Matt Cockbain and Shirley Russell come to Top End ahead of Hottest 7s
Dominant victories, Super Rugby players, toddlers on the field and a heatwave were just some of the talking points from this year’s Hottest 7s. Recap all the action and see who the top performers from each final were here.
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Under the searing sun in the midst of a heatwave alert, the 35th Hottest 7s In The World wrapped up at the weekend, in what was another successful celebration of rugby.
The fields at Darwin’s TRL Stadium played host to 97 sevens matches across the two-day competition with sides from across the nation and overseas taking part.
Fast-paced action and slick skills were on show but so too were some minor disrupters.
From a toddler making their way onto the field and causing a delay and a coach receiving a code of conduct in one match, to a side being disqualified for fielding a player suspended in the 13-man code in another, the afternoon had a bit of everything.
Here’s all the top performers and run-downs from the grand final matches.
Top Performers and Run-downs
U14 BOYS FINAL – DUIYASANA 19 DEF. 5 SWAMPDOGS
The first final of the lot pitted the dominant Duiyasana youngsters up against a hearty Swampdogs crop of juniors. Duiyasana had the Dogs’ number for the majority of the first half, but only crossed the chalk twice due to Dogs’ great defensive resolve.
The second half was a lot more even with the Dogs getting on the score sheet however they left it too late, losing by two converted tries.
Top Performers:
Roland Kyaw (Duiyasana) – A crafty player with a sharp kick of speed and a knack at finding a hole., Kyaw was always in the thick of the action for Duiysana.
Tomasi Vatanitawak (Duiyasana) – With one of the better try celebrations of the day, Vatanitawak worked great in tandem with Kyaw in the middle and he too had pace to burn.
Reef Smith (Swampdogs) – The toughest player on the field, the number nine threw himself into tackles and was constantly scheming with Gilbert in hand during attacking phases.
U16 BOYS FINAL – SSA 17 DEF. 12 CROCS
One of the closer finals of the day, SSA and Crocs held no punches in their 14 minute tussle. SSA hit the board first with a five pointer on the right post in the second minute. They found the try line again and took a 10-0 lead into the break. The Crocs turned up the heat in the second half, and took the lead with back-to-back converted tries. At 12-10 with under two minutes remaining it was Xavier Williams-Byers who saved the day, bursting through the Crocs line defence at halfway, running off without anyone in front, scoring under the sticks.
Top performers:
Xavier Williams-Byers (SSA) – Was the player who broke the hearts of the Crocs and sealed the victory for his side with a fantastic 60m solo try in the dying minutes.
Noah Po-Ching (Crocs) – With a nasty stiff arm and a proper goosy Po-Ching crossed the chalk in the second and was very safe in defence.
Elijah Williams (SSA) – A play maker and armoured with a nasty dummy, Williams was in every contest and was one of the hardest workers on the field.
U16 GIRLS FINAL – SYDNEY FIJIANS 19 DEF. 7 SSA
Too fast, too strong and too skilled, the Sydney Fijians were a class above in their final against SSA. Scoring off the opening kick-off, Sydney set the tone early, not lifting their foot off the accelerator once. Delivering bone crunching tackles that saw two SSA players come from the pitch, Sydney went all out in the opening seven, scoring all 19 of their eventual points. SSA showed tenacity in the second half, able to thwart Sydney’s attack and getting on the scorecard themselves.
Top performers:
Chloe Sivewright (Sydney Fiji) – The general out in the middle, wearing the number nine Sivewright was the catalyst for three tries, scoring two long distance and assisting a third after offloading the ball mid tackle following another huge run up the middle.
Lusiana Vesikula (Sydney Fiji) – Boasting the most technically sound and brutal tackle on the field the vice-captain was a rock in defence.
Patience Kani (SSA) – At the back, the fullback wore her heart on her sleeve, never gave up a chase and put her body on the line as the last line of defence.
YOUTH BOYS/COCKATOO SHIELD FINAL – DUIYASANA 41 DEF. 5 SYDNEY FIJIANS
The Duiyasan youth did a number on their Sydney opponents in the final in the most one-sided game of the day. The tone was set after the boys in blue crossed the line in the opening minute, burning the Sydney wingers. Already up 22-0 at the half, the champions game plan of smothering Sydney worked to great effect, forcing the visitors into numerous handling errors in both halves.
Top performers:
James Watt (Duiyasana) – An absolute gun with pace to burn, Watt was his team’s x-factor. Scoring a hat-trick and setting up another, his ability to quickly access what was in front a knack of finding open space made him a nightmare to defend.
Jioji Talemaira (Duiyasana) – A strong runner of the ball and possessing a safe set of hands, he set up a try and laid on some big tackles in defence.
Tomasi Eaton (Duiyasana) – Leading from the front the captain put 100 per cent effort into every contest and phase he was involved in.
GECKO FINAL – SKINNY BONES 20 DEF. 5 FAT SALTIES
The unofficial official social division of the tournament saw two local sides University Pirates (Skinny Bones) and Palmerston Crocs (Fat Salties) square off in the finals. A rather even game with both sides knowing the other pretty well, the Skinny Bones would be victorious, dishing up some brace defence and scoring against the run of play.
Top performers:
Hugh Harbeck (Skinny Bones) – Scoring a brace and with number seven on his back Harbeck was in the right place at the right time.
Tom Hill (Skinny Bones) – Also on the scoresheet as scoring a brace, he was fast off the mark.
Euan Mckillop (Fat Salties) – Despite the outcome McKillop gave his all the whole game and was one of his side’s best.
BARRA FINAL – DUIYASANA B 10 DEF. 5 EARU WAWA’S
Victors of the Barra division by a try, Duiyasana hit their straps early, scoring their first try of the contest in under a minute. It took until the fourth minute for East Arnhem to have an attacking play when their vice-captain pirouetted through Duiyasana’s line inside his own forty, running down the left flank to score next to the post. Deadlocked at 5-5 after seven, it was a stalemate till Duiyasana’s Willhelm Lauenstein took matters into his own hands, crossing with 10 seconds left on the clock after a long build-up.
Top performers:
Lepani Nabuliwaqa (Duiyasana) – Captain of the winning team the veteran showed he still has petrol in the tank, charging into every tackle and corralled his men to great effect in defence.
Willhelm Lauenstein (Duiyasana) – Out on the wing it was his efforts in the final play that sealed his sides victory.
Joshua Blundell (EARU) – If it wasn’t for Blundell’s desperation at the back, East’s would have leaked at least three more tries.
BUFF FINAL – TAHI 36 DEF. 0 TABADAMU BLUE
The Sunny Coast outfit was never in doubt during their grand final thumping over Tabadamu Blue. Piling on the points it was a true team performance with every member of the side playing a part in at least one of the tries. Tahi were on the ball from the first whistle and never gave an inch, on top of Tabadamu in every contest up and down the field.
Top performers:
Edan Zaupa (Tahi) – A cannon of a pass and speed off the ground Zaupa was among all the action.
Chris Minimbi (Tahi) – The Drua was class all game both on and off the ball. While he didn’t put together a highlight reel, you could clearly see why he’s a pro.
Oscar Crawley (Tahi) – The big man always found himself in the right spot, bumping off tacklers for fun.
JABIRU FINAL – TAHI 31 DEF. 12 STRAIT BLAKS
Taking out the top female division with ease and headed back to Queensland $15k richer, Tahi were near perfect in their 19 point win. Up against a side full of local Top End players the women in red and black hit the ground running, scoring their first points of the day in under two minutes. Tahi doubled their tally a short time later and yet were made to pay after a botched restart that saw the home side score on the stroke of half time. At 12-5 the game was in the balance; Tahi broke it open after scoring off a crash play, the result of a high tackle penalty on Strait Blaks’ 5m. The home side scored their second of the game, another intercept, but ran out of time, going down 31-12.
Top performers:
Dillyn Blackburn (Tahi) – A monster in defence and with a superb tackle in her arsenal Blackburn was a killer a game.
Erica Sitcheff (Tahi) – Controlling the play as the hooker she was instrumental in Tahi’s dominant and well structured attack.
Abigayle Sekitoga (Strait Blaks) – The local was the source of both her teams tries, both intercepts and 50m plus.
CROC FINAL – TABADAMU RED 19 DEF. 14 SAUNAKA
Taking out the top gong for the fourth time in a row Tabadamu proved yet again why they are one of the top outfits in the country. Blitzing their way through the prelim and semi finals, their toughest test of the weekend came in the championship game against a determined Saunaka team. Tabadamu hit the board first and second taking a 12-0 lead into the half after a commanding first seven minute display.
Saunaka then hit back early in the second after a brilliant team effort. Saunaka found the goal line once more after another dominant set of attacking phases. Saunaka then looked destined to snatch the title away from Tabadamu until the defending champs winger jetted down the right tram tracks chasing a clearance, picked up the bouncing ball and ran under the sticks with under a minute on the clock.
PREVIEW: Wallabies greats teach NT kids skills ahead of Hottest 7s
The Hottest Sevens are here to cap off what has been a mega week for NT rugby union players and supporters.
Often billed as the Hottest Sevens in the World, the annual event brings players from across the country and beyond to Darwin to compete in the renowned Top End heat.
The Pacific Island team will be the ones to watch with Tabadamu and Duiyasana both fielding two squads, while touring sides from Queensland and New South Wales will take the challenge to them.
There will be no shortage of talent in the women’s competition either with the local clubs also looking to get into the fight.
Classic Wallabies Matt Cockbain and Shirley Russell have also been visiting rugby hungry kids across the Top End from Katherine to Darwin as part of tour to lead into the big event.
Cockbain played 63 tests for the Wallabies including during the 1999 World Cup win, and came up to Darwin as part of the Australian team ahead of the 2003 tournament.
“This is a real good way for the Classic Wallabies and Rugby Australia to come up and connect with people and juniors in the region that play the game,” he said.
“I trained up here before 2003 and remember that being quite hard, but it was a great experience and helped us connect better.
“I always enjoy the atmosphere here, it’s quite laid back and the people are friendly, it’s just a really good rugby community.”
Meanwhile, Russell has deep connections to the NT of her own and is often the first to put her hand up to make the trip north.
“The Territory’s got a big part of my heart, in both a rugby and family space, it’s great to have that connection and connect with the community,” she said.
“We’ve seen more numbers attending this trip, and there’s been plenty of enthusiasm from both the juniors and seniors, as well as the new coaches going through their clinic.
“The numbers in the women’s game are good too for the Hottest 7s, they all want to be part of it, and they all want to represent their family, their friends, and the NT.”
Juniors clinics part of huge week for NT Rugby before Hottest 7s
The Bledisloe Cup may be out of reach once again but that won’t stop the Top End’s rugby community from grabbing a special week with both hands.
Rugby Australia and NT Rugby are making waves across the Territory ahead of their annual Hottest 7s in the World.
Up to 19 newly minted coaches have been welcomed into the fold after an intensive two days at Marrara.
“It’s one of the biggest coach education sessions we’ve seen in the NT for a long time,” Rugby Australia educator Zac Elliot said.
“Darwin has hosted both the Wallabies and Aussie 7s men in recent times and we’re pleased to see the game’s ongoing growth extend to our community coaches.”
Meanwhile, two high profile former Wallaby and Wallaroo players have held a series of school holiday clinics in the lead up to a jam-packed weekend.
It’s part of Rugby Australia’s nationwide Gold Blooded Tour with Matt Cockbain and Shirely Russell holding clinics at Katherine Sportsground, Rugby Park in Marrara (September 26) and Palmerston’s Moulden Oval (September 27).
The free clinics are aimed at players aged 4-12 and run for about two hours from 8.45am onwards.
All roads lead to this weekend’s Hottest 7s (September 28-29) at TRL Stadium with the biggest rugby event in the NT sure to bring plenty to Marrara.
Touring sides Tahi 7s (Sunshine Coast) and Saunaka (Sydney) set to challenge legendary three-time defending champions Tabadamu for the men’s title.
Incredibly, this year’s men’s draw will see two Tabadamu sides in action following a surge in registrations with 2023 runners up Duiyasana will also field two teams.
Meanwhile, the late withdrawal of Lillian Amazons has blown the women’s draw wide open with Palmerston and Souths among the local hopefuls.
Hottest Sevens fever ramps up as Wallabies legends make NT trip
NT Rugby will roll out World Cup winning Wallaby Matt Cockbain and Wallaroos trailblazer Shirley Russell as part of its 2024-25 season recruitment drive.
The legendary pair headline a series of community activations and tournaments this month including the return of NT Rugby’s Hottest 7s.
They will also host Classic Wallaby holiday clinics and coach education sessions before the NTRU season kicks off in October.
Cockbain was a key member of Australia’s golden era from 1998-2003, with 63 test appearances including the 1999 World Cup final career.
Meanwhile, Russell’s name is synonymous with the Top End after her stint playing in Darwin during her Wallaroos career.
Cockbain and Russell will host clinics across Katherine (25 Sep), Darwin (26 Sep) and Palmerston (27 Sep) ahead of the Hottest 7s (28-29 Sep) in Marrara.
“Matt and Shirley are accomplished players and coaches and will help create lifelong memories for our next generation of players,” an NT Rugby spokesperson said.
“With the help of Rugby Australia and the Classic Wallabies, we hope to inspire more boys and girls to pick up a rugby ball this season and enjoy our great game.”
The upcoming Hottest 7s has already attracted widespread interest with teams from Sydney, Fiji, Brisbane and even further afield set to light up Darwin this year.
Three-time defending men’s champions Tabadamu will push for their fourth consecutive Croc title and will again be the side to watch.
However, they will face stiff opposition from the likes of Central Australian Fiji, Veivanua Brothers, Saunaka, Duiyasana and the Tahi 7s as they chase an eye-watering $10,000 winner’s cheque.
Meanwhile, defending women’s champions Lillian Amazons are also tipped to return after the travelling Fijians swept all-comers on the way to the Jabiru title.
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Originally published as Matt Cockbain and Shirley Russell come to Top End ahead of Hottest 7s
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