About Us

Welcome to our Website!

Battlers For Bush Footy is an organisation dedicated to covering and promoting the true sport of regional New South Wales, rugby league!

We aim to provide fans with country rugby league content, covering the stories that matter and providing a balanced view of the rugby league landscape across regional Australia.

We are here to tell the stories and be an advocate for country footy clubs, leagues and people across NSW, Queensland & beyond.

Our vision entails producing quality journalism which covers the great sport of rugby league and encourages the growth and sustainability of the sport across country areas.

So, have a look around, explore our site!

#BattlersForBushFooty

Mission Statement

“To positively promote and share the spirit of the game of rugby league in regional New South Wales and beyond.”

Peter “Parra” Montgomery Battler of the Year

Each year, Battlers For Bush Footy recognises the person(s) with the single largest contribution to a struggling football club, league or association with the Battler of the Year award.

The Battler of the Year award itself is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, with all players, volunteers and referees involved with the game across regional Australia eligible for the award.

The award is named after Peter “Parra” Montgomery, who dedicated six decades of his life to the game as a journalist, player, volunteer and administrator, contributing an immense amount to the game in Hay, Albury, the broader Riverina and the whole state.

In his later years, Parra spent his time contributing to Battlers For Bush Footy, in its infancy at the time, backing its then 18-year-old editor Tallon Smith by providing both content and support to grow the website.

Recipients have made an outstanding and extremely noteworthy contribution to the development and conservation of rugby league in a regional location. Winners are listed below.

Honour Roll – Peter “Parra” Montgomery Battler of the Year

2022: Mannix Hunt (Barcaldine Sandgoannas, QLD)

2023: Pat & Kym Hart (Yanco-Wamoon Hawks, NSW)

2024: Kurt Longford (Deniliquin Blueheelers, NSW)

Nominees by year

2024
  • Tiarna Robertson (West Wyalong Mallee Men & Chicks)
  • Robert Nascimben (Griffith Waratahs)
  • Kurt Longford (Deniliquin Blueheelers)
  • David Holt (Junee Diesels)
  • Ben Honan (Berkeley Eagles)
2023
  • David Holt (Group 9, Junee Diesels)
  • Shaun Lyons & Kye Longford (Narrandera Lizards)
  • Pat & Kym Hart (Yanco-Wamoon Hawks)
2022
  • Geoff Hale (Goolgowi Rabbitohs)
  • Brent Parsons (Rankins Springs Dragons)
  • Mannix Hunt (Barcaldine Sandgoannas)

Timeline

  • August 2021: Battlers For Bush Footy is formed by regional rugby league player and fan Tallon Smith due to a decline in the fortunes of country footy clubs both prior to and throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.

  • March 2022: Battlers For Bush Footy begins publishing articles and content on Facebook.

  • July 2022: Battlers For Bush Footy covers its first competitive match, the Group 17 ProTen Community Cup Grand Final between Narrandera and Ivanhoe at Barellan, with the match report later republished in The Riverine Grazier newspaper.

  • November 2022: battlersforbushfooty.com is launched online.

  • April 2023: The first full season of coverage begins, with a focus on regional New South Wales.

  • June-July 2023: Battlers hits the road, touring to new venues including Hillston, Yanco and Wagga Wagga to cover matches across Groups 9, 17 and 20.

  • 2024: Battlers For Bush Footy visits new locations including Shellharbour, Yass, Gundagai, Darlington Point, Wodonga, Leeton and Gerringong over the course of the season.

Proudly Supporting…

Acknowledgement of Country

Battlers For Bush Footy acknowledges the traditional custodians of the various lands on which the game of Rugby League is played. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We wholeheartedly support the movement towards treaty, constitutional recognition and closing the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.