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.
Group 9

New faces and old warriors: Group Nine Round 1 team lists

Tallon Smith With round one rapidly approaching, there is plenty of intrigue as always as to how each team will line up for the first games of the year. Eight of the competition’s ten teams have released their team lists for this weekend’s games, with some new faces, as well as some other, more established competitors in the mix. Without further ado, here are the … Continue reading New faces and old warriors: Group Nine Round 1 team lists

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Group 16

Anzac Day match set to open shortened 2025 Group 16 season after draw revealed

Tallon Smith Cooma and Bombala will open the 2025 Group 16 season with an Anzac Day clash after the competition’s draw was revealed last week. Eden will play Bega on the Saturday, while Moruya will face Tathra and Narooma tackle Merimbula-Pambula to round out the opening round on Sunday April 27. Narooma will have two home games to open their return campaign in the competition, … Continue reading Anzac Day match set to open shortened 2025 Group 16 season after draw revealed

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Group 9

Daley, Trodden in attendance as Group Nine launches bigger, bolder 2025 season

Tallon Smith The 2025 Group Nine season is officially underway after club volunteers, players and distinguished guests gathered at the Group 9 season launch at Geohex Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday afternoon. Keynote speakers and guests included NSW Blues Coach Laurie Daley, NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden and Federal Member for Riverina The Hon. Michael McCormack MP. Group Nine Board Member and MC Peter Hurst … Continue reading Daley, Trodden in attendance as Group Nine launches bigger, bolder 2025 season

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Central Coast

Surprise, miracle return as Storm end painstaking seven-year absence from senior footy

Tallon Smith After a painstaking seven years on the sidelines, the Gosford Kariong Storm is set to make an astonishing return to the field in the Central Coast Rugby League senior competition this year. Having last fielded a senior team in 2018 in the Third Grade competition, the Storm have been included in the CCRL Open Age draw this year, as a lower grade-only club … Continue reading Surprise, miracle return as Storm end painstaking seven-year absence from senior footy

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Group 20, Group 9

Thunder tame Waratah Tigers to take home inaugural Battlers Trophy

Tallon Smith The Albury Thunder have won the inaugural Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy after a 36-4 victory over the Griffith Waratah Tigers at the Griffith Exies Oval on Saturday afternoon. After a slow start, the Thunder side powered home in the second half to secure a comfortable win over a gallant Waratahs outfit in a strong display heading into the new Group 9 season. … Continue reading Thunder tame Waratah Tigers to take home inaugural Battlers Trophy

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Group 20, Group 9, Pre-Season

Inaugural Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy set for Saturday’s Griffith Waratahs-Albury trial

Tallon Smith The trial match between the Griffith Waratah Tigers and Albury Thunder at the Griffith Exies Oval on Saturday will have more on the line than a usual pre-season match, with the match set to double as the inaugural edition of the Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy. Put up for contest by Battlers For Bush Footy Founder Tallon Smith for matches between his two … Continue reading Inaugural Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy set for Saturday’s Griffith Waratahs-Albury trial

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Canberra Region

Capital Country clubs preparing for battle after release of Canberra Rugby League draw

Tallon Smith Rugby league fans across the ACT and broader Capital Country are gearing up for yet another mammoth season of bush footy action after the release of the 2025 Canberra Raiders Cup draw last month. The season will kick off with a blockbuster opening round, headlined by a Grand Final rematch Queanbeyan Derby between the Blues and Roos at Seiffert Oval on Saturday, April … Continue reading Capital Country clubs preparing for battle after release of Canberra Rugby League draw

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Group 21

Quirindi Grasshoppers join Group 21 in push for bush footy return

Tallon Smith Country rugby league’s rebound in 2025 has spread to the Liverpool Plains with the Quirindi Grasshoppers set to return to the Group 21 competition after eight years in recess. The Grasshoppers, who spent time both in that competition and the Group 4 Second Division prior to their hiatus, will rejoin the group via its reserve grade competition, joining Merriwa and Murrurundi as reserves-only … Continue reading Quirindi Grasshoppers join Group 21 in push for bush footy return

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Representative

70 minute lead not enough as Riverina fall to Western Rams in Country Championships clash

Cover Photo: Pita Visuals Tallon Smith The Riverina Bulls’ 2025 Country Championships campaign is over before it even really began after an agonising 28-18 loss to a resilient Western Rams outfit at Parramore Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday. After leading for nearly the entire match, the Bulls were overrun in the final quarter of the game by a strong Rams outfit to suffer first … Continue reading 70 minute lead not enough as Riverina fall to Western Rams in Country Championships clash

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Group 7, Pre-Season

Sharks beat all comers to claim 2025 Shellharbour Shootout crown

Tallon Smith The Shellharbour Sharks have won their own pre-season tournament, taking out the seven-team Shellharbour Sharks Shootout with a 12-4 victory over Windsor Wolves in the final at Ron Costello Oval late on Saturday afternoon. In a tense and dramatic final match, last year’s winners Windsor opened the scoring to lead 4-0, before Ryan James hit back for the home side, with Isaac Morris … Continue reading Sharks beat all comers to claim 2025 Shellharbour Shootout crown

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