Gunnedah-based sisters Marnee and Kallie Walters represented Northern NSW in the NAIDOC Cup at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation venue in Narrabeen last week.

Marnee lined up in the U16 girls team while Kallie was in the U14 girls team, while there were also boys U14 and U16 teams for the Northern NSW versus Football NSW fixtures.

Football NSW won the girls matches while Northern NSW won the boys contests, with Northern NSW ultimately winning the overall trophy for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2022.

Marnee played in the NAIDOC Cup at U14 level in 2023 and 2024 (and was also used as a sub for the U16s in 2023), while this year was a first for Kallie.

Marnee knew some of her teammates from previously, while Kallie’s first encounter with her teammates was at trials at Speers Point back in April.

Various trial matches were used as training sessions for the NAIDOC Cup, but the Walters sisters were unable to attend due to these trials being held midweek at 7pm while they needed to travel long distances.

With the NAIDOC Cup taking place on Guringai Land, the opening ceremony was held on Wednesday last week before round one was held the next day and was followed by round two last Friday.

The team featuring Marnee began with a 4-0 loss before improving considerably in the second game, going down 2-1.

Marnee played right wing and right defence, before playing up the front for part of the second game following an injury to a teammate.

Marnee defended strongly, as Football NSW enjoyed plenty of territorial dominance.

The elder of the Walters sisters said she felt this year’s Northern NSW team was stronger than previously, having been part of a 15-0 loss two years ago whereas this year showed the Northern team could compete with the metropolitan team.

The team featuring Kallie had defeats of 3-0 and 4-1, with Kallie in the backs and playing a defensive role on the right side. She too had plenty of defensive work to do, due to Football NSW having the better field position for much of the time.

Meanwhile the Northern NSW U14 boys won 2-0 and 5-2, while the Northern NSW U16 boys won 5-0 and 2-0 to help Northern NSW finish marginally ahead of Football NSW overall on goal difference.

The Northern NSW boys and girls posed with the title-winning trophy, with the girls looking as happy as the boys.

Marnee’s and Kallie’s mum Meleah said they enjoyed the competitive nature of the game and playing soccer at an elite level, while Marnee particularly enjoyed being coached by former Matildas player Gema Simons.

“The cultural aspects of the competition for NAIDOC Cup have given Marnee and Kallie new opportunities to meet others and celebrate the achievements of indigenous players in football,” Meleah said.

“They also found that many of the other players selected in Northern NSW were from Newcastle and played with elite clubs like the Jets.

“They are grateful to have been selected and be able to learn from other coaches and players outside of our regional area.”