Author: Tallon Smith

My name is Tallon, and I am a rugby league journalist covering country football. I have been covering rugby league since I was 14, when I launched my first publication, In Touch, covering grassroots footy in South West NSW, a project that morphed into my website Battlers For Bush Footy in 2021. My work has been published in more than a dozen mastheads including The Riverine Grazier, Back Country Bulletin, The Area News, The Irrigator, The Area News, Gundagai Times, Yass Valley Times, Cootamundra Times, Young News, Junee Independent, Deniliquin Pastoral Times and West Wyalong Advocate.
Representative

The Battler on Origin III: A perfect Maroon game plan, but were NSW robbed of one chance?

Tallon Smith – Opinion Since the conclusion of Game III on Wednesday, many people have asked me for my opinion on the Origin decider. Family, friends, fellow uni students – heck, even my hairdresser who didn’t even watch the majority of the game. I tend to veer away from covering the top level of the game, as it seems there are three journalists for every … Continue reading The Battler on Origin III: A perfect Maroon game plan, but were NSW robbed of one chance?

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Statewide

Clubs of Origin: Where each of the Game III Blues played their junior footy

Tallon Smith Game III. The Decider. The biggest event in Australian sport. Tonight, our Blues will look to become the first NSW team to win a series by taking games one and three since the 2004 side did just that. 17 men will don the famous Blue jumper at Accor Stadium tonight with the aim of securing the shield and back-to-back titles. Let’s take a … Continue reading Clubs of Origin: Where each of the Game III Blues played their junior footy

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Group 9

Group 9: Roberts seals famous away win for ‘battered and bruised’ Cherrypickers 

By Tallon Smith It was billed as the match of the round in Group 9, and the showdown between top five hopefuls Albury and Young lived up to the hype, with the Cherrypickers emerging with a famous 23-22 win at Greenfield Park on Sunday. Halfback Robert Roberts was the hero of the day, nailing a clutch field goal to put the Young side ahead in … Continue reading Group 9: Roberts seals famous away win for ‘battered and bruised’ Cherrypickers 

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Group 7, Statewide

Statewide Wrap: Sharks maintain top spot in Group 7 with win over Knights

Tallon Smith The Shellharbour Sharks have maintained top spot on the Group 7 Rugby League ladder after a 14-6 win over the Kiama Knights in the match of the round at Ron Costello Oval on Sunday afternoon. After kicking a game clear of cross-town rivals Stingrays a week prior, the Sharks went into the round 12 matchup with the Knights looking to maintain the two-point … Continue reading Statewide Wrap: Sharks maintain top spot in Group 7 with win over Knights

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Group 20

A Mallee Miracle: West Wyalong overturn second half deficit in upset win over Leeton

Tallon Smith They may have endured one of the toughest seasons in their 114-year history, but the spirit of the West Wyalong Mallee Men was on full display on Sunday as they rallied to an 18-16 upset win over the Leeton Greenies at Ron Crowe Oval. Strengthened by the inclusion of former NRL star Chris Lewis, the son of 1989 premiership coach Mick, the Mallee … Continue reading A Mallee Miracle: West Wyalong overturn second half deficit in upset win over Leeton

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Group 17

Not the win they wanted, but Deniliquin still break 48-year drought against Ivanhoe

Tallon Smith It may not have been the win that they craved, but the Deniliquin Blueheelers still broke a 48-year drought in their clash with Ivanhoe on Saturday when they scored their first try at home since 1977. Despite the ladder-leading Roosters racing out to a massive lead on their way to a 50-4 win, the moment of magic when Trevor Morgan crashed over saw … Continue reading Not the win they wanted, but Deniliquin still break 48-year drought against Ivanhoe

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Canberra Region

Goannas have their day in the sun as Googong record first win in George Tooke Shield

Tallon Smith After enduring a tough run of eight losses to open their inaugural season, the Googong Goannas broke through for their first win in the George Tooke Shield men’s competition with a 32-4 victory over the UC Stars on Saturday. After being competitive in many games throughout the first half of the year, the Goannas ran in six tries to one, led by a … Continue reading Goannas have their day in the sun as Googong record first win in George Tooke Shield

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Group 9

Group 9: Cherrypickers looking to maintain momentum from Brothers win in cup clash with Albury

Tallon Smith, Peter “Parra” Montgomery Despite a mounting injury toll reaching 15 players, the Young Cherrypickers are looking to capitalise on the momentum from their bounce-back win over Brothers in their must-win clash with Albury on Sunday. Young’s attacking power was on full display last Sunday at Alfred Oval, where the Cherrypickers ran in fifteen tries in an 86-6 demolition of winless Wagga Brothers for … Continue reading Group 9: Cherrypickers looking to maintain momentum from Brothers win in cup clash with Albury

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Group 7

NAIDOC Round set to take centre stage on massive weekend of Group 7 action

Photo: Game Face Photography Tallon Smith A celebration of culture is set to take centre stage across Group 7 this weekend after the competition’s annual NAIDOC Round was launched yesterday. Each of the competition’s clubs across the First, Reserve and Regan Cup competitions will don specially designed jerseys featuring Indigenou artwork, some of which were created by players themselves. Speaking to WIN News Illawarra, Group … Continue reading NAIDOC Round set to take centre stage on massive weekend of Group 7 action

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Newcastle Division

Newcastle: Rosellas searching for consistency as Denton Cup title tilt looms

Tallon Smith After a strong start to the Newcastle Rugby League season, the Western Suburbs Rosellas will begin a gruelling seven-week run home beginning with a massive clash against Cessnock on Saturday. Since their bye in round five, the Rosellas have suffered from some patchy form, taking three wins against Centrals, Kurri Kurri and Souths, while falling to Macquarie, The Entrance and Wyong, to find … Continue reading Newcastle: Rosellas searching for consistency as Denton Cup title tilt looms

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