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.
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Roos return from recess as Coolah set to field first team in seven seasons

By Tallon Smith The Castlereagh League will expand to ten clubs in 2024 after the Coolah Roos were officially accepted back into the competition for next season. Led by brothers Chanse and Casey Burgess, the Roos’ return comes at a time where the Castlereagh League has expanded back to a four-grade competition with the introduction of Reserves for the first time since the Group 14 … Continue reading Roos return from recess as Coolah set to field first team in seven seasons

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Narrandera takes first steps back in Group 20 Senior footy

By Tallon Smith The Narrandera Lizards will once again wear the green and gold jersey in Group 20 senior footy after their application to join the Under 16s was accepted by Group 20. Unlike the rest of the state, in the Riverina Under 16s are a part of the senior setup, meaning that when the side takes the field in Aub Farrell Trophy competition, it … Continue reading Narrandera takes first steps back in Group 20 Senior footy

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New Rugby League club formed in Border Region

By Tallon Smith Rugby league continues to boom in Albury-Wodonga after the formation of a new club, the Border Bears RLC, was announced in late December. Based in West Albury and affiliated with the Goulburn Murray Premiership, the Bears are the twin cities’ fourth rugby league club, along with fellow GMP outfits CSU Mud Dogs and Wodonga Wombats, and Group 9 side Albury Thunder. Inaugural … Continue reading New Rugby League club formed in Border Region

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Group 9 to start Women’s Tackle competition in 2024

By Tallon Smith In a major leap forward for the women’s game in the Riverina, Group 9 Rugby League has announced a women’s tackle nines competition will kick off in 2024. To be run as an eight round pilot season, the competition will allow clubs to play almost one complete round robin, however it will not feature a finals series or crown an official premier … Continue reading Group 9 to start Women’s Tackle competition in 2024

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Snapshot: Riverina Sporting Landscape in 2006

By Tallon Smith Time for a throwback to close out the year! I recently stumbled on a couple of copies of The Area News from 2006 while cleaning up at home, and found some amazing sports articles. One aspect which I paid particular attention to was the ‘Sports Details’ section, and looking at which leagues that sporting teams across the Riverina were competing in at … Continue reading Snapshot: Riverina Sporting Landscape in 2006

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Queensland

Club Spotlight: Nanango Stags

By Tallon Smith In the South Burnett region of Queensland, on the land of the Wakka Wakka people, and the banks of Sandy Creek, lies the town of Nanango. Home to around 3,500 people, the town lives and breathes rugby league, and specifically its local side, the Nanango Stags. The club has faced major challenges in recent years though, culminating in the loss of its … Continue reading Club Spotlight: Nanango Stags

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2023 Battlers of the Year – Pat and Kym Hart

When Pat Hart was asked to be the President of the Yanco-Wamoon RLFC for season 2024, the club was gone. On the brink of folding, the club lacked numbers and had already been given its standing 8 count. 53 years of a proud small-town footballing tradition appeared to be over. Enter Pat. At 69 years old, the now-retired humble local shire employee took on the … Continue reading 2023 Battlers of the Year – Pat and Kym Hart

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Two Group 10 clubs find new home for 2024 season

By Tallon Smith The Woodbridge Cup will feature a record fourteen teams in 2024 after applications from the Blayney Bears and Cowra Magpies were accepted last week. The two Group 10 clubs played in the Peter McDonald Premiership Reserve Grade this season after they were unable to field First Grade teams due to the rapid rise in competition standard and salaries in the past few … Continue reading Two Group 10 clubs find new home for 2024 season

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Panorama Platypi put on perfect second half for third straight WWRL premiership

By Tallon Smith The Panorama Platypi put on a second half clinic against Orange Vipers to take out their third straight Western Women’s Rugby League title 38-16 at Jack Arrow Sporting Complex on Saturday November 25. After a fast start, the Platypi struggled to contain a resurgent Orange, who surged to a 12-10 half time lead, before the Bathurst-based side turned it all around in … Continue reading Panorama Platypi put on perfect second half for third straight WWRL premiership

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Orara Valley and Bellingen-Dorrigo set to amalgamate to form new Group 2 outfit

By Tallon Smith After announcing a triumphant return to football just a matter of weeks ago, the Orara Valley Axemen have taken a different approach, announcing their intention to amalgamate with Bellingen-Dorrigo to form a more sustainable and competitive outfit in 2024 known as Combined Valleys. As both clubs have been in and out of the competition in recent seasons, the idea of fielding a … Continue reading Orara Valley and Bellingen-Dorrigo set to amalgamate to form new Group 2 outfit

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