UNSW Sport October Recap

October delivered another huge month for UNSW Sport, with national titles, international honours and standout performances across Australia and abroad. There was plenty to celebrate as major championships reached their conclusion, representative campaigns unfolded and new seasons brought fresh opportunities for athletes across the UNSW sporting community.

Team UNSW produced an outstanding campaign at the 2026 UniSport Nationals in Perth, securing seven national championship titles and finishing third overall. More than 5,400 student-athletes competed across 30 sports, with UNSW delivering results across team competitions and individual disciplines.

The Men’s Division 1 Volleyball team defeated UTS 2–1 in the gold-medal match, winning eight of its nine matches, while Women’s Division 1 Badminton completed an unbeaten campaign with a 3–1 final victory over Melbourne. Men’s Division 2 Basketball and Men’s Division 1 Fencing also claimed national titles. Taekwondo delivered a championship clean sweep, with UNSW winning the men’s, women’s and overall standings. The podium results continued with silver for Mixed Netball, Men’s Table Tennis and Women’s Division 2 Volleyball, alongside bronze for Mixed Beach Volleyball and Mixed Dodgeball. Further medals came in rowing, sailing, cycling and kendo, while Women’s Football and Women’s Table Tennis both finished fourth.

Tamsin Colley helped the ParaMatildas claim silver at the 2026 IFCPF Women’s World Cup in Atlanta, contributing throughout Australia’s run to a third consecutive World Cup final. Colley appeared in all three group matches, coming off the bench in the 19–0 opening win over the Republic of Ireland before starting against Colombia. She helped create Australia’s opening goal in that 8–0 victory, playing the ball to Trinity McPhie for her long-range finish. Colley then featured in the 13–0 win over the Netherlands as Australia finished top of its group without conceding. A personal highlight followed in the semi-final against Finland, when Colley scored from close range in the 47th minute of Australia’s 10–0 victory. The ParaMatildas entered the final with 50 goals scored and none conceded, but narrowly missed retaining their title. After leading the United States 2–0 at half-time, Australia was edged 3–2 by a stoppage-time winner.

“Playing for Australia in my debut World Cup was an absolute dream come true!” Colley said.

Jacob Preston celebrated a major international milestone in October, earning selection in Australia’s 23-player Rugby League World Cup squad before making his Test debut against New Zealand. Having previously been selected in the 2025 Ashes squad, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs second-rower earned his first playing appearance for the Kangaroos in the tournament opener at Allianz Stadium on 15 October. Preston started in the second row and played the full 80 minutes as Australia secured a hard-fought 24–22 victory. He contributed 129 running metres, 53 post-contact metres and 29 tackles, with three tackle breaks in an impressive introduction to Test football.

His second appearance brought another milestone, with Preston scoring his first international try in Australia’s 36–22 victory over Fiji at Suncorp Stadium on 25 October. With Fiji challenging the defending champions throughout the contest, Preston’s late try sealed the result and helped secure Australia’s place in the semi-finals. Across his opening two Tests, he accumulated 209 running metres and 54 tackles. Preston has also been named to start in the second row against the Cook Islands in Townsville on 31 October. Australia’s campaign will then move into the knockout stage, with its semi-final scheduled for 8 November at Allianz Stadium. The World Cup final will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 15 November.

Sandon Smith came within a single point of an NRL premiership as the Newcastle Knights fell 19–18 to the Sydney Roosters in a gripping Grand Final at Accor Stadium on 4 October. The UNSW student started at halfback against his former club, helping Newcastle establish a 12–0 lead before the Roosters fought back. Daly Cherry-Evans’ 70th-minute field goal ultimately proved decisive, although Newcastle kept the contest alive until the closing stages. After Greg Marzhew scored late, Smith landed a sideline conversion to bring the Knights within one point, setting up a tense finish in front of 80,814 fans.

The Grand Final appearance followed Smith’s extraordinary preliminary-final performance against Penrith. With Newcastle trailing 14–6 at half-time and reduced to 12 players, Smith scored two second-half tries, including an 80-metre intercept, to help secure a 22–14 victory. His heroics sent the Knights into their first Grand Final since 2001 and capped a remarkable first season in Newcastle, with the club rising from the previous year’s wooden spoon to finish just short of a premiership.

Amelia “Milly” Whitaker’s breakthrough international season earned global recognition in October, with the UNSW Elite Athlete Program member nominated for the 2026 World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award. Whitaker joins France’s Pauline Barrat, New Zealand’s Elinor-Plum King and the USA’s Bella Vogel among the four nominees. The nomination followed an impressive month in which Whitaker scored three tries across the Wallaroos’ two home Tests against Scotland and earned Player of the Match honours in Sydney.

Whitaker scored her first two international tries in Australia’s commanding 56–12 victory. She broke through from halfway for her first before adding a spectacular second-half intercept, racing approximately 70 metres to score. Her double and dangerous attacking performance earned her the match’s individual honour as Australia secured an eight-try win. She backed up that performance in Canberra, scoring Australia’s opening try in the 38–31 victory at GIO Stadium. The victory completed a three-match sweep against Scotland, following the Wallaroos’ September win in Edinburgh. The young winger also earned selection in Australia’s inaugural NextGen Under 21 women’s squad for the historic clash against New Zealand on 31 October, adding another representative opportunity to a year now recognised with a place among world rugby’s leading emerging players.

Yehya Ayache celebrated a significant representative milestone in October, making his Rugby League World Cup debut for Lebanon against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby. The South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker earned selection in Lebanon’s 23-player squad following a season in which he started 11 NSW Cup matches. Having made his Test debut against Italy in 2025, Ayache’s selection provided his first opportunity to represent the Cedars at a major international tournament.

Ayache started at hooker in Lebanon’s opening match against PNG on 17 October, contributing 27 tackles, 53 running metres and a try assist across 49 minutes in the 42–18 defeat. Reflecting on the opportunity, Ayache spoke of the significance of representing his heritage and family. “Representing Lebanon is definitely number one for me in terms of moments in my life. Putting on that jersey for the first time, making my family proud and putting a smile on their faces is the most rewarding thing for me as a Lebanese man.”

Chloe Jackson celebrated another successful appearance in green and gold in October, helping the Australian Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII defeat Papua New Guinea 66–6 at Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on 3 October. The UNSW EAP member and Parramatta Eels forward returned to the representative side for the second consecutive year, following Australia’s 50–0 victory in the corresponding 2025 fixture.

Australia scored 12 tries in the 2026 encounter, with Jada Taylor and Taneka Todhunter both recording hat-tricks. After taking a 28–6 lead into half-time, the visitors kept PNG scoreless throughout the second half to complete the largest winning margin in the history of the women’s Prime Minister’s XIII clash. Jackson contributed defensively, shutting down PNG playmaker Ua Ravu on the last tackle during a first-half attacking opportunity for the hosts. The victory added another representative achievement to Jackson’s season and continued her involvement in the annual fixture showcasing established and emerging rugby league talent.

EAP swimmer Alex Quach achieved a long-held ambition in October, earning his first Australian Dolphins selection for the 2026 World Short Course Championships in Beijing. Quach secured his place with a qualifying swim of 1:51.65 on the final night of the Australian Short Course Trials at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. The 25-year-old is one of six debutants in the 24-member Australian squad, which will compete at Beijing’s Water Cube from 1–6 December.

The breakthrough followed Quach’s decision to relocate from Sydney to Brisbane to train with Nudgee coach Shaun Crow. He credited UNSW’s Elite Athlete Program team, including Helen Bryson and Hayley Stanford, with helping him coordinate the move and his university commitments at short notice.

“Honestly, it feels like a long time coming,” Quach said.

His selection marks the next step in a swimming career built on persistence, with preparations now focused on his first Dolphins campaign on the world stage.

UNSW student and UNSWFC defender Poppy Channing celebrated a significant career milestone in October, making her A-League Women debut for Sydney FC. Channing was named in the starting side for the Sky Blues’ season opener against Adelaide United at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre. Sydney twice took the lead before a late Adelaide equaliser ensured the match finished 2–2, with Channing among the new faces entrusted with a starting opportunity.

The debut followed a standout season with UNSWFC, where Channing helped the women claim their maiden Sapphire Cup, secure the NPL Women’s NSW Club Championship and reach the Championship Grand Final. Her performances also earned selection in the NPL Women’s NSW Team of the Year. Studying journalism at UNSW, the Bathurst-born defender has now taken that form into Australia’s top domestic women’s competition, adding an A-League debut to an already memorable year.

UNSW’s taekwondo community celebrated success across international and national competition, highlighted by Hoang An “Andy” Pham’s appearance at the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, Korea. Pham competed in the Senior Under 30 Men’s Team event, finishing in the round of 16 against international opposition. The UNSW student and Elite Athlete Program member also earned bronze in the Senior Under 30 Men’s WT Poomsae Individual event at the Australian National Championships.

UNSW representatives collected seven medals across the three-day national competition, finishing with one gold, two silver and four bronze. Student Sharon Cheung opened the medal tally on day one, winning gold in Colour Belt Family Poomsae. Day two brought Pham’s individual bronze and another bronze for coach Vanessa Lam in Senior Under 30 Women’s WT Poomsae Individual. Students Nadia Chan and Emma Nguyen both reached the round of 16 in the women’s event, with Nguyen also representing the club as a coach and EAP member. Fellow student Aleena Farrukh finished in the round of 32. The medals continued in sparring on day three. Student, coach and EAP member Osama Almabrouk claimed silver in the Senior Open Men’s Under 80kg division, while student Xuxun Huang earned silver in Senior Open Women’s Under 46kg. Coach Alex Manefield secured bronze in Senior Open Men’s Under 74kg, and student and EAP member Natasha Poschalk added bronze in Senior Open Women’s Under 67kg.

From national titles in Perth and World Cup silver in Atlanta to first appearances on some of Australia’s biggest sporting stages, October showcased the depth of achievement across the UNSW sporting community. With Jacob Preston’s World Cup campaign continuing towards November’s knockout rounds, Alex Quach preparing for December’s World Short Course Championships and Poppy Channing beginning her A-League Women career, there is plenty more to follow as the year’s final months bring new opportunities for UNSW student-athletes. We look forward to celebrating our wonderful UNSW sporting community this week at the 2026 UNSW Sports Awards.