The Redfern All Blacks showcased immense belief and pride as they fought back from an 18-point deficit to claim a hard-fought victory over South Eastern in a match that had fans on the edge of their grassy-hilled seats.
South Eastern came out firing, using their pace and power to exploit Redfern’s early errors, racing to an 18-0 lead within the first 20 minutes. The All Blacks looked rattled, but a crucial huddle behind the posts shifted the momentum. Coach Dean Widders urged his side to cut out risky offloads, reduce errors, and stay patient – advice that proved prophetic. The response was immediate, with the boys in black piling on five unanswered tries, capitalising on penalties and building relentless pressure.
South Eastern refused to fade, mounting a second-half fightback with tries to Rylan Barnes and Taine Woodford. But the crowd, draped in Redfern’s iconic black and white hoodies, erupted when Blake Roberts, moved from lock to winger late in the day, sealed the win with his third try. Wearing the unlikely number 24, Roberts was unstoppable, contributing three tries, an assist, and tireless defence in a player-of-the-match performance.
As the final whistle blew, the battered but beaming All Blacks walked off knowing they had done their community proud. It was a victory built on resilience, unity, and sheer determination – a performance that embodied the spirit of Redfern rugby league.
