Four teams to go head-to-head in East Coast Tribal League grand finals

They will now face the Gimbisi Valley Garrukas at Verge Street Oval, Kempsey, on Saturday (April 1) as the teams strive to claim the second-ever East Coast Tribal League premiership.

The grand final will also see the Dunghutti Connexions women's team take on the Coffs Coast Gumbaynggirr Raidettes.

East Coast Tribal League co-founder Paul Davis said the grand final promises an exciting match-up.

"The teams have been a lot stronger this year, so it's really anyone's game on Saturday," he said.

"We are hoping that the whole Mid North Coast community comes down to support the teams in what will be a fantastic day of footy."

The East Coast Tribal League was created with the purpose of using rugby league to encourage mental health, resilience, and social and emotional wellbeing benefits in a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal people.

As with any inaugural event, the competition had its ups and downs with COVID-19 and extreme weather each playing a role last year.

Now in its second year, East Coast Tribal League Association president Paul Davis said the competition has been a lot stronger.

"The weather was good to us, so it was a bit different from last year," he said.

"It was very important that we had the weather on our side because it was very difficult to run a sporting competition while battling weather conditions and ground closures, it just throws everything out.

"This year was amazing. We had one less team in the women's competition, but we had three extra teams in the men's competition, so it was great to see it steadily growing in the community."

Davis said the competition is about "more than just footy".

"It's about culture, health and giving the players something to look forward to each week," he said.

"Going forward, we want to run programs within the competition about mental health awareness... and link those things together in the competition to help promote the wellbeing of our youth, our adults and our Elders."

Davis said the competition was set out to give five First Nations athletes a chance to represent their region.

"The purpose is for the players to embrace their culture and embrace it with their non-Indigenous families too within our area," he said.

The East Coast Tribal League grand final will be played at Verge Street Oval, Kempsey, on April 1.

Below is the team lists for the East Coast Tribal League grand finals.

Gimbisi Valley Garrukas: 1. Paul Ritchie 2. Chris Bowden-Ritchie 3. Jeremy Winn 4. Tylee Donovan 5. Dareece Donovan 6. Robbie Smith 7. Jermaine Ballangary 8. Joe Howe 9. Alfred Drew10. Paul Unuka 11. Sam Howe (c) 12. Ethan Cooper 13. Ivan Madden 14. Jimahl Toby 15. Donovan Roberts 16. Fred Kennedy 17. Darryle Russell 18. Jackson Coggan 19. Isreal Coggan 20. Garry Sines-Vale 21. Benny McCudden 22. Lewis Tyne 23. Cody Elliot 24. Blake Cooper 30. Thomas Donovan.

Dunghutti SWR Dolphins: 1. Owen Blair 2.O'shay tyerman 3. Tyrone Davis 4. Cuban piper 5. Alan Faulkner ir 6. Stephan Blair 7. Tristan scott 8. Mitch smith 9. Tyrell scott 10. Bailey Stevens 11. Luke French 12. Sean nean 13. Benny Middleton 14. Raymond Donovan 15. Cameron donovan 16. Lionel Lockwood 17. Hakeem Torrens 18. Selwyn smith 19. Sean Barrett 20. Steven Crawford 21. Bren Dixon 22. Ryley Rampling 23. Graham Roberts 24. Liam Kelly.

Dunghutti Connexions: 1. Megan Archibald 2. Priscilla Archibald 3. Taylor Kelly Scholes 4. Lizzy Donovan 5. Emma Griffen 6. Taiella Donovan 7. Dominique Lardner 8. Colleen Lardner 9. Naokii Frail 10. Amy Dungay 11. Whitney McEvoy 12. Millie Matthews Anderson 13. Renee Widders 14. Maleeka Darcy 15. Jemicia Ross 16. Tahlisa Daley-Button 17. Shawnee Potts.

Coffs Coast Gumbaynggirr Raidettes: 1. Elizabeth Kelly 2. Blanche Saunders 3. Tquile Donovan 4. Kimberly Duncan 5. Hayley Morris 6. Bianca Morris 7. Kyiesha Cohen 8. Tyla Hart 9. Heather Duncan 10. Kristy Hart 11. Kayarnie Blair 12. Larissa Bates 13. Greta Smith 14. Imogen Carriage Jarrett.

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