The pride behind WAR's rise, why it's about more than footy, and what comes next

Making the seven-hour drive home from the Koori Knockout, the realisation of what his club had achieved and what comes next hit Ben Gunn.

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Ben Gunn (centre) celebrates with his side after Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers' Koori Knockout win. Picture by Local Famous Photography

"Honestly, we've been so dialled in on the rugby league, it was not a subject for us in our camp," he said.

"Once we got into the football, it was time to clock on and we weren't even thinking about that.

"I was driving home yesterday and just going 'Wow, okay' but, location-wise, it wasn't anything that crossed my mind."

Hosting the Knockout is about so much more than rugby league.

Having a venue with multiple fields is one thing, but having a town or city that has the capabilities for accommodation, accessibility, parking, and so much more, must be considered for a cultural event that attracts up to 50,000 people and injects millions into the economy of the host region.

Given how vast Wiradjuri country is, there will be plenty of options for Gunn and WAR to consider as the interest and prestige around the carnival continues to grow.

"It's a huge responsibility being the caretaker of the Knockout, and that's all we are. We're the caretakers for the next 12 months," he said.

"We'll put our best foot forward and make sure that we represent the Koori Knockout with the utmost respect that it deserves.

"It's a big job but we know we've got the people within our community and we're definitely excited to be able to do this."

The WAR celebrations after the Koori Knockout grand final win over the Bourke Warriors. Picture by Local Famous Photography

Rumours have run wild on social media with the likes of Dubbo and Bathurst, in particular, being touted as possible hosts, while there have also been calls for other Wiradjuri locations like Orange, Wagga, and Griffith.

Taking the event outside of a club's own region has also occurred in the past, and there have been plenty of calls for WAR to take the carnival somewhere like Coffs Harbour or back to Tamworth, which earned plenty of praise after Walgett Aboriginal Connection took the event there in 2025.

Gunn wouldn't be drawn on any of the speculation at this early stage.

"The Knockout has continued to grow and grow every year and the appetite for the greatest rugby league tournament in the world, that hunger is from everyone nationwide," he said.

"That appetite deserves the right space. We'll make sure we give as many of the key stakeholders and community members the best stage to be able to perform."

Long before the men's side took to the field on Monday against Bourke in the decider, the foundation had been set.

"It (2026 carnival) was a huge reflection of the vision for WAR," Gunn said.

"We went there with seven grades and four of them played on Monday. Last year we took four grades and three played in grand finals.

"Four or five years ago, it wasn't gauged by winning. It was gauged by the success of our juniors and bringing people together for the same values, and I think what the vision was, we've gone well beyond that as a club and community.

"A lot of people call the Koori Knockout a modern day corroboree, and we actually had our own corroboree on Saturday evening after the football was all done.

"We had almost 200 kids dancing there and that was beautiful. I got to dance with my eldest daughter and winning is obviously amazing, but being able to share that with her, that was special for me."

Ben Gunn (second from left) with the silverware alongside members of WAR and the Newcastle Yowies. Picture by Local Famous Photography

A slogan used by WAR is "the footy is a bonus" and it's something the club sticks to throughout the year.

Away from Knockout time, WAR still hosts events, clinics, and get-togethers for junior sides.

"Football is football, but being a better person and being able to have strong relationships within your community, that's what makes all communities strong," Gunn said.

"We have a responsibilities to make sure that we help these kids as much as possible, and that's exactly what they get to experience."

The connection built within that club during that type of off-field event translated into unity on the field.

While there is never much time for Koori Knockout sides to train together and a squad like WAR brought together players from a local Peter McDonald Premiership level to the NRL and premier competitions in NSW and Queensland, the performances across the three days at Raymond Terrace were hugely impressive.

WAR's success was built on a near-impenetrable defensive wall, while the forward pack was immense across the six matches played.

The side had to do it the hard way, too. After getting past the Barwon Swans in the opening round, WAR defeated powerhouse clubs Boomerangs Sports Club (16-6), La Perouse (22-4), WAC (10-8) and Redfern All Blacks (16-10) on their way to a grand final clash with Bourke.

"All week we spoke about going through the front door," Gunn said.

"The men's team were respectful and humble, and I don't think anyone was going to stop them.

"They were just so dialled in and. physically, they went up another level every time, and that's so hard to do in a knockout.

"Across the whole week, it would have to be close to one of the greatest defensive efforts at the Koori Knockout I've ever seen, and that was being echoed by a lot of other teams and it was being echoed by a lot of key people involved with the Knockout."

The final finished 26-6 over a Bourke side Gunn heaped praise on and said was the best attacking side at the Knockout in recent years.

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