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.
Canberra

Croker hat-trick helps Goulburn to unlikely third win of the season against Belconnen

Tallon Smith A hat-trick to winger James Croker helped the Goulburn City Bulldogs secure their third win of the 2025 Canberra Raiders Cup season with a 28-12 victory over the Belconnen United Sharks at NSWRL HQ Bruce on Saturday afternoon. The moment of the match came in the 44th minute when, with the scoreline at 14-6 and the Sharks attacking to close the gap to … Continue reading Croker hat-trick helps Goulburn to unlikely third win of the season against Belconnen

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Group 7

Group 7: Eagles soar to upset victory in showdown with Sharks 

Tallon Smith The Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles have maintained pace with the Kiama Knights in equal third on the Group 7 First Grade ladder after a 36-12 home victory over the Shellharbour Sharks at Centenary Field on Sunday. The home side burst out of the blocks early on, with centre Jye Ellis finishing off a left side raid to open the scoring, before collecting a … Continue reading Group 7: Eagles soar to upset victory in showdown with Sharks 

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Group 20

EXCLUSIVE: Foundation club looking to re-join Group 20 in Riverina footy shake-up

Tallon Smith The rugby league scene in the Western Riverina is set for another major change in 2026 after the Narrandera Lizards submitted an expression of interest to re-join the Group 20 competition next season. After seven successful years in the Proten Community Cup and 22 years since their exit from the Group 20 competition, Narrandera officials decided upon the much-speculated change, with a meeting … Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Foundation club looking to re-join Group 20 in Riverina footy shake-up

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Group 7

Group 7: Taylor field goal lifts Lions to GF rematch win, Magpies take derby against Jets

Tallon Smith A field goal to five-eighth Jake Taylor has lifted the Gerringong Lions to the narrowest of victories in a pulsating second Grand Final rematch with the Shellharbour Sharks at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday. Despite scoring two tries to the Sharks’ three, the Lions’ superior goalkicking levelled the scores at 12-all, paving the way for Taylor to secure victory for the home side. … Continue reading Group 7: Taylor field goal lifts Lions to GF rematch win, Magpies take derby against Jets

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Group 20

Talking Twenty: Waratahs run riot against West Wyalong, Sharks off the bottom

Tallon Smith The Griffith Waratah Tigers had quite the day out on Sunday afternoon as the premiership favourites cruised to a 62-0 victory over an undermanned West Wyalong outfit at the Exies Oval. Winger Ulu Akolo and centre Shorne Ngu each picked up hat-tricks in the eleven tries to nil victory, while debutant winger Solomoni Nabete also crossed for a double to mark the memorable … Continue reading Talking Twenty: Waratahs run riot against West Wyalong, Sharks off the bottom

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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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