A proud night honouring First Nations cultures, communities and peoples during NAIDOC Week — with the Warriors’ final regular-season home game seeing second-placed Mildura Heat prove too strong (105–84).
On Saturday night the Warragul Warriors marked one of the most meaningful occasions of their season, hosting First Nations Round during NAIDOC Week at the Warragul Leisure Centre. The evening honoured and celebrated First Nations cultures, communities and peoples both on and off the court — opening with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony, and launching the new Deadly Hoops collection in partnership with the Gippsland Wrens Sporting Club. On the court, a spirited Warriors outfit was ultimately outgunned by a strong Mildura Heat in what was the club’s final regularseason home game.
In partnership with the Gippsland Wrens Sporting Club The Warragul Basketball Association was honoured to host this important round, with a cultural program open to all that began well before tip-off. The Association warmly thanks Aunty Cheryl Drayton, who performed the Welcome to Country to open the evening, and acknowledges the traditional smoking ceremony held to cleanse the space and welcome players, officials and spectators onto the court. Both teams and the wider community were invited to take part — a genuine coming-together in the spirit of NAIDOC Week.
A highlight of the night was the launch of the Deadly Hoops long-sleeve training top — a collaboration between the Gippsland Wrens Sporting Club, the Warriors and apparel partner iAthletic. The design features the Deadly Hoops logo created by Lionel Rose Jnr, alongside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags. Funds raised will form the initial foundations of an ongoing collaboration between the Gippsland Wrens and the Warragul Basketball Association to create further opportunities and pathways in basketball for Indigenous youth. It is a partnership the club is enormously proud of — with more to be announced soon.
Second-placed Mildura brought genuine class, pulling clear with a 32–17 second quarter and controlling the game from there. Anthony Taylor was a handful all night, finishing with 34 points and 14 rebounds, while Jack Saunders added 28 points and 7 assists for the visitors. The Warriors never stopped competing, and had a standout of their own in Luke Rawiri, who was superb with a game-high 33 points including five three-pointers. Captain Jordan Gooiker fought hard for 21 points and 6 rebounds. It wasn’t enough on the night, but on a round that was always about something bigger, the Warriors were proud to represent their community.
With their home slate complete, the fourth-placed Warriors (8–7) close out the regular season with three games on the road — away to Mornington on Sunday 19 July, Warrnambool on Saturday 25 July, and Wallan on Saturday 1 August — as they push towards the finals.
