tiwi’s attempts to play on instinct resulted in turnovers, and Waratah capitalised.
Sebastian Carta, Joel Hillis, Timothy Kerinaiua and ruckman Jack English caused chaos across the park, leading the Tah’s tremendous charge that saw the home side kept scoreless in the third.
The final quarter was one-way traffic.
Waratah’s ball movement looked almost like a training drill, slicing through a fatigued Tiwi outfit.
Tempers flared when a struggling Nigel Lockyer lashed out at Hillis - symbolic of Tiwi’s frustration as the Warriors continued to pile on goals.
In the end, Waratah outclassed their opponents across the park, the home side - despite a stacked team, severely missing the work of Tanner Blackney-Noter in the middle.
Best on, and in his fourth game of the season, Devon Meadows’ Hillis was very happy with the large margin of victory, and said the halftime chat changed the match.
“We had a good first and an average second quarter that let Tiwi back into the match,” he said.
“So at the half we spoke about discipline at the back and keeping up the pressure and we all did that really well.
“A lot of goals came in the third and we just kept that same work rate up for the fourth and we came away with this big win.
“I felt really good this morning and was keen to get out here and was happy with my performance and I’m even happier that everything worked out and we go home with the four points.”
SCORE
Waratah: 2.5 5.7 10.9 15.16 (106)
Tiwi: 1.3 6.7 6.7 7.8 (50)
GOALS
Waratah:
Cody Szust 3, Nick Hoare 2, Timothy Kerinaiua 2, Steven Puruntatameri 2, Robby Bartee, Sebastian Carta, Jake Gasper, Joel Hillis, Luca Muratore, Joel Stevens
Tiwi:
Jack Steel 3, Brendan Kantilla, Kim Kantilla, Nigel Lockyer, Willie Rioli
BEST
Waratah:
Joel Hillis, Sebastian Carta, Timothy Kerinaiua, Jack English, Harvey Roberts
Tiwi:
Jack Steel, Brendan Kantilla, Frances Tipungwutil, Willie Rioli, Thaddeus Puautjimi
PREVIEW
The Tiwi Bombers will be playing for much more than just the four points when they return home following the devastation of Cyclone Fina.
However, Waratah have proven themselves a side difficult to defeat of late, with tight results against Nightcliff and Districts setting them right up there with the best in the competition.
Every moment of the match will be streamed live and free from 1.30pm on Saturday by The NT News and KommunityTV as part of our season-long NTFL coverage.
WHY TO WATCH
Cyclone Fina called off the entirety of Round 8 as it drifted between Darwin and the Tiwi Islands as a Category 3 system.
And while for many on the islands big storms are a way of life in the wet season, this was a different beast leaving plenty of clean-up come Sunday morning.
However, Tiwi assistant coach Simon Munkara, who lives on the island, said spirits were high with the community chipping in and now looking forward to seeing their boys play at home.
Plenty of Bombers players, such as inspirational captain Kim Kantilla, would have been on the island during the cyclone and they will want to give their all to lift the spirits of their community.
“We got up Sunday morning when it was all clear and went for a drive around community, there was a lot of trees down but the oval looks fantastic,” Munkara said.
“We haven’t played there since Round 5 so it’s in good condition and looks incredibly green, grass is a bit high though so they’ll need to mow that down for the weekend.
“The whole community is chipping in, helping each other and now they’re all looking forward for the game this weekend, and seeing our boys run out at home should lift spirits again.”
The break came at a good time for the Bombers after six straight games.
But despite that tough run, their young gun in Frances Tipungwuti and marquee recruit Willie Rioli have stood out inside 50, while Ashton Hams and Braedon McLean have anchored the defensive end.
On the flip side, Waratah are one of the form sides of the competition, with a their last outing a tight six-point loss to the undefeated Southern Districts.
The match followed an equally difficult victory over Nightcliff and sets the side up as a real finals favourite, particularly if they beat the Bombers on the island.
Scott Carlin and Cody Szust are the mainstays through the middle, while Robbie Turnbull and Jayden Magro have added plenty since returning to the side.
HOW TO WATCH
The NT News, KommunityTV 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.
On game day, the live stream for this match will appear at the top of this story in the lead up to the first bounce.
To find other games from this round click the links in the schedule box above.
Alternatively you can head to www.kommunitytv.com.au and use the video player at the top of the site to watch all the action live and scroll through the most recent replays.
Only News Corp Australia full digital subscribers will have exclusive access to watch the action.
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