Barramundi

**Highest Placing Member**: Winston (Sole Survivor/16)

Barramundi was the merged tribe from Survivor: The Australian Outback.

With an even split along original tribal lines, Barramundi was so divided that the castaways drew rocks at their first loss. This followed the decimation of one tribe until they were forced to turn on their own. Their tribe colour was orange.

## Tribe History

The ten castaways from the blue Kucha and the green Ogakor tribes merged into the orange Barramundi tribe on Day 19 of *Survivor: The Australian Outback*. With an even divide along original tribal lines, Jack was able to find the merged tribes Hidden Immunity Idol that ensured the protection of the original Ogakor tribe members, though he refrained from telling them that he found it. At tribal council, the Ogakor Alliance voted for Miles whilst the Kucha Alliance voted for Aida. Jack did not play his idol, keeping it at a time when he felt more in danger. A revote took place, where all castaways kept their votes the same. With the tribe deadlocked, Aida and Miles became immune along with Ashleigh who won individual immunity. The remaining seven castaways drew rocks, and Johanna was eliminated when she drew the odd rock.

Though the original Kucha members had the numbers to pick off the rest of Ogakor, Bailey had other plans in mind. She spoke to Jack and Jase about the possibility of convincing the rest of Ogakor to eliminate Miles. Aida and Ashleigh however, only noticed Bailey talking to the boys and were convinced that the boys were flipping on them. At tribal council, Bailey, Jack and Jase voted for Miles and the Ogakor girls voted for Jack. However, Jack played his idol because his intuition told him that the girls were working against him. This Ogakor meltdown was a perfect opportunity for the Kucha majority to go after Aida and she was made the first member of the jury. Ashleigh realised the Ogakor's were letting Kucha pick them off easily, so she apologised to Jack and Jase. The trio planned on voting with Bailey to force another tie, but she soon flipped back to Kucha out of fear that the tribe would have to go to rocks again. In retaliation, the trio told the rest of Kucha about Bailey's plan against them. However, they remained tight with each other and voted out Jack at the next tribal council.

With the original Ogakor tribe members down in numbers, Ashleigh was able to find the idol that was re-hodden after Jack played his. With this new power, she approached Bailey and Dion at the potential to flip on the Kucha Alliance. They were hesitant, but Dion was more than willing when Ashleigh revealed to him that she found the idol. At tribal council, the trio voted for Karleigh but Bailey was not convinced enough by Ashleigh and Jase was voted out. Without her Ogakor tribe members, Ashleigh planned on using her idol to crack the Kucha Alliance wide open. Knowing that Bailey and Dion didn't trust her, she instead decided to play on the honesty of Karleigh and Winston. Ashleigh told the pair that Bailey and Dion were considering working with her, even though this was a lie. They were outraged and decided to flip to Ashleigh. The Kucha Alliance agreed to vote for her when she didn't win individual immunity. However, Karleigh and Winston flipped and Ashleigh played her idol. With the only votes that counted, this new trio took their perceived revenge to eliminate Dion.

With Ashleigh's idol played, the Final Five were told that two idols would be hidden back at the Barramundi camp. However, the next tribal council was the only time they could be played before they expired. The Kucha Alliance, broken but still pretending to unite against Ashleigh, went in search for these two idols. Both halves of Kucha were rewarded when Karleigh and Miles found the idols. When Ashleigh failed to win individual immunity, Bailey and Miles were under the impression that Kucha would vote together to eliminate her. However, Karleigh and Winston intended to vote with their new ally Ashleigh for Miles. Ashleigh then felt she was going home, so she was able to convince Karleigh to play her idol on her. At tribal, Miles played his idol on himself and Karleigh made a big move by playing her idol on Ashleigh. With the only vote that counted from Ashleigh, Bailey was made the fifth member of the jury.

There were four castaways remaining on Barramundi, and Ashleigh assumed that she would be protected by her new trio to eliminate Miles. However, Karleigh and Winston conversed with each other and agreed Ashleigh was too big of a threat to take any further because of her relationships with her Ogakor tribe members. At tribal council, Ashleigh voted for Miles but the remaining Kucha Alliance voted her out. At the final immunity challenge, Winston guaranteed he would see Day 39. He was then forced to make a decision who he would take to the end with him. Winston had a Final Two deal with Karleigh from the merge but he knew that he was guaranteed the win if he brought Miles to the end. At tribal, Winston decided to stick to his loyal gameplay by taking Karleigh with him and Miles was voted out.

At the Final Tribal Council, Karleigh tried to convince the jury that her biggest move was flipping with Winston and then playing her idol for Ashleigh. Though many appreciated this move and considered her to be a heavy strategist, Ashleigh was in particular frustrated because she was involved in a lot of the background planning that Karleigh took credit for her move. Winston on the other hand focused on explaining that his strategy was to remain loyal to the people that were loyal to him. Many gave Winston props for this merit, but they questioned how much he was truly loyal because he decided to flip on Kucha anyway. In the end, Karleigh became the Runner-Up after earning jury votes from Bailey, Dion and Jase. Winston was awarded to title of Sole Survivor after having four or seven jury votes from Aida, Ashleigh, Jack and Miles.

## Trivia

* Barramundi is the first orange merged tribe, and the first merged tribe since Gitanos to be comprised of entirely new castaways.
* It is the first merged tribe, the first orange tribe and by extent the first orange merged tribe with an unsuccessful idol play.
* Barramundi also holds the record for the most idol plays on a merged tribe, with four and the most successful idol plays, with three (along with Dangrayne).