Tallon Smith

In between enjoying daylight savings and a few yarns at the pub, the Battler has been spending his off-season with his ear to the ground, listening for any rumblings from the Riverina and beyond.

With signings and changes aplenty across the bush, here is a look at the top stories driving the bush footy rumour so far mill this month.

Here is your update for November.

Riverina – Groups 9 & 20

The Griffith Waratah Tigers have made a massive announcement with former NRL and Super League star Brett Goldspink announced as the club’s Assistant Coach for their 2025 campaign.

Goldspink will assist current coach Willie Lolohea as he looks to take the Tigers that one step further in gaining a Grand Final berth after a highly controversial straight sets exit this year.

Fellow Group 20 club Leeton have also locked in their First Grade coach for the 2025 season in club stalwart Shannon Bradbrook.

Yanco-Wamoon are another club who have been in the news, signing Narrandera centre pairing Caleb Atkinson and Brayden Ingram to their roster.

The Hawks have already secured the services of Timoci Dabea as coach for their return to First Grade, and are on the hunt for more players to add to what is a rapidly strengthening roster.

Moving to Group 9, the South City Bulls have re-signed coach Cleveland McGhie for the club’s 20th campaign in Group 9 next season.

McGhie played Holden Cup with the Raiders and in competitions in Sydney before linking with the Bulls this year, with the side starting well before narrowly missing the finals.

Outgoing Albury Thunder coach Justin Carney has been linked with a move back to his home club, the Nyngan Tigers, as they look to rebuild in the increasingly competitive Peter McDonald Premiership.

Carney’s replacement at Albury will be long-term Thunder outside back and former Eel and Panther Etu Uaisele, who will step up to the plate as First Grade coach after coaching the club’s Reserves and Goulburn Murray Premiership club Wodonga Wombats in recent seasons.

Meanwhile, Chase Bernard and Ben Shea have been unveiled as the coaches of the Junee Diesels for their upcoming campaign, with Jordan Walker to take charge of the Reserves.

Bernard and Shea are currently playing in France’s Super XIII competition with the Albi Tigers, and will join the Diesels halfway through the season after coaching the early rounds remotely from Europe with the assistance of Assistant Coach Damian Willis.

Cootamundra have also appointed their coach for 2025, with incumbent mentor David Buttriss to take the reins upon their return to Group 9.

Buttriss led the club to a fourth-placed finish in the George Tooke Shield in 2024, before they were eliminated by Binalong 17-16 in the Minor Semi Final.

Illawarra League

The Thirroul Butchers have been moving to re-sign their former NRL stars next season, including Brad Deitz, Tyrell Fuimaono and Steven Marsters, with the latter of the three coming off a recent Pacific Championships campaign with the Cook Islands.

The Butchers have also signed promising outside back Judd Stevenson, who returns to the Illawarra League after playing in Sydney for the last two seasons.

Originally a Group 20 product with the Griffith Waratahs, Stevenson last played in the Illawarra Premiership in 2022 for the Corrimal Cougars.

Meanwhile, sources have revealed that former St George Illawarra player and coach Paul McGregor will take on a behind the scenes role at his junior club the Dapto Canaries next year.

Group 6 Macarthur

The South West Goannas have also moved to lock in their star prop/lock Greg Eastwood for next season, as that club looks to continue building in the Group 6 Macarthur competition.

The next matter of priority for the Goannas will be to lock up Cook Islands captain and former NRL star Brad Takairangi for a second season at the club.

Queensland

Looking to Queensland, former Dally M Medallist Ben Barba and Parramatta forward Manu Ma’u have joined the Souths Sharks in the Mackay District competition.

Barba is coming off a premiership-winning season with the Sarina Crocodiles alongside former Cowboy Kane Linnett, and has opted to move clubs within the competition rather than leave the region altogether.

Between his last professional games for St Helens in the Super League and joining Sarina, Barba had been playing Australian rules for Bakers Creek, kicking a 7-goal haul in Reserves and 6 in Seniors on debut for the club.

Have a news tip? Use the form on our ‘contact’ page to let us know what’s happening!