Gallery | Rumbalara complete a flawless season to claim Murray Netball League A-grade crown
Like a rolling songline echoing across the Murray, Rumbalara’s A-grade netballers have carved another chapter into club folklore.
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And this one might be their most resonant yet.
In front of a heaving court ringed three-deep with spectators, a smoking ceremony, and a Yakama Rumba sign perched proudly on the bench, the reigning premier completed an undefeated season and went back-to-back with a 54-43 dismantling of Nathalia in Saturday’s Murray Netball League decider at Moama Recreation Reserve.
After an unbeaten home and away season, coach Jess Bamblett admitted there was heavy pressure on her shoulders in the lead up to the highly billed decider.
Which is why victory tasted all the sweeter.
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Nathalia’s Tegan Sutton jostles for space.Image 2 of 11
Rumbalara’s Sarah Thorpe was a barometer through the midcourt.Image 3 of 11
Nathalia’s Abbey Bell goes through the motions. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 11
It was a hotly contested battle between the two sides.Image 5 of 11
Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill scans for a teammate.Image 6 of 11
Rumbalara’s Jess Bamblett keeps an eye on things from the back.Image 7 of 11
Rumbalara huddles around to celebrate the victory. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 11
Rumbalara’s Jessie Barnes-Hill after the siren with her daughter. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 11
Rumbalara’s Sophie Atkinson shares an embrace. Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 11
Rumbalara’s Tiarna Steel hugs it out after the win. Photo by Megan FisherImage 11 of 11
Rumbalara’s Tiarna Steel was named best on court. Photo by Megan Fisher“It’s an unreal feeling going back to back,” she said.
“I didn’t think it was possible ... I got to play with my 16-year-old daughter in her first grand final, so I’m absolutely stoked about that.”
Bamblett shared the court with her daughter, Jaydah Wanganeen, in the closing moments with victory already sewn up.
But if this game looked one-sided on paper, the first quarter proved that was far from the case.
With the first Nathalia centre pass already in the net inside seconds, the Purples pressed hard and made early turnovers pay.
A series of surgical conversions from Aimee Sidebottom and the metronomic rhythm of Laura Cole had Rumbalara scrambling as bodies hit the deck and whistles pierced the air.
But at the other end Jessie Barnes-Hill — Rumba’s chief scorer and on-court general — was dragging her side up the track.
By quarter-time the damage was manageable, Nathalia up 14-12 largely thanks to its legwork in the opening five minutes.
But the tides seemed like turning - and turn they did.
Young Rumbalara centre Zioni Garling-Mathyssen shifted seamlessly onto the court to free up Sarah Thorpe on the wing, and the extra cover shut down Nathalia’s midcourt rhythm.
When a Purples mistake gifted possession at 15-all, Rumbalara pounced, moving ahead for the first time all game.
From there, the seesaw tilted violently.
A five-goal buffer at the half (28-23) was a product of sheer defensive graft and, time and again, Rumbalara’s defensive end of Bamblett and Tiarna Steel snaffled rebounds and flicked the ball with lightning precision up the court.
The third term was when Rumbalara stepped on the gas.
Barnes-Hill clunked aerial balls like a seasoned full forward and finished with similar aplomb, contorting the Purples’ defence and turning a five-goal lead into double digits.
Nathalia fought hard, clawing the gap back to six after an inspired run from Jacinta Todd off the bench and into the middle, but Rumbalara’s composure reasserted itself.
By three quarter time it was 45-34, the champions-elect holding all the cards.
The last quarter played out like an affirmation of everything Rumbalara had built across an undefeated season.
Nathalia surged off the line with furious intent — bodies still crunching, intercepts still flying — but Rumbalara was always a beat quicker, a shade stronger, a fraction cleaner.
As the scoreboard ticked over to 54-43 the roar from Rumbalara’s end became deafening, a rolling wall of sound that matched the wave of yellow, blue and red on the court.
Steel was judged best on court following a defensive performance that matched her name, and she drew praise alongside Barnes-Hill from her mentor.
“It was pretty tough because I thought Jess Barnes and Tiarna, it was neck and neck,” Bamblett said.
“Tiana’s a great player and she’s my defensive sister — in defence we bring the best out of each other. I’m proud of her and proud of all the girls who came on the court.
“The fact we got to get the young girls on is even better — these young girls that are coming through the ranks, Zioni who’s still bottom-age 15s, she came on and had a good crack.
“I’m surprised by these women — (some are) mothers who have to juggle so much and still come on the court. I think the sisterhood is what gets us together and makes us strong.
“Like I said, what a team.”
Bamblett also paid credit to Nathalia for proving a worthy adversary all season.
“They didn’t make the grand final for no reason and they’re a really quality team,” she said.
“My respect goes to them because every time they give us a good crack and gives us a fright. Tracey, Kara Bizzard and Toddy have done a really good job there.”
Saturaday’s win is a bittersweet pill for some in the Rumbalara camp, with Bamblett confirming some of the contingent - including Barnes-Hill - won’t return in 2026.
But for now, it’s about savouring the moment and celebrating with the community that has backed the Rumbalara girls all the way.
“I want to thank the Rumbalara club for all their time and effort they’ve put into us, and what they do every week for us,” Bamblett said.