Photo: Game Face Photography
Tallon Smith
A celebration of culture is set to take centre stage across Group 7 this weekend after the competition’s annual NAIDOC Round was launched yesterday.
Each of the competition’s clubs across the First, Reserve and Regan Cup competitions will don specially designed jerseys featuring Indigenou artwork, some of which were created by players themselves.
Speaking to WIN News Illawarra, Group 7 Operations Manager Ashton Sims said he was excited for the weekend, which has become a staple of the competition’s calendar in recent seasons.
“It’s just a fantastic spectacle to see all the different jerseys playing against each other, but we’re all under that one banner, and that’s rugby league,” he said.
On the field, there are four massive matches scheduled across the NAIDOC Round, with Berry-Shoalhaven Heads set to host Stingrays, Albion Park to take on Milton-Ulladulla, Nowra to tackle Jamberoo and Shellharbour set for a massive showdown with Kiama in the Match of the Round.
Kiama forward and former Albury Thunder star Zain Mitchell-Dowding said that the third-placed Knights are up for the challenge of taking on the Sharks away at Ron Costello Oval.
“It’s going to be a big game for sure, it’s make or break for us,” he said.
“I think where they are at the moment is where we want to be, so we’ll be pretty aggressive I think and try and take their spot.”
Looking back to the last round of results, the Shellharbour Sharks went a game clear on top of the table with a 52-18 win over Berry, while Kiama defeated Nowra-Bomaderry 34-18, Gerringong scored a 26-18 win over Jamberoo, and Milton-Ulladulla secured a 21-4 upset home victory over Stingrays.
The match of the round between Shellharbour and Kiama kicks off at 3pm on Sunday.
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