Three junior teams and one women's side from Kempsey played at the event but it was Kemspey's Steven ‘The Rock’ Walker and, Nakia Davis-Welsh who dominated the game receiving accolades both on and off the field.

First held in October 1971, the knockout carnival commonly known as the Koori Knockout, is regarded as one of the biggest sports gatherings of Indigenous people in the world.

Redfern All Blacks players Steven Walker and Nakia Davis-Welsh  both won the men’s and women’s Player of the Series awards

This was the first time Walker played in the Knockout carnival and Davis-Welsh is the daughter of former Balmain Tigers rugby league star Paul Davis. 

Davis-Welsh represented Australia in an Indigenous Women’s All-Star team in February 2013 after having taken up the game six weeks prior in 2012. She played touch football for the NSW under-12s when she was at South Kempsey Public School in 2008. 

Co-organiser of the Kempsey Knockout teams Clarissa Donovan said despite no Kempsey men’s side in the competition, three past and present Kempsey locals Steven Walker, Kieran Vale and New Zealand Warriors player, Jono Wright, all need to be acknowledged for their efforts and representation within the community.

“Congratulations must go to Steven ‘The Rock’ Walker on being part of the winning Redfern All Blacks side for taking out the 2015 Knockout grand final in the men’s division along with fellow former Kempsey boys, Kieran Vale and Jono Wright," Donovan said.

“On top of that ‘The Rock’ was named player of the Knockout which is a huge achievement considering there were 63 men’s teams from all over the state.  

"I would like to congratulate Steven on being a positive role model for his family and future generations to come.”

Three Kempsey junior team's and one women’s side also played at the Knockout in Dubbo last weekend.

The Kempsey United Women’s team made it into the grand final after defeating Dubbo 12-6 and Walgett 30-6 which put them into the semi finals on the Sunday.

A back defensive effort from the women secured a win against the Newcastle Yowies 6-4 in the semi final cementing thier spot in the grand final against reining champions the Redfern All Blacks.

The side fought hard and displayed some great play but despite some excellent defensive manoeuvres from the inform team, they went down 28-10.

Ms Donovan said congratulations has to go to the Kempsey Women’s United side for making it to their second grand final in three years.

“I’m very proud of all the girls on how they pulled together and even though they are a relatively young side they can only build and get better in the future,” Ms Donovan said.

“Halfback Simone Smith was definitely our stand-out player as she controlled most of the games but I would also like to give credit to centre and lock, Malia Quinlan, and hooker, Katie Shaw, for her defensive work.”

In the juniors, an under 12s, 15s and 17s Kempsey side also competed at the Knockout.

The under 12s won their first match but went down in the second and the under 15s and 17s won all their games but both lost in the grand final.