2025-26 NTFL live stream: Watch Waratah v Nightcliff Tigers in Round 6
Waratah held firm on their home track seeing off a desperate Nightcliff challenge in a match that was played on a knife’s edge across four quarters. Watch the full match REPLAY.
Waratah held firm on their home track seeing off a desperate Nightcliff challenge in a match that was played on a knife’s edge across four quarters.
The Tahs had hosted Palmerston and Wanderers at Gardens Oval in their previous two rounds but a visit from a Tigers side in good form themselves was set up as the biggest test yet.
And bring the challenge Nightcliff did as even in the final moments the Tigers had a chance to goal through Brett Kennedy that would have tied the occasion.
Fortunately for the home side that shot went wayward and Waratah were able to turn the remaining seconds into a scrap until the siren went securing a 6.13 (49) to 6.7 (43) win.
Waratah were threatening from the outset securing an early goal from Joel Stevens and a brilliant snap from Jayden Magro had the side two goals up early on.
Their midfield led by skipper Scott Carlin and former Tiger Cody Szust matched it with the much acclaimed Nightcliff on-ballers securing plenty of the ball.
But they were unable to push their advantage completely with Magro missing a set shot that within moments saw the ball glide down the opposite end for a Boyd Bailey score.
Boxhill Hawks Kye Declade nailed a second after taking a brilliant mark and the scores were pretty much levelled once more, a theme that would follow for every break to come.
Defensive efforts cancelled each other out with Waratah in particular winning the clearances but unable to push on with wayward shots going against them.
A Carlin effort was deflected by a brilliant Lewis Rinaldi leap, while on the opposite end Robbie Turnbull and Samuel Kenna limited Nightcliff’s usual passages to goal.
Turnbull was a sure-fire contender for best on standing tall down back and repelling the ball often to the advantage of his squad.
Those defensive efforts meant the limited goals that did come in the match were belters with Timmy Kerinauia and Steven Puruntatameri both getting the home crowd on their feet with huge efforts.
Nightcliff did not score a major ahead of the 13 minute mark in any of the quarters but were always in touching distance relying on great efforts from usual performers Brandan Parfitt and Peter Politis.
Tigers’ junior turned Waratah premier player Zac Withers got a big one at the top of the fourth, and Stevens backed it up with his second much later in the term which put the side two goals clear.
An explosive effort from captain Brodie Filo almost undid it all with Nightcliff throwing everything they had into the final minutes, but Tahs were able to do just enough to prevent the comeback.
“That came down to a heap of belief, we’ve now got everyone up here from finishing southern footy and relocating and to do that against a tough team like Nightcliff is great,” Turnbull said.
“They’ve got some A-grade players across the field so we just wanted to defend first, match them physically and then get our offence going from that and our mids did a terrific job.
“We had hoped to convert a bit better and maybe the scoreboard wouldn’t have been so close but we know their quality and it came down to a coin flip on that final shot.
“Our back six were really good, we’re just thankful guys were willing to be selfless and play roles down there to go toe to toe with their threats.
“We’ve now got a really tough six to seven weeks that will define our season with Districts next, we know they’re the ones to beat being top of the ladder.
“We want to try to get these close wins now because it will tighten up post-Christmas particualry in those top five spots.”
Score:
Waratah: 2.4 2.8 4.10 6.13 (49)
Nightcliff: 2.0 3.2 5.5 6.7 (43)
Goals:
Waratah:
Joel Stevens 2, Timothy Kerinaiua, Jayden Magro, Zac Withers, Steven Puruntatameri
Nightcliff:
Boyd Bailey, Kye Declase, Brodie Filo, Marly Mcgregor, Peter Politis, Brandan Parfitt
Best:
Waratah:
Robbie Turnbull, Joel Stevens, Scott Carlin, Samuel Kenna, Zac Withers
Nightcliff:
Brandan Parfitt, Ryan Nyhuis, Brodie Filo, Mitchell Trewhella, Nathan Brown
PREVIEW
An unbeaten start at home after seeing off the challenges of Wanderers and Palmerston has Waratah in good stead, but the visiting Nightcliff Tigers pose a greater threat on Saturday night.
Every moment of the match will be live streamed from 6.30pm by The NT News and KommunityTV as part of our season-long coverage.
WHY TO WATCH
Waratah come into the last of three-straight home fixtures and have started to gel on the deck at Gardens Oval, with defeats of two sides they needed to get the better of.
Scott Carlin came into his own against Wanderers and the skipper will need to maintain that form if the Tahs will be playing finals footy.
There’s some young bright sparks in this Waratah outfit including Clay Shadforth and Joel Stevens, while Cody Szust will want to be at his best against his former NTFL club.
The Tigers pose a great threat coming off two home victories of their own and making the trip out to Gardens for what they hope is their own third win in succession.
Brandan Parfitt, Brodie Filo and Peter Politis are all big possession winners while the forward have really started to click, particularly with the return of delisted GWS Giant Wade Derksen.
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.
