The 2026 NAIDOC Cup came to an end after another successful tournament celebrating football and the First Nations community.
Following a thrilling day of action on Wednesday, day three saw goals, drama and excitement take centre stage, with champions crowned across all four age groups.
Northern NSW Football secured back-to-back NAIDOC Cup titles for the first time after defeating Football NSW six wins to two.
The under-14s boys kicked off day three with a tightly contested 2-0 win for NNSWF.
The sides could not be separated for large parts of the match, with NNSWF looking to open the scoring in the 21st minute, only for the goal to be ruled offside as the teams went into half-time locked at 0-0.
NNSWF picked up momentum as the second half got underway, with their persistence paying off in the 44th minute when Saxon Lyons found an unmarked Ned Giles inside the penalty area, who launched the ball into the back of the net.
Max Ferguson doubled the lead in the 67th minute with a brilliant individual effort, beating multiple FNSW defenders before slotting the ball past a diving goalkeeper and into the bottom-right corner.
The 2-0 win saw the NNSWF under-14s boys finish the tournament undefeated without conceding a goal.
FNSW secured their first win of the tournament in the under-14s girls, defeating NNSWF 2-0.
NNSWF looked to replicate their dominant form from the previous day, but it was FNSW's Isabella Smyth who opened the scoring in the 14th minute. A fantastic run saw her drive into the penalty area from halfway before chipping the goalkeeper.
FNSW were determined to add a second before half-time and did just that in the 32nd minute.
Ava Sannazzaro found Smyth, who sent the ball across the face of goal and into the top corner to give FNSW a 2-0 lead at the break.
The sides battled throughout the second half as NNSWF looked to reduce the deficit. They came close in the 64th minute when, following a scramble in the goalmouth, an initial shot was denied by an outstretched hand from the goalkeeper before the ball was eventually collected.
Neither side could find the back of the net in the second half, with FNSW walking away with a 2-0 victory.
NNSWF under-16s boys produced a dominant performance, running out 9-0 winners in their second game of the tournament.
Darcy Booth opened the scoring in the 10th minute after being brought down inside the penalty area before calmly stepping up to convert from the spot.
NNSWF doubled their lead in the 14th minute when Levi Van Haren chased the ball down the byline and cut it back to Vinnie Hall, who tapped it into the back of the net.
Archie Kellett added a third in the 36th minute after finding the end of a through ball and sending his effort into the bottom-right corner to give NNSWF a 3-0 lead at half-time.
NNSWF added a fourth moments after the restart when Lachlan Blayden charged down the field before sending the ball into the bottom-right corner.
Goals from Alex Garde, Van Haren and Taj Eldridge in the 41st, 49th and 58th minutes respectively saw NNSWF extend their lead to 7-0.
Van Haren completed his hat-trick in the 62nd minute before Blayden added his second four minutes later to seal a 9-0 victory and bring their tournament to a close.
A hard-fought clash in the under-16s girls closed out the 2026 NAIDOC Cup, with FNSW securing a 1-0 win.
As the sides battled to break the deadlock, NNSWF looked threatening in the 31st minute when Evie Vitnell launched an effort from outside the box that struck the crossbar, sending the teams into half-time locked at 0-0.
FNSW broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when an unmarked Nakai Duffy-Kerr received the ball just inside the box. Before the defenders could close her down, she lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Despite NNSWF's best efforts, they were unable to find an equaliser, with FNSW holding on for a 1-0 victory.
Following the accumulation of results, Northern NSW Football retained the NAIDOC Cup for a second consecutive year.
NNSWF Participation Officer – Schools and First Nations Football Micheal Hugo said he was proud of the effort from everyone involved as NNSWF secured back-to-back titles after quality football was on display throughout the tournament.
"There was some great football from Northern NSW Football yesterday and some really good football from Football NSW today," Hugo said.
"There were some mixed results for NNSWF today, but when it came down to the aggregate, NNSWF took home the trophy in 2026, going back-to-back.
"I take my hat off to everyone involved. Our coaches and staff, our players, our parents and everyone else who has played a part. Without all of these people, this event simply doesn't go ahead.
"Thanks to all of our sponsors and supporters. This event keeps growing each year and I can't wait to see what it's like in 2027."
2026 NAIDOC Cup Day Three Results
Under-14s Boys
Northern NSW 2 (Ned Giles, Maxwell Ferguson)
Football NSW 0
Under-14s Girls
Northern NSW 0
Football NSW 2 (Isabella Smyth 2)
Under-16s Boys
Northern NSW 9 (Darcy Booth, Vinnie Hall, Archie Kellett, Lachlan Blayden 2, Alex Garde, Levi Van Haren 3, Taj Eldridge)
Football NSW 0
Under-16s Girls
Northern NSW 0
Football NSW 1 (Nakai Duffy-Kerr)
2026 NAIDOC Cup Player of the Tournament Award Winners
Under-14s Girls - Isabella Langridge
Under-14s Boys - Ned Giles
Under-16s Girls - Tamika Ridgeway
Under-16s Boys – Levi Van Haren
2026 NAIDOC Cup Group Winners
Under-14s Girls - Northern NSW Football
Under-14s Boys - Northern NSW Football
Under-16s Girls - Northern NSW Football
Under-16s Boys - Northern NSW Football