Author: Tallon Smith

Hi, 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. Fast forward three years to the age of 17, and that project morphed into Battlers For Bush Footy, a project which I have been devoted to ever since. A keen observer of most sports, rugby league is my first true love, and the game I spend almost all of my winter months immersed in, producing content for Battlers For Bush Footy. I am also a keen follower of cricket, which I tend to cover in the summer months when rugby league is in its off-season. In addition to this, I am familiar with and have the capacity to cover various other sports such as basketball, Australian rules football, tennis, rugby union, soccer and motorsport. My work has been published in many mastheads including the Riverine Grazier, The Irrigator, The Area News, Gundagai Times, Yass Valley Times, Cootamundra Times, Boorowa Times, Twin Town Times, Young News, Junee Independent, Deniliquin Pastoral Times and West Wyalong Advocate. I'm still learning the ropes as a student of the craft, with the hope of one day turning my passion into a career. Visit my website for more info: https://tallonasmith.wordpress.com/
George Tooke Shield

Devils’ delight: Goulburn coach Gray returns to Crookwell for 2026 season

Tallon Smith The Crookwell Green Devils have landed a major coup ahead of the 2026 George Tooke Shield season after securing the services of outgoing Goulburn coach Brian Gray as coach for the upcoming campaign. A veteran coach with 25 years of experience working in the NRL world, Gray will return to the scene of his success in 2022, re-joining the Green Devils as they … Continue reading Devils’ delight: Goulburn coach Gray returns to Crookwell for 2026 season

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Group 4

Historic club set for return after 12 months out of the game

Cover Photo: Tom Pattison/Burnt Oak Photography Tallon Smith One of the state’s oldest clubs will take to the field once again next season after the Narrabri Blues confirmed they will return to the Group 4 competition in 2026 following a year in recess. After a few difficult years on field, culminating in a second-last placed finish, the Blues made the call to withdraw from the competition … Continue reading Historic club set for return after 12 months out of the game

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Group 9

“The time was right”: Nathan Rose on his return to South City and stint at Kangaroos

Cover Photo: Tahlia Crane Photography Tallon Smith It has been labelled the biggest move of the Group 9 off season, Wagga Kangaroos coach Nathan Rose returning to his junior club South City Bulls for the 2026 season. Now, the star five-eighth has opened up to Battlers For Bush Footy on his return to the Bulls, his time at Kangaroos, and why he won’t be featuring … Continue reading “The time was right”: Nathan Rose on his return to South City and stint at Kangaroos

Unknown's avatarTallon Smith