Kang Kang Rugby League Club hit Aurukun Oval for its first home game in years. Photos: Aurukun Shire Council.
Aurukun came out in force to cheer for Kang Kang Rugby League Club as players took to the field on home turf for the first time since 2011.
Kang Kang played the Weipa Raiders and Bulldogs United in the third round of the Western Cape Cluster competition at Aurukun Oval on Saturday 25 July.
Winning was not a huge concern for the club, which is rebuilding its ranks and aiming to go from strength to strength under the leadership of president Kemuel Tamwoy and coach Leonard ‘LJ’ Yusia.
Yusia told the Cape York Weekly it was awesome to watch his team take to the field at home for the first time in many years.
“The last game was here in Aurukun, 2011, but we’ve still been playing footy. Travelling for away games,” he said.
“The majority of our boys are all fresh, never played footy before. This is their first season. Most of them have just come out of AFL houses down in Cairns and rugby union down in Brisbane and all that, so rugby league is pretty fresh for the boys this year.
“We played pretty well for the first 15 minutes or so [of the games], and then because of the lack of experience in the team — everybody’s just come out of school — we struggled a bit.”
Yusia said he was pleased to see the community rally to support the club, which recently became an officially incorporated association.
“At the end of the day, that’s what it was all about: bringing Aurukun together, seeing the smiles and laughter on all the families’ and friends’ faces,” he said.
“It was really good to see the community like that. We haven’t seen them like that since 2011. The only time the community all get together really is on Aurukun Day and Australia Day, that sort of thing. Footy really brings people together here in Aurukun and I hope we get more of it happening.”
Yusia expects next season will bring more games to Aurukun Oval.
“I think next year will be bigger for us. Hopefully next season we’ll get two or three games in Aurukun, which will be good, because it was a success for the local committees, the cluster, and for Aurukun itself,” he said.
Community members enjoying the action on field.
Aurukun Shire Council threw its support behind the game and applauded “the return of rugby league to the community”.
The council said on Facebook there was a “strong turnout” and the community spirit “showed just how much this game meant to everyone”.
The council thanked Kyle Adams and the Western Cape Rugby Association, Kang Kang’s Yusia and Jade Hema, Aurukun State School and Kang Kang Cafe.
The Raiders defeated Kang Kang 40-18, while Bulldogs United secured a 42-10 win.