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/
Group 9

BREAKING: Group 9 star joins instant ‘favourites’ South City from cross-town rivals

Tallon Smith The South City Bulls have landed the biggest signature in Group 9, after announcing that star five-eighth Nathan Rose will re-join the club for the 2026 season. Rose, who was a key player in the Bulls’ back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, returns to the club after stints at Gundagai and Wagga Kangaroos. Rose’s time at the Tigers yielded a title in 2022, … Continue reading BREAKING: Group 9 star joins instant ‘favourites’ South City from cross-town rivals

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Group 7

The Eagle has landed: Freshly retired NRL star links with hometown Group 7 club

Tallon Smith The already strong Group 7 competition will count yet another former professional star among its ranks next year after the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles announced the signing of recently retired NRL star Drew Hutchison for the 2026 season. Hutchison, a veteran of 87 NRL games across stints at the Dragons, Roosters and Bulldogs, will return to the club where his career began at … Continue reading The Eagle has landed: Freshly retired NRL star links with hometown Group 7 club

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NRL, Riverina

“Out of this world”: Magic Round set to hit Wagga in incredible coup for bush footy

Tallon Smith Riverina rugby league fans are celebrating a massive win after confirmation that the NRLW Magic Round will be heading to Wagga Wagga’s Geohex Park on the weekend of August 1-2 next year. The two day extravaganza of rugby league, first staged at Newcastle this year following on from the success of the men’s event, is expected to draw sellout crowds on both days, … Continue reading “Out of this world”: Magic Round set to hit Wagga in incredible coup for bush footy

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Group 20, Western Riverina

Narrandera to re-join Group 20 after application accepted by competition

Tallon Smith The famous green and gold jumper is set to return to Group 20 after an application from the Narrandera Lizards to re-join the competition was accepted at the competition’s annual general meeting. The Lizards, who have spent the past eight seasons playing in the Proten Community Cup, will return to the competition likely via Reserve Grade, marking the first time since 2005 that … Continue reading Narrandera to re-join Group 20 after application accepted by competition

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Illawarra

Popular Illawarra sporting identity set to tackle world record for mental health

Tallon Smith Local Illawarra sporting identity Lee Murray is preparing for one of his most ambitious challenges yet ahead of this weekend’s 65,000 Reasons To Fight fundraiser in support of local mental health programs. The 36-hour event at his Titleshot Boxing and Fitness gym in Wollongong is in benefit of Talk2MeBro, a charity which aims to end suicide in Australia by delivering crucial mental health … Continue reading Popular Illawarra sporting identity set to tackle world record for mental health

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Group 9

Breaking: Premiership winning mentor departs Group 9 to link with former NRL club

Tallon Smith Gundagai, Group 9 and the Riverina Bulls are on the lookout for a new head coach after Aaron Gorrell announced he will depart the club following his appointment to the role of Jersey Flegg coach at the St George Illawarra Dragons. After leading the Tigers to a fifth title in 10 years in his first season at the helm this year, the Albion … Continue reading Breaking: Premiership winning mentor departs Group 9 to link with former NRL club

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Group 9

Exclusive: South City sign star second rower from cross-town rivals

Tallon Smith The South City Bulls have continued their active off-season in the player market with a big coup after landing the signature of rampaging back rower Joel Tracey from cross-town rivals Wagga Brothers for the 2026 season. The return of Tracey, a club junior who spent almost a decade at the Bulls prior to this year, essentially completes a player trade with Brothers after … Continue reading Exclusive: South City sign star second rower from cross-town rivals

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Group 9

Exclusive: New era to begin at Young under local coaching duo and former NRL star

Tallon Smith The Young Cherrypickers have announced a major change to their coaching setup heading into next year, with Jayke Hogan and Daniel Barclay to take the reins of the First Grade side for the 2026 Group 9 season. The pair will be joined by another big name as Assistant Coach, with former Cronulla Sharks star Nathan Stapleton to lend his expertise to this season’s … Continue reading Exclusive: New era to begin at Young under local coaching duo and former NRL star

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Riverina

We did it! Kelly Cup return finalised after Battlers campaign to reinstate prestigious fixture

Tallon Smith After a four-year hiatus, the prestigious Kelly Cup between rival Riverina competitions Group 9 and Group 20 will return in February as a selection trial for the region’s country championships team. The announcement of the fixture’s return comes after a two-year campaign led by Battlers For Bush Footy to revive the historic representative match, which began with a piece that ran last summer … Continue reading We did it! Kelly Cup return finalised after Battlers campaign to reinstate prestigious fixture

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Obituary

Vale Peter “Parra” Montgomery: A rugby league legend, a friend, and a mentor

Tallon Smith The country rugby league world has lost a giant of the game, after the passing of the great Peter “Parra” Montgomery last night aged 79. A legendary figure across Groups 9, 17 and 20, and the Country Rugby League as a whole, Parra held positions as a player, journalist and administrator at local, group and state level. Peter Montgomery originally hailed from Sydney, … Continue reading Vale Peter “Parra” Montgomery: A rugby league legend, a friend, and a mentor

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