FIRST-season tyros Galamaay Connexions outgunned a gallant Terry Hie Hie Warriors five tries to two at Boughton Oval on Saturday to decisively win the ABCARE Western Challenge knock-out men’s senior grand-final.

After leading 20-6 with about 20 minutes remaining, Galamaay Connexions sealed the game 26-10 – a stand-out debut performance in a competiton that draws quality teams from across New South Wales.

Galamaay Connexions, led by brothers Tyrone Sharpley and Richard Smith, skipped away midway through the second half to lay on a couple of quick tries and seal a dominant win.

“It’s every rugby league lovers’ dream to win a knock-out, and to walk away successful at our first entry to a competition like this means everything to us,” Sharpley said.

“It’s hard to name the stand-out players. We all had a job to do and executed well.

Brothers Tyrone Sharpley and Richard Smith with the coveted cup and trophy after the team they founded, Galamaay Connexions, won the ABCARE Western Challenge men’s senior grand-final at Boughton Oval on Saturday (Image Supplied).

“From the very beginning, our forwards set the platform which made it easier for our strike players to do their thing.

“All in all, it was a team effort – a massive shout-out to our boys,” he smiled.

Sharpley said Galamaay Connexions evolved from family and mateship.

“For many years, we thought about putting a team together for a knock-out competition and the Western Challenge was the perfect opportunity to establish our club,” Sharpley said.

“Our team consists of family members, and we consider the players who aren’t directly related to us, as our brothers on and off the field.”

Galamaay translates to ‘brother’ in the Gomeroi language.

“That’s the meaning behind our name. We are all about brotherhood, and lifting and supporting each other through the wins and the losses,” Sharpley said.

The brothers, originally from Walgett, live and breathe rugby league. Sharpley now lives in Sydney, with Smith based in Moree, where last season he ran on as five-eighth for Moree Boars second-grade team.

“We are very proud family men, and thank everyone who worked endlessly behind the scenes,” Sharpley said.

“We also thank all our sponsors, near and far, for helping create this moment. Lastly, we would like to thank the Moree Boars for again putting on another successful day.”

Terry Hie Hie Warriors team manager Steve Cory was hoping for a change of luck after the Warriors suffered consecutive knock-out suspensions in 2024 and 2025.

“This is the third year we’ve been in the knock-out, and it was great to get to the grand-final for the first time,” Cory said

“We were suspended the previous two years for a few discrepancies – up until this year, we were the only knock-out team to remain undefeated, but never win a knock-out,” he grinned.

Galamaay Connexions celebrate after winning the ABCARE Western Challenge men’s senior grand-final at Boughton Oval on Saturday (Image Supplied).

“Our team did a huge job, and full credit goes to our coach, Warren ‘Wok’ Samson. Wok has been with us since day one and does an incredible job.

“To get us to the grand-final in such a strong competition is a huge effort,” Cory said.

Event organiser, Moree Boars club president Todd Mitchell, said both teams played enormously.

“The grand-final was a high quality game, considering it was the last game of a long, warmish day for quite a few players – probably a long few days for many,” Mitchell said.

“Both sides played really, really well and a little bit of fatigue towards the end of the game may have crept in for Terry Hie Hie.”

“That put the icing on the cake for the winners,” Mitchell said.