After a devastating loss in last year's final in Nowra the Walgett Aboriginal Connection (WAC) have triumphed defeating the Wiradjuri Aboriginal Rivers by 22-12 at this year's Koori Knockout.

The final game on the final day of the four day tournament held in Tuggerah certainly put on a show for the masses.

Wiradjuri got out to an early lead scoring the first two tries of the match, and threatened the run away.

Bolstered by former New South Wales and Australian representative Blake Ferguson and Cronulla Sharks halfback Braydon Trindall the Wiradjuri side had beaten the La Perouse Panthers earlier that day and looked in good touch coming into the final.

But after a bit of back and forth - and a few errors to boot, the game was ready for the taking for Walgett.

The WAC team featuring two former Dally M medallists in Jack Wighton and Ben Barba along with current South Sydney winger Isaiah Tass and former NRL players Joel Thompson and George Rose looked up to the challenge and ran away with the game.

It wasn’t any of the professional star power that did the job funnily enough, but a fullback playing for the Wagga Wagga Kangaroos in the Group Nine competition.

Latrell Siegwalt came away with player of the series for 2023, with calls going out from teammates to get him an NRL contract.

In the past Latrell had spent time with the St George Illawarra Dragons on a train and trial deal but nothing ever panned out long term for the young fullback.

Walgett will now host the 2024 knockout which is expected to be played in Dubbo, as it was after their win in 2014.