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.
Goulburn Murray

The Corowa Collection: the story of the early years of rugby league on the Murray

Tallon Smith The Corowa Cougars are a rugby league club steeped in rich history across their 39 years of existence. Founded in 1986 as the town’s first rugby league club, the Cougars joined the Group 13 Rugby League competition in 1987. With the town’s main ground, John Foord Oval, home to the Corowa-Rutherglen Roos in the Ovens & Murray Football League in what is an … Continue reading The Corowa Collection: the story of the early years of rugby league on the Murray

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Group 20

Talking Twenty: Black and Whites bounce back with strong win at home against Hay

Tallon Smith The Griffith Black and Whites bounced back from their shock last start loss to the TLU Sharks to secure a 28-20 win over the Hay Magpies at Solar Mad Stadium in round five of Group 20 action on Sunday. Led by a new halves pairing of Gospel Toru and Jasvir Singh-Clark, the Black and Whites piled on six tries in their most complete … Continue reading Talking Twenty: Black and Whites bounce back with strong win at home against Hay

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Statewide

Around the groups: Black and Whites click into gear, Kiama take derby win over two-time premiers

Tallon Smith With another spectacular weekend of bush footy in the books, we take a look at all the results from across the state. Group 20 The Griffith Black and Whites bounced back from their shock last start loss to the TLU Sharks to secure a 28-20 win over the Hay Magpies at Solar Mad Stadium in round five of Group 20 action on Sunday. … Continue reading Around the groups: Black and Whites click into gear, Kiama take derby win over two-time premiers

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Group 9

Group 9: Cootamundra get first Group 9 win in six years as Tumut, Roos remain undefeated

Tallon Smith The Cootamundra Bulldogs hit a major milestone in their rebuild after winning their first Group 9 First Grade game in six years with a 34-12 victory over the Wagga Brothers at Geohex Park on Saturday. Centre Sam Gash starred for the Bulldogs, with two tries and five goals for a personal haul of 18 points, while front rower Nikola Sovatabua dominated through the … Continue reading Group 9: Cootamundra get first Group 9 win in six years as Tumut, Roos remain undefeated

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Barwon Darling

Is six games enough for rugby league to survive in these small communities?

Tallon Smith Concerns have again been raised about the viability of the Barwon Darling Rugby League after an even shorter season with fewer clubs was confirmed upon the release of the competition’s 2025 fixture. The competition draw, forwarded to Battlers For Bush Footy on Thursday, features just four clubs competing over six rounds before a two-week finals series. This comes off the back of the … Continue reading Is six games enough for rugby league to survive in these small communities?

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Canberra Region, Group 16, Statewide

Statewide Scoreboard: Goulburn, Narooma back on the winners list, two games drawn in Group 4

Tallon Smith The siren has sounded on another weekend of action across the state, and winners have taken their points from a great weekend of footy. The Goulburn City Bulldogs won their second game of the Canberra Raiders Cup season after a 30-18 win over the Gungahlin Bulls at the Gungahlin Enclosed Oval. The after a win over the Yass Magpies in round one, the … Continue reading Statewide Scoreboard: Goulburn, Narooma back on the winners list, two games drawn in Group 4

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Group 9

Group 9 Wrap: Tigers cause big upset over Pickers, Blues outlast Bulls in Harris Park battle

Tallon Smith The Gundagai Tigers have caused the upset of the 2025 Great Northern Group 9 First Grade season so far with a 30-22 victory over defending premiers Young Cherrypickers at Anzac Park on Sunday. Last year’s Reserve Grade Grand Final hero Toby Dasey, who returned to the Tigers after initially linking with Junee for this season, scored an early double around a Tom Giles … Continue reading Group 9 Wrap: Tigers cause big upset over Pickers, Blues outlast Bulls in Harris Park battle

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Group 20

Talking Twenty: Waratahs maintain unbeaten start, First Grade match called off 

Tallon Smith The Griffith Waratah Tigers have won their fourth straight game to start the season after a narrow 18-16 win over the Leeton Greenies at the Exies Oval on Sunday. Both sides scored three tries each in the nail biting affair, but in the end it was the goalkicking of Ulu Akolo which proved the difference, with the Waratahs winger nailing three from three … Continue reading Talking Twenty: Waratahs maintain unbeaten start, First Grade match called off 

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Group 7

Group 7 Wrap: Upsets galore as Magpies register first win of the year, Stingrays win derby

Tallon Smith The highly competitive start to the South Coast Group 7 season has continued into the fifth round of the competition, with the Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies getting their first win back in the top grade competition with a 20-18 home victory over Jamberoo. After both sides scored three tries and kicked all three conversions, a penalty goal was enough to get the chocolates for … Continue reading Group 7 Wrap: Upsets galore as Magpies register first win of the year, Stingrays win derby

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Group 7, Statewide

Rewind: Last weekend’s Statewide Scoreboard and Group 7 wrap

Tallon Smith Before this weekend’s top grade action starts, let’s take a look back at last weekend’s statewide First Grade scoreboard! Last weekend’s Group 7 action saw Shellharbour Sharks 32 defeat Albion Park-Oak Flats 24 in a rematch of last season’s preliminary final. Centre Jayme McElhone led six tryscorers for the Sharks, who withstood the many charges of the Eagles for a hard-fought win. Defending … Continue reading Rewind: Last weekend’s Statewide Scoreboard and Group 7 wrap

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