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 20, Pre-Season

New recruits hit the training paddock as Magpies prepare for Knockout and trials

Tallon Smith With the middle of summer having passed, attention in the Western Riverina has begun turning to the upcoming Group 20 season, and after an active off-season in the player market, one major source of intrigue is the new make-up of the Hay Magpies. In addition to a number of signings announced back in October, including Will Barnes, Ben Arandt, Harley Hey, and Shaun … Continue reading New recruits hit the training paddock as Magpies prepare for Knockout and trials

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Pre-Season

Western Rams select squads for Country Championships grudge matches with Riverina and Monaro

Tallon Smith The wait is over for the Central West’s representative hopefuls after the Western Rams announced their 2025 Senior Men’s and Women’s squads for the upcoming Country Championships via Facebook earlier this week. Both squads feature players from Groups 10 and 11 within the Peter McDonald Premiership, as well as the Castlereagh League competition, as the Rams look to build on mixed results last … Continue reading Western Rams select squads for Country Championships grudge matches with Riverina and Monaro

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Pre-Season

Results not the be all end all as Riverina representative resurgence continues against Melbourne

Tallon Smith The Riverina Bulls junior representative teams have begun ramping up preparations leading into the new season with a slate of trial matches against the Melbourne Storm Academy sides at Greenfield Park in Albury on Saturday. While the scoresheet read three victories for Melbourne at the end of the day, the on-field action saw some big positives for the Bulls squads in the lead … Continue reading Results not the be all end all as Riverina representative resurgence continues against Melbourne

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Uncategorized

Major competition re-alignment after two clubs return from recess in 2025

Tallon Smith A major re-alignment of the Hastings League is set to occur in 2025 after the addition of former Group 2 clubs Bellingen Valley-Dorrigo Magpies and Orara Valley Axemen to the competition this year was all but confirmed this week. The league will split into two divisions from this season, with Bellingen Valley-Dorrigo, Orara Valley, Bowraville, Lower Macleay and South West Rocks to form … Continue reading Major competition re-alignment after two clubs return from recess in 2025

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Queensland

Big future for Warriors after return from six years in the rugby league wilderness

Tallon Smith The Central Burnett Rugby League welcomed in the New Year on the back of a big win after the Biggenden Warriors confirmed their entry into the competition for the 2025 season last month. The Warriors’ return will see the club field a side for the first time since 2018, a season which saw the club make the finals before being unable to form … Continue reading Big future for Warriors after return from six years in the rugby league wilderness

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Representative

Four Group 20 players selected in strong, Group Nine-dominated Riverina squad

Tallon Smith The Riverina Bulls have this week announced their 24-man squad for the upcoming Country Championships campaign set to begin in March. The squad features 20 players from Group Nine and four from Group 20, with Jack Lyons being selected based on performances at Darlington Point-Coleambally before re-joining Gundagai for the upcoming season. Including Lyons, the DPC club will supply three players to the … Continue reading Four Group 20 players selected in strong, Group Nine-dominated Riverina squad

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Uncategorized

Clubs set for 12-game schedule and Easter matches after release of 2025 Group 2 draw

Tallon Smith Group 2 Rugby League is already looking forward to a great season in the New Year after the release of their 2025 competition draw last week. The season, which will feature seven clubs for the second successive year after the losses of Orara Valley and Bellingen-Dorrigo in recent seasons, will run from the second weekend of April until the end of August, with … Continue reading Clubs set for 12-game schedule and Easter matches after release of 2025 Group 2 draw

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Uncategorized

All 16 places filled for 2025 edition in remarkable turnaround for famous West Wyalong Knockout 

Tallon Smith All sixteen slots at the West Wyalong Knockout have been filled before Christmas by clubs from four different competitions in a stunning renaissance for the annual pre-season rugby league tournament. After ten of the spots were filled last week, the remaining six places were all occupied by Monday evening after clubs raced to confirm their participation in what has been described as the … Continue reading All 16 places filled for 2025 edition in remarkable turnaround for famous West Wyalong Knockout 

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Group 20, Uncategorized

Group 20 Draw release: Massive 18-round campaign set for 2025

Tallon Smith Rugby league players and supporters across the Central and Western Riverina have begun circling their calendars after Group 20 released their fixture for season 2025 last week. Set to run for 18 rounds as in previous years, the 2025 campaign will mark the return of Yanco-Wamoon to the First Grade competition after spending the bulk of last season playing in Reserve Grade. The … Continue reading Group 20 Draw release: Massive 18-round campaign set for 2025

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