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.
Northern Rivers

Experienced Northern Rivers coach to step down after half a decade in charge

Cover Photo: Northern United RLFC Facebook Tallon Smith Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League club Northern United Dirawongs are on the lookout for a new coach in 2026 after long-term coach Chris Binge announced that the 2025 campaign would be his last. The coach of the Dirawongs for the past five seasons, Binge guided Northern United to the finals last season, where they put up a … Continue reading Experienced Northern Rivers coach to step down after half a decade in charge

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Group 9

Group 9: Challenge Cup defence cause for celebration in rebuild season for Brothers

Cover Photo: Brothers’ Joel Tracey celebrates with the Challenge Cup in the sheds Tallon Smith There’s no doubting it’s been a tough year for the Wagga Brothers, as the club looks to continue the rebuild of its senior men’s program, but all the hard work yielded a small milestone on Saturday when the club defended the Ray White Group 9 Challenge Cup in a 22-10 … Continue reading Group 9: Challenge Cup defence cause for celebration in rebuild season for Brothers

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Statewide

Statewide Wrap: Incredible penalty goal after the siren completes weekend of upsets in Canberra

Tallon Smith It was a weekend of upsets in the Canberra Raiders Cup over the weekend, with four sides considered by many as underdogs getting the win across the round. One of the biggest of occurred at Walker Park on Saturday, when the Yass Magpies scraped home with an unlikely 22-20 win over third-placed West Belconnen Warriors courtesy of a Kaidan Bell penalty goal after … Continue reading Statewide Wrap: Incredible penalty goal after the siren completes weekend of upsets in Canberra

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Group 20

Group 20: Sharks thrive in the wet at Lake in strongest defensive performance in years

Cover Photo: Nicole Collins Tallon Smith It may have been a sight for weary eyes but it was a more than welcome one at Lake Cargelligo on Sunday as the Tullibigeal-Lakes United Sharks held top five opponents Yenda to nil in a 24-0 shutout. On a big occasion for the community, the Sharks dominated the contest on the club’s joint Old Boys Day, Indigenous Round … Continue reading Group 20: Sharks thrive in the wet at Lake in strongest defensive performance in years

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Group 7

Group 7: Knights shine in strong showing against gallant Bulldogs

Tallon Smith The Kiama Knights have continued their strong run of form in Group 7 First Grade after storming to a 46-6 win over the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs at the Kiama Showground on Sunday. In front of a healthy home crowd, the Knights led from start to finish to record their eighth win of the year and move one step closer to a potential top three … Continue reading Group 7: Knights shine in strong showing against gallant Bulldogs

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Peter McDonald Premiership

PMP: Fishies maintain joint competition leadership with victory over Hawks

Tallon Smith Dubbo CYMS have moved to the top of the Peter McDonald Premiership after a 44-16 win over the Orange Hawks at Apex Oval on Sunday afternoon. Lock Mitchell Cleary lead the scorers with a hat-trick in the eight tries to three win, the Fishies’ ninth of the season through 12 rounds. CYMS President Nick Sykes said that despite the scoreline looking good “on … Continue reading PMP: Fishies maintain joint competition leadership with victory over Hawks

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Group 20

Group 20: Mallee Men looking to take positives from DPC game into clash with Yanco

Tallon Smith The West Wyalong Mallee Men are looking to take the momentum from a strong first half performance against Darlington Point-Coleambally into their clash with the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks at Yanco on Sunday. Despite falling to the Roosters 62-18 in the end, a strong opening stanza, featuring tries to emerging talents Cruze Loudon and Callan Blackstock has left coach Braiden Jones with reason to be … Continue reading Group 20: Mallee Men looking to take positives from DPC game into clash with Yanco

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Group 16

Group 16: Narooma closing in on finals berth 12 months on from season in recess

Tallon Smith After spending last season on the sidelines, the Narooma Devils have moved closer to an unlikely finals berth in the Group 16 competition following an 18-16 win over the Bega Roosters at Bill Smyth Memorial Oval on Sunday. The Devils currently sit in fourth place, two points clear of the Bombala Blue Heelers and a point above the Cooma Stallions in the race … Continue reading Group 16: Narooma closing in on finals berth 12 months on from season in recess

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Group 9

Group 9: Tigers take local bragging rights with late try in bruising clash with Tumut

Tallon Smith It may well be the fiercest rivalry in the Riverina, and Saturday’s clash between Gundagai and Tumut didn’t disappoint as the Tigers emerged 14-10 winners in a bruising contest at Anzac Park. After the sides traded tries out of half time, the match remained deadlocked at 10-all for the majority of the second half, before Meli Drau scored to give Gundagai their eventual … Continue reading Group 9: Tigers take local bragging rights with late try in bruising clash with Tumut

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Group 20

Group 20: Waratahs’ winning run ends at Leeton as TLU double dose of upsets at Griffith

Cover Photo: The Riverine Grazier Tallon Smith The Griffith Waratah Tigers’ winning run has finally come to an end after the Leeton Greenies ran out 31-14 winners at the Leeton No.1 Oval on Sunday to complete a day of upsets in Group 20 following TLU’s shock win over the Black and Whites. Boasting a new-look backline after James Tafiti’s shift to fullback, the Greenies ran … Continue reading Group 20: Waratahs’ winning run ends at Leeton as TLU double dose of upsets at Griffith

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