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, Group 9

Thunder tame Waratah Tigers to take home inaugural Battlers Trophy

Tallon Smith The Albury Thunder have won the inaugural Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy after a 36-4 victory over the Griffith Waratah Tigers at the Griffith Exies Oval on Saturday afternoon. After a slow start, the Thunder side powered home in the second half to secure a comfortable win over a gallant Waratahs outfit in a strong display heading into the new Group 9 season. … Continue reading Thunder tame Waratah Tigers to take home inaugural Battlers Trophy

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Group 20, Group 9, Pre-Season

Inaugural Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy set for Saturday’s Griffith Waratahs-Albury trial

Tallon Smith The trial match between the Griffith Waratah Tigers and Albury Thunder at the Griffith Exies Oval on Saturday will have more on the line than a usual pre-season match, with the match set to double as the inaugural edition of the Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy. Put up for contest by Battlers For Bush Footy Founder Tallon Smith for matches between his two … Continue reading Inaugural Battlers For Bush Footy Trophy set for Saturday’s Griffith Waratahs-Albury trial

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Canberra Region

Capital Country clubs preparing for battle after release of Canberra Rugby League draw

Tallon Smith Rugby league fans across the ACT and broader Capital Country are gearing up for yet another mammoth season of bush footy action after the release of the 2025 Canberra Raiders Cup draw last month. The season will kick off with a blockbuster opening round, headlined by a Grand Final rematch Queanbeyan Derby between the Blues and Roos at Seiffert Oval on Saturday, April … Continue reading Capital Country clubs preparing for battle after release of Canberra Rugby League draw

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Group 21

Quirindi Grasshoppers join Group 21 in push for bush footy return

Tallon Smith Country rugby league’s rebound in 2025 has spread to the Liverpool Plains with the Quirindi Grasshoppers set to return to the Group 21 competition after eight years in recess. The Grasshoppers, who spent time both in that competition and the Group 4 Second Division prior to their hiatus, will rejoin the group via its reserve grade competition, joining Merriwa and Murrurundi as reserves-only … Continue reading Quirindi Grasshoppers join Group 21 in push for bush footy return

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Representative

70 minute lead not enough as Riverina fall to Western Rams in Country Championships clash

Cover Photo: Pita Visuals Tallon Smith The Riverina Bulls’ 2025 Country Championships campaign is over before it even really began after an agonising 28-18 loss to a resilient Western Rams outfit at Parramore Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday. After leading for nearly the entire match, the Bulls were overrun in the final quarter of the game by a strong Rams outfit to suffer first … Continue reading 70 minute lead not enough as Riverina fall to Western Rams in Country Championships clash

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Group 7, Pre-Season

Sharks beat all comers to claim 2025 Shellharbour Shootout crown

Tallon Smith The Shellharbour Sharks have won their own pre-season tournament, taking out the seven-team Shellharbour Sharks Shootout with a 12-4 victory over Windsor Wolves in the final at Ron Costello Oval late on Saturday afternoon. In a tense and dramatic final match, last year’s winners Windsor opened the scoring to lead 4-0, before Ryan James hit back for the home side, with Isaac Morris … Continue reading Sharks beat all comers to claim 2025 Shellharbour Shootout crown

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Group 19

No footy for Armidale club in 2025 after Rams withdraw in 20th anniversary season

Tallon Smith The Armidale Rams have withdrawn from the 2025 Group 19 Rugby League season after a lack of players saw them unable to field A-Grade or League tag sides this year. The proud club, formed in 2005 from the merger of the Armidale Galloping Greens and YCW, was set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, before the disappointing news broke via a statement … Continue reading No footy for Armidale club in 2025 after Rams withdraw in 20th anniversary season

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Group 9, Pre-Season

Kings of the Knockout: South City win big in West Wyalong

Tallon Smith The South City Bulls are the 2025 West Wyalong Knockout Champions after a 14-6 victory over the Parkes Spacemen in the final at Ron Crowe Oval on Saturday night. After a disappointing campaign at the event last season, the Bulls went four from four over the weekend to defeat the Peter McDonald Premiership Grand Finalists and take the trophy back to Group 9 … Continue reading Kings of the Knockout: South City win big in West Wyalong

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Group 7

First ever Magic Round and blockbuster derbies headline 2025 Group 7 Rugby League draw

Tallon Smith Excitement is building amongst rugby league players and spectators up and down the South Coast after the 2025 Group 7 draw was released to clubs on Thursday afternoon. Nine teams will contest the First Grade competition, with the return of Berry-Shoalhaven Heads to First Grade confirmed, while Warilla-Lake South will not field a top grade side, electing to rebuild in the reserves competition. … Continue reading First ever Magic Round and blockbuster derbies headline 2025 Group 7 Rugby League draw

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Peter McDonald Premiership, Pre-Season

“League’s back”: Bigger and better Bathurst Panthers Knockout confirmed for next month

Cover Photo: Rodders Photos Tallon Smith Footy fans in the Central West will get a dose of rugby league action before the start of the Peter McDonald Premiership season with the annual Bathurst Panthers Knockout confirmed for March 14 and 15 at Carrington Park. The event, which is an annual tradition in the region, will comprise of 20 teams across two divisions of 10 each, … Continue reading “League’s back”: Bigger and better Bathurst Panthers Knockout confirmed for next month

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