Senior triumphs for Darwin Brothers and the inaugural Deadly Cup made 2020 a year to remember for rugby league in the NT
THE NT News looks back at 2020 and the Year That Was in the NRL NT. And what a year it was for Darwin Brothers
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IN a year hit by COVID-19, NT sport still found a way to dazzle and impress its fans when rugby league enjoyed a massive year.
With sport put on hold until midway through the year, the NRL NT clubs were forced to cut their pre-seasons in half until a return to business in June.
Once the season recommenced, there was hard running, big hits and star performers.
Brothers rugby club, in particular, had a season they will not soon forget when both their men and women celebrated premiership glory.
MARCH 27: Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta Eels NRL match cancelled and tickets refunded due to COVID-19. Clubs and local competitions on hold until June 5 when sport may recommence.
JUNE 20: The NRL NT competition finally starts. Litchfield, Palmerston and Nightcliff win in A-grade on the opening night.
South Darwin manages its only win of the Women’s Premiership with a 34-22 victory over Litchfield in the opening round. Cassie Ormsby, Tedisha Bush and Shameaka Petterson scored six tries between them.
JULY 4: Palmerston Raiders regained the Mitchell Russell Shield after beating reigning two-time champions Litchfield 32-28. Will Smith, Alex Johnson and Jake Rainger are standouts. Northern Sharks earned their first win with a 78-6 win over South Darwin. Cooper Segeyaro scored four tries.
JULY 25: Darwin Brothers beat South Darwin 90-4 in Nick Yarran’s debut game. He scored two tries, and Rodney Baird bagged a hat-trick.
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AUGUST 8: Thomas Clarke, 19, was named the youngest captain of Darwin Brothers for their round-six match against Palmerston. Usual captain Aaron Pollard was injured.
Sistaz’ Latoniya Norris scores five tries against Palmerston in a 50-10 win in the women’s competition.
AUGUST 15: Nightcliff wins Chico Motlop Shield in a tight match, beating a resurgent South Darwin (having forfeited the week before) 34-28 to give captain David Paull a 100th game for the club to remember. Tian Nichols and Nasoni Rokobiau stood out in the fighting Souths unit.
AUGUST 22: The Palmerston women pick up momentum late in the season when Simone Garner and Ruti Faatoafe show strong form.
AUGUST 29: With a bye in the final week and a forfeit from South Darwin, Sistaz marched into the finals as unbeaten minor premiers.
SEPTEMBER 5: Palmerston becomes unbeaten minor premiers following a round-10 forfeit from South Darwin. The 2019 premiers Litchfield placed second following a 56-10 win over Nightcliff Dragons.
SEPTEMBER 12: Litchfield show its finals pedigree and hand Palmerston its first loss of the season in the major semi-final, winning 25-18. Halves pairing Matt Goodfellow and Jack Willis run the show to book the side a spot in the grand final, while Dillan Vanderberg and Sam McAuley also deliver strong showings.
Brothers survive a close-run 18-16 game against Nightcliff to keep their finals hopes alive.
Traditional women’s powerhouse Nightcliff is dealt a blow in the major semi-final when the Sistaz maintain their undefeated run with a 28-4 win. The Palmerston women maintain their late-season momentum with a 10-0 win over Litchfield.
SEPTEMBER 19: Brothers get the crowd on their feet in a 26-18 preliminary final upset win over minor premiers Palmerston. Young guns Tyrone Nona and Thomas Clarke had massive games.
Jo de la Coeur runs in two tries to get the Palmerston women into their first grand final with a 26-6 win over Nightcliff.
SEPTEMBER 26: The youthful Brothers lift the NRL NT A-grade premiership trophy following a fast and intense 28-26 win over Litchfield. With only Leon Rotumah having previous grand final experience, the Leon Cleal-coached unit delivered an inspired performance to beat a Bears outfit hungry for a three-peat.
The Brethren rushed to an early lead but had to hold on late. Nick Yarran was named best on ground.
Sistaz complete an unbeaten premiership with a 36-16 win over grand final rivals Palmerston. Ruti Faatoafe scored twice for the Raiders. However, the Sistaz kept their cool to win. Bianca Stokes, Bianca Scrymgour, Danielle Ponter and Latoniya Norris stood out for Sistaz, while Tishara Davern-Cahill was named best on ground.
OCTOBER 3: The City women crush their Country foes 40-3, and the Sistaz stars performed again. But Country earned their revenge in the men’s, winning 34-4. Litchfield Bears hooker Sam McAuley became the latest player from his side to win the Frank Johnson Medal. Brothers fullback Isaac Sedan-Kurnoth, 18, placed in the count.
Latoniya Norris won the Gaynor Maggs Medal following a season in which she scored 21 tries.
The NT News selected its NRL NT 2020 A-grade Team of the Year
The NT News Women’s Team of the Year and other NRL NT award winners following the 2020 season
NOVEMBER 8: Excitement ensued when Deadly Enterprises partnered with NRL NT to host the inaugural Deadly Cup.
Strong showings from Bianca Stokes and Danielle Ponter gave the Indigenous All Stars the win in the women’s competition.
The NT All Stars, coached by Brothers coach Leon Cleal and with Litchfield captain Luke Mahood on board, beat both the Indigenous All Stars and the Pacific All Stars.
NOVEMBER 26: Parramatta Eels announce they will take on the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL’s Anzac round at TIO Stadium on April 23 next year.
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DECEMBER 15: Latoniya Norrs, Tishara Cahill-Davern, Bianca Stokes, Tahlia Corrie and Ashanti Bush are put through their paces in a bid to be selected in the national Indigenous All Stars squad to play the Maori All Stars in February.
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