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 14, Uncategorized

More teams and an expanded finals series highlight 2025 Castlereagh League draw

Tallon Smith The Castlereagh Rugby League will be contested by 10 teams this year after the return of Warren and Dunedoo to the First Grade competition was confirmed in the release of the league’s 2025 draw today. The opening round is highlighted by the Warren Bulldogs welcoming last season’s runners-up Cobar to Victoria Park, as they mark their return to the competition following a seven-year … Continue reading More teams and an expanded finals series highlight 2025 Castlereagh League draw

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Northern Rivers

14 teams ready for battle as NRRRL draw released for 2025 season

Tallon Smith Rugby league players and supporters across the Northern Rivers region are looking towards the upcoming campaign after the release of the 2025 NRRRL draw yesterday. A whopping 14 clubs are set to contest the 2025 season across five grades; First Grade, Reserve Grade, Ladies’ Tackle, Ladies’ League Tag, and Under 18s. The opening round is headlined by a clash between defending premiers Ballina … Continue reading 14 teams ready for battle as NRRRL draw released for 2025 season

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Uncategorized

Big boost for Central Coast club after local junior Maloney signs to continue rebuild

Tallon Smith Newly promoted Central Coast Rugby League First Grade side Ourimbah Magpies have received a significant boost ahead of the 2025 campaign after announcing the signing of local junior and former Origin half James Maloney. After spending the past four years in Reserve Grade, the Magpies has been planning a triumphant return to the Central Coast’s top competition in 2025, with the acquisition of … Continue reading Big boost for Central Coast club after local junior Maloney signs to continue rebuild

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Group 9

Group 9 release draw for highly anticipated 2025 season

Tallon Smith Rugby league players fans across the Riverina are rejoicing and marking their calendars after Group Nine released its 2025 competition draw this morning. The fixture, which is the largest since 2019, features 10 teams following the return of Cootamundra after a six year absence, and 16 matches for all clubs across 16 rounds. Round 1 begins with a bang, with a three game … Continue reading Group 9 release draw for highly anticipated 2025 season

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Uncategorized

New side enters Group 3 a week after Hastings League redistribution

Tallon Smith A week after one of the biggest changes to the structure of rugby league on the North Coast, Group 3 has seen a change to its line-up ahead of the 2025 season. Hastings League side Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills have announced they will enter Under 18s and Women’s League Tag sides into the Group competition in 2025, in a move to further strengthen the … Continue reading New side enters Group 3 a week after Hastings League redistribution

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Group 20, Pre-Season

New recruits hit the training paddock as Magpies prepare for Knockout and trials

Tallon Smith With the middle of summer having passed, attention in the Western Riverina has begun turning to the upcoming Group 20 season, and after an active off-season in the player market, one major source of intrigue is the new make-up of the Hay Magpies. In addition to a number of signings announced back in October, including Will Barnes, Ben Arandt, Harley Hey, and Shaun … Continue reading New recruits hit the training paddock as Magpies prepare for Knockout and trials

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Pre-Season

Western Rams select squads for Country Championships grudge matches with Riverina and Monaro

Tallon Smith The wait is over for the Central West’s representative hopefuls after the Western Rams announced their 2025 Senior Men’s and Women’s squads for the upcoming Country Championships via Facebook earlier this week. Both squads feature players from Groups 10 and 11 within the Peter McDonald Premiership, as well as the Castlereagh League competition, as the Rams look to build on mixed results last … Continue reading Western Rams select squads for Country Championships grudge matches with Riverina and Monaro

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Pre-Season

Results not the be all end all as Riverina representative resurgence continues against Melbourne

Tallon Smith The Riverina Bulls junior representative teams have begun ramping up preparations leading into the new season with a slate of trial matches against the Melbourne Storm Academy sides at Greenfield Park in Albury on Saturday. While the scoresheet read three victories for Melbourne at the end of the day, the on-field action saw some big positives for the Bulls squads in the lead … Continue reading Results not the be all end all as Riverina representative resurgence continues against Melbourne

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Uncategorized

Major competition re-alignment after two clubs return from recess in 2025

Tallon Smith A major re-alignment of the Hastings League is set to occur in 2025 after the addition of former Group 2 clubs Bellingen Valley-Dorrigo Magpies and Orara Valley Axemen to the competition this year was all but confirmed this week. The league will split into two divisions from this season, with Bellingen Valley-Dorrigo, Orara Valley, Bowraville, Lower Macleay and South West Rocks to form … Continue reading Major competition re-alignment after two clubs return from recess in 2025

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