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.
Big future for Warriors after return from six years in the rugby league wilderness
Tallon Smith The Central Burnett Rugby League welcomed in the New Year on the back of a big win after the Biggenden Warriors confirmed their entry into the competition for the 2025 season last month. The Warriors’ return will see the club field a side for the first time since 2018, a season which saw the club make the finals before being unable to form … Continue reading Big future for Warriors after return from six years in the rugby league wilderness
Four Group 20 players selected in strong, Group Nine-dominated Riverina squad
Tallon Smith The Riverina Bulls have this week announced their 24-man squad for the upcoming Country Championships campaign set to begin in March. The squad features 20 players from Group Nine and four from Group 20, with Jack Lyons being selected based on performances at Darlington Point-Coleambally before re-joining Gundagai for the upcoming season. Including Lyons, the DPC club will supply three players to the … Continue reading Four Group 20 players selected in strong, Group Nine-dominated Riverina squad
Clubs set for 12-game schedule and Easter matches after release of 2025 Group 2 draw
Tallon Smith Group 2 Rugby League is already looking forward to a great season in the New Year after the release of their 2025 competition draw last week. The season, which will feature seven clubs for the second successive year after the losses of Orara Valley and Bellingen-Dorrigo in recent seasons, will run from the second weekend of April until the end of August, with … Continue reading Clubs set for 12-game schedule and Easter matches after release of 2025 Group 2 draw
All 16 places filled for 2025 edition in remarkable turnaround for famous West Wyalong Knockout
Tallon Smith All sixteen slots at the West Wyalong Knockout have been filled before Christmas by clubs from four different competitions in a stunning renaissance for the annual pre-season rugby league tournament. After ten of the spots were filled last week, the remaining six places were all occupied by Monday evening after clubs raced to confirm their participation in what has been described as the … Continue reading All 16 places filled for 2025 edition in remarkable turnaround for famous West Wyalong Knockout
Group 20 Draw release: Massive 18-round campaign set for 2025
Tallon Smith Rugby league players and supporters across the Central and Western Riverina have begun circling their calendars after Group 20 released their fixture for season 2025 last week. Set to run for 18 rounds as in previous years, the 2025 campaign will mark the return of Yanco-Wamoon to the First Grade competition after spending the bulk of last season playing in Reserve Grade. The … Continue reading Group 20 Draw release: Massive 18-round campaign set for 2025
Large Group 20 contingent highlights ten club entry list for 2025 West Wyalong Knockout
Tallon Smith The entry of four Group 20 sides has heralded a new era for the West Wyalong Knockout as the West Wyalong RLFC confirmed the entry of ten clubs over two months out from the two-day event. After a period where many Group 20 sides passed up on the opportunity to play in the prestigious tournament, four sides have entered the event to be … Continue reading Large Group 20 contingent highlights ten club entry list for 2025 West Wyalong Knockout
Shock switch sees Group 16 premiers join George Tooke Shield for 2025 season
Tallon Smith Reigning Group 16 Premiers the Snowy River Bears have made a shock switch ahead of the 2025 season after deciding to depart their previous competition for the George Tooke Shield. With the vast majority of their players moving on next season, many to the Cooma Stallions, the club made the painstaking call to move to second division footy beginning in the new year. … Continue reading Shock switch sees Group 16 premiers join George Tooke Shield for 2025 season
The Big Announcement: The 2024 Battler of the Year
Tallon Smith We have arrived at the pointy end of the year, and it is time to crown our 2024 Battlers For Bush Footy Battler of the Year. The Battler of the Year is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, to the player or volunteer that does the most for a club or the game across regional Australia. The award is … Continue reading The Big Announcement: The 2024 Battler of the Year
2024 Battler of the Year: Your Five Finalists
By Tallon Smith We have arrived at the pointy end of the year, and it is almost time to crown our 2024 Battlers For Bush Footy Battler of the Year. The Battler of the Year is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, to the player or volunteer that does the most for a club or the game across regional Australia. The … Continue reading 2024 Battler of the Year: Your Five Finalists
Battlers For Bush Footy 