NTFL 2023-24: Watch Waratah v Darwin Buffaloes Round 8 live stream

It’s four wins in a row now for the reigning premiers after they skipped out to big halftime lead and dared the gallant Buffaloes to chase them down. Re-live all the action.

Waratah have burst out of the blocks to secure an important win over one of their biggest top four challengers, the Darwin Buffaloes.

The reigning premiers got out to an early lead and despite some inaccuracies in front of goal never let it go on their way to beating the potential danger side 11.17 (83) to 8.8 (56).

Tahs hit their straps early kicking eight of their 11 goals in the first half, with talismanic forward Jayden Magro on fire from the start.

The goal kicking supremo kicked three of his eventual four goals in the opening term, with a strong compliment of ins in the midfield including Robbie Turnbull and Abe Ankers feeding him.

The Double Blues fought back through the middle half, with usual suspects Jarrod Stokes and Nick Yarran doing their best to wrestle back any momentum.

However, lacking targets and feeling the loss of Blake Coleman, the Buffs struggles to make inroads as the Waratah backline, namely Jack O’Sullivan, smothered anything that came their way.

The Buffs eventually had some luck through Ishmael Palmer and Hassan Ahmat-Watkins kicking some back, while Matt Campbell locked down the impact of Magro.

Waratah's Arnold Kirby has been in great form throughout the 2023-24 NTFL season. Picture: Tymunna Clements / AFLNT Media

But the relentlessness of big man Arnold Kirby winning pretty much everything, and Toby Hutt and Ankers taking control, they never allowed the Buffaloes to capitalise on their surges.

“We knew that if we stuck to our game plan we were more than capable of grinding out a win,” Arnold Kirby said.

“Buffaloes are a pretty good team, they’ve won five games coming into this, and we knew that they were always going to bring the heat.

“We put pressure on them early and we knew that’d make them sort of fall away like they did the other week against Crocs.

“From a first gamer to captain Dylan Collis it really was a very solid and proper 22-man performance with everyone playing their role and genuinely working together as a unit.

“And this is what it takes if you want to get a win, in the big games. We’ve got Nightcliff and Crocs coming up so we will need contributors in ever role again if we are to get the win.”

Score:

Waratah: 4.5 8.8 10.13 11.17 (83)

Buffaloes: 1.3 3.5 6.6 8.8 (56)

Goals:

Waratah:

Jayden Magro 4

Abraham Ankers 2

Tyson McKenzie 2

Dom Booth

Ryan Clarke

Toby Hutt

Buffaloes:

Ishmael Palmer 3

Hassan Ahmat-Watkins

Lachlan Hill

Phoenix Spicer

Daniel Stafford

Jarrod Stokes

Best:

Waratah:

Jayden Magro

Toby Hutt

Arnold Kirby

Jack O’Sullivan

Abraham Ankers

Buffaloes:

Ishmael Palmer

Matt Campbell

Nicholas Yarran

Hassan Ahmat-Watkins

Jarrod Stokes

PREVIEW

Waratah play host to an in-form and firing Darwin Buffaloes on Saturday in what is shaping up as the match of the round.

And the NT News and KommunityTV will be there to stream the whole match from 4.30pm.

Reigning premiers Waratah have come out of their bye with three percentage boosting wins in a row to climb back into the finals positions.

But now they will be put to the test against third-placed Darwin, who have only dropped one game so far this season.

Waratah are an elite side on their day and have a midfield brimming with talent, including former Sydney Swan Ryan Clarke, Arnold Kirby, Brodie Carroll and Scott Carlin.

While in the forward line, Jayden Magro has been a goalscoring machine of late, and Anthony Munkara is another looking to fire up on his home deck at Gardens Oval.

Waratah v Buffaloes is sure to be an exciting contest.

Meanwhile, the Buffaloes picked up a huge scalp last weekend by beating Nightcliff and are hoping it’s the win that gives them some momentum.

There are plenty of exciting players in this Buffs side, including captain Jarrod Stokes and former AFL players Mitch Robinson and Rhys Mathieson.

But they are also a side that needs to prove they can hit the ground running from the opening quarter and not let the score get away from them early.

A full replay of the match will be posted here following 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.