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, Uncategorized

Large Group 20 contingent highlights ten club entry list for 2025 West Wyalong Knockout

Tallon Smith The entry of four Group 20 sides has heralded a new era for the West Wyalong Knockout as the West Wyalong RLFC confirmed the entry of ten clubs over two months out from the two-day event. After a period where many Group 20 sides passed up on the opportunity to play in the prestigious tournament, four sides have entered the event to be … Continue reading Large Group 20 contingent highlights ten club entry list for 2025 West Wyalong Knockout

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Uncategorized

Shock switch sees Group 16 premiers join George Tooke Shield for 2025 season

Tallon Smith Reigning Group 16 Premiers the Snowy River Bears have made a shock switch ahead of the 2025 season after deciding to depart their previous competition for the George Tooke Shield. With the vast majority of their players moving on next season, many to the Cooma Stallions, the club made the painstaking call to move to second division footy beginning in the new year. … Continue reading Shock switch sees Group 16 premiers join George Tooke Shield for 2025 season

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Uncategorized

The Big Announcement: The 2024 Battler of the Year

Tallon Smith We have arrived at the pointy end of the year, and it is time to crown our 2024 Battlers For Bush Footy Battler of the Year. The Battler of the Year is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, to the player or volunteer that does the most for a club or the game across regional Australia. The award is … Continue reading The Big Announcement: The 2024 Battler of the Year

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Uncategorized

2024 Battler of the Year: Your Five Finalists

By Tallon Smith We have arrived at the pointy end of the year, and it is almost time to crown our 2024 Battlers For Bush Footy Battler of the Year. The Battler of the Year is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, to the player or volunteer that does the most for a club or the game across regional Australia. The … Continue reading 2024 Battler of the Year: Your Five Finalists

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Uncategorized

Major Rugby League event to be played in Tamworth after NRL snub

By Tallon Smith Regional NSW will take centre stage a week after Brisbane hosts NRL Magic Round 2025 when Tamworth plays host to the inaugural NSW Cup Regional Magic Round the following weekend in May. The event, which will be held from the 9th until the 11th of May next year, will see four Group 4 First Grade fixtures played alongside a full round of … Continue reading Major Rugby League event to be played in Tamworth after NRL snub

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Uncategorized

New club, new dawn for rugby league in the Goldfields

By Tallon Smith It may not be spreading like wildfire into non-traditional territory as Aussie Rules has done across regional New South Wales in recent years, but rugby league has made another massive stride in Victoria with the formation of a club in Bendigo. The gold mining city of 100,000 people previously had a team, the Bendigo Tigers, which last competed in 2011, though records … Continue reading New club, new dawn for rugby league in the Goldfields

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Group 9

New direction: Club administrators sweep to power at Group Nine AGM

By Tallon Smith – originally for the Young News The balance of power within Group Nine Rugby League has undergone a major shake-up ahead of the 2025 season after a new Competition Board was voted in at the competition’s Annual General Meeting at the Wagga RSL Club on Sunday. Elected to the competition’s board for season 2025 are delegates Grant Fenn (Tumut), Josh Powderly (Young), … Continue reading New direction: Club administrators sweep to power at Group Nine AGM

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Group 9

Diesels making moves as coaches and key signings confirmed for season 2025

By Tallon Smith – originally for the Junee Independent After an improved campaign in 2024, the Junee Diesels have signalled their intention to move further up the Group Nine table next season following the announcement of several key signings for the 2025 campaign. The Diesels have locked in Chase Bernard and Ben Shea as their First Grade coaches for the upcoming campaign, whilst also securing … Continue reading Diesels making moves as coaches and key signings confirmed for season 2025

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Uncategorized

Castlereagh League expands after former club accepted back into competition at AGM

By Bryson Luff The Warren Bulldogs will be returning to the Castlereagh League fold in season 2025 after their application to rejoin the Castlereagh competition was unanimously supported by all the current clubs that were in attendance at the Castlereagh League AGM held in Gilgandra last Sunday. The Bulldogs will field First Grade and League Tag teams in what now becomes an eleven-club competition. To … Continue reading Castlereagh League expands after former club accepted back into competition at AGM

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Queensland, Statewide

The Off-season Battler: November Edition

Tallon Smith In between enjoying daylight savings and a few yarns at the pub, the Battler has been spending his off-season with his ear to the ground, listening for any rumblings from the Riverina and beyond. With signings and changes aplenty across the bush, here is a look at the top stories driving the bush footy rumour so far mill this month. Here is your … Continue reading The Off-season Battler: November Edition

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