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.
Uncategorized

Country Scoreboard: August 12/13

Statewide First Grade/Senior Men’s Scoreboard Updated: Weekend of 12/13 August 2023 For the live scores, draws, ladders and lower grades, check out the link below to the official NRL community draw and results website, Play Rugby League. Canberra Goulburn City 54 defeated Queanbeyan Blues 6 Queanbeyan Kangaroos 58 defeated Gungahlin 14 Belconnen United 20 defeated Woden Valley 14 West Belconnen 35 defeated Yass 18 Tuggeranong … Continue reading Country Scoreboard: August 12/13

Unknown's avatarTallon Smith1 Comment
Uncategorized

Club Spotlight: The Rise of the Mud Dogs 

By Tallon Smith Down on the Murray in Albury, the sporting landscape is much different to the rest of the state. Despite being in New South Wales, the town is more culturally aligned with Victoria, and this shows in the football code which dominates the town. However, despite the slight favouritism towards the Victorian game, and the domination of the Albury Thunder as the city’s … Continue reading Club Spotlight: The Rise of the Mud Dogs 

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment
Uncategorized

Wilcannia Boomerangs win enthralling Outback Rugby League decider against Menindee

By Tallon Smith The Wilcannia Boomerangs are the Outback Rugby League Premiers for 2023 after defeating the Menindee Yabbies 23-22 in the Grand Final at Memorial Oval in Broken Hill on Saturday.  After a year in recess in 2022 due to the withdrawal of two sides, ironically this year’s Grand Final combatants, the competition could not have asked for a more captivating Grand Final. Reg … Continue reading Wilcannia Boomerangs win enthralling Outback Rugby League decider against Menindee

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment
Uncategorized

Group 16 Finals: Narooma survive elimination with one-point victory over Snowy River Bears

By Tallon Smith The Narooma Devils will live to fight another day after they sensationally defeated the Snowy River Bears 39-38 in the Group 16 Elimination Final at JJ Connors Oval in Jindabyne on Sunday. After scraping into the finals on points differential over the Cooma Stallions for fifth spot, the Devils made the most of their lucky break, ending what was a promising season … Continue reading Group 16 Finals: Narooma survive elimination with one-point victory over Snowy River Bears

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment
Queensland

Rockhampton League: Yeppoon steal tense Grand Final win in ‘Battle of the Beaches’ against Emu Park

By Tallon Smith The Yeppoon Seagulls have won one of the more remarkable Rockhampton District Rugby League Grand Finals by defeating Emu Park 32-29 in extra time at Browne Park on Sunday afternoon. The win, which is Yeppoon’s fourth premiership in a row, saw the Seagulls come from 18-0 down to lead 28-18 in the second half, before Emu Park struck back with two tries … Continue reading Rockhampton League: Yeppoon steal tense Grand Final win in ‘Battle of the Beaches’ against Emu Park

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment
Uncategorized

Group 4 Finals: North Tamworth upset Minor Premiers Moree Boars for Grand Final spot

By Tallon Smith The North Tamworth Bears are the first side into the 2023 Group 4 Grand Final after a convincing 40-10 upset win over Minor Premiers the Moree Boars in the Major Semi Final at Boughton Oval in Moree on Saturday. The seven-time defending champions ran in seven tries to two against the Boars, who played with twelve men after second rower Aaron Robinson … Continue reading Group 4 Finals: North Tamworth upset Minor Premiers Moree Boars for Grand Final spot

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment
Uncategorized

Battlers For Bush Footy celebrates two years of footy coverage

By Tallon Smith Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us, we love our bush footy, Happy Birthday to us! Battlers For Bush Footy is celebrating two years since our foundation on August 9, 2021.  After being plunged into a snap lockdown, and with my season (and most likely career, for good reason) coming to an end with the cancellation of the Group 9 competition … Continue reading Battlers For Bush Footy celebrates two years of footy coverage

Unknown's avatarTallon Smith1 Comment
Group 19

Group 19 Finals: Guyra take out Minor Premiership, while ‘Plate’ competition re-imagines the concept of Reserve Grade

By Tallon Smith The Guyra Super Spuds have written one of rugby league’s true fairytales after comfortably securing the 2023 Group 19 Minor Premiership, just one year after not even fielding a side in the competition. After entering recess in their centenary season in 2022, the Spuds returned with a vengeance in 2023, winning 12 of 14 games to secure the league leadership and a … Continue reading Group 19 Finals: Guyra take out Minor Premiership, while ‘Plate’ competition re-imagines the concept of Reserve Grade

Unknown's avatarTallon Smith1 Comment
Uncategorized

Illawarra Rugby League: Corrimal end 777-day drought with win over Dapto

By Tallon Smith The Corrimal Cougars have broken a 777-day long drought in the Illawarra Rugby League courtesy of a 36-18 win over Dapto at Ziems Park on Saturday. Having last won a First Grade game on June 19, 2021, the Cougars washed away two years of pain in a stunning upset over the finals hopeful Canaries, with the emotion visibly getting the better of … Continue reading Illawarra Rugby League: Corrimal end 777-day drought with win over Dapto

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment
Uncategorized

Group 20: Black & Whites trounce Yenda, but Blueheelers take lower grade wins in local derby

By Tallon Smith The Griffith Black & Whites completed a 42-0 shutout over the Yenda Blueheelers in a Round 9 catch-up game at Wade Park on Saturday afternoon. In the only game of the weekend, the Black & Whites moved to first on the table, after being equal with Leeton after last week’s defeat of the Greenies with this game still in hand. The Griffith … Continue reading Group 20: Black & Whites trounce Yenda, but Blueheelers take lower grade wins in local derby

Unknown's avatarTallon SmithLeave a comment