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.
Queensland

Merger confirmed: Gladstone clubs join Rockhampton competition

By Tallon Smith A major shake-up is set to occur in the way rugby league is run in Central Queensland, with the top three Gladstone clubs moving to the Rockhampton competition for the 2024 season and beyond. After a merged First Grade competition was last run in 2022, clubs have been pushing for a full four-grade merger, as Battlers For Bush Footy reported last November. … Continue reading Merger confirmed: Gladstone clubs join Rockhampton competition

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Withdrawals send shockwaves through Western Division competitions, new draw needed for one league

By Tallon Smith Shockwaves have been sent through local football competitions again in 2024 with the withdrawal of clubs from both the Castlereagh League and Woodbridge Cup over the weekend. The Binnaway Bombshells and 2020 Premiers Dunedoo have pulled out of the Castlereagh First Grade competition for 2024, whilst the Condobolin Rams have withdrawn from the Woodbridge competition after a strong campaign last year. After … Continue reading Withdrawals send shockwaves through Western Division competitions, new draw needed for one league

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Windsor Wolves win Shellharbour Sharks Shootout after tense Grand Final victory

By Tallon Smith The Windsor Wolves have won the 2024 Shellharbour Sharks Shootout and the $6000 prize money on offer after sweeping their games at Ron Costello Oval on Saturday afternoon. The Wolves completed their run with a 24-10 win over the host club in the Final, after qualifying via an 18-0 nil shutout of Wentworthville and a narrow 8-6 win over the Stingrays of … Continue reading Windsor Wolves win Shellharbour Sharks Shootout after tense Grand Final victory

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The Narooma Problem: How ageing and declining populations threaten the future of country footy

By Tallon Smith I’m sure this week nearly everyone has seen that the Narooma Devils have entered recess in all senior grades except the Under 18s. Founded in 1932, the Devils have won 9 Premierships in Group 16, with a title coming as recently as 2012. However the town has long been dealing with changing demographics which have depleted the number of available rugby league … Continue reading The Narooma Problem: How ageing and declining populations threaten the future of country footy

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Riverina Rugby League Legend Roy Jewitt Rowing for MND

By Tallon Smith  Riverina Rugby League legend Roy Jewitt is preparing for a mammoth 24 hour rowing challenge on March 15 to raise money for research into Motor Neurone Disease. Beginning at 6pm, the former captain-coach of Young, as well as Yanco-Wamoon and DPC Roosters in Group 20, will row 5 kilometres on the hour for 24 hours in a gruelling physical challenge, and will … Continue reading Riverina Rugby League Legend Roy Jewitt Rowing for MND

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Woden win West Wyalong Knockout over defending champions Young

By Tallon Smith The Woden Valley Rams have won the 51st annual West Wyalong Knockout after completing a late run with a 20-12 win over the defending champion Young Cherrypickers in the Final on Saturday night. After dropping their Round 1 game 10-6 to Temora and only progressing to the second day as a lucky loser on points percentage, the Rams clicked into gear to … Continue reading Woden win West Wyalong Knockout over defending champions Young

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West Wyalong Knockout: Day 1 Recap and Round 2 draw

By Tallon Smith The unofficial opener of the bush footy season kicked off yesterday, with the 51st annual West Wyalong Knockout getting underway at Ron Crowe Oval. A two-day carnival contested by 11 teams this year, the event began with a 5-game slate on Friday night, with Queanbeyan Blues the lucky side getting the bye. Ahead of the second round and finals tonight, here is … Continue reading West Wyalong Knockout: Day 1 Recap and Round 2 draw

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EXCLUSIVE: Current International Captain and former NRL star joins Eastwood at South West Goannas

By Tallon Smith After fighting a painstaking battle to be readmitted to the Macarthur Rugby League competition in 2024, the South West Goannas have made a major addition to their roster, acquiring the services of current Cook Islands Captain and former NRL star Brad Takairangi. After spending 2023 with Dapto in the Illawarra competition, Takairangi joins former New Zealand Kiwis forward Greg Eastwood at the … Continue reading EXCLUSIVE: Current International Captain and former NRL star joins Eastwood at South West Goannas

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Group 10 comes out on top in Western Region Inter-Group matches

By Tallon Smith The Group 10 Representative side has beaten both their Group 11 and Castlereagh (Group 14) rivals to be crowned the premier district in the Western Region at the Rams trials held in Wellington on Saturday. In the opening match, Group 10 shocked the more fancied Group 11 outfit by defeating them 16-10. The result is the reverse of last year’s defeat to … Continue reading Group 10 comes out on top in Western Region Inter-Group matches

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Eagles set to soar as rugby league returns to Shepparton

Rugby League continues to surge in popularity in North East Victoria after the entry of a Shepparton-based outfit to the Goulburn Murray Premiership for the 2024 season was confirmed this month. The Shepparton Eagles will be one of eight teams to compete in the premier rugby league competition in regional Victoria in 2024, ending the 16 year absence of rugby league in the district which … Continue reading Eagles set to soar as rugby league returns to Shepparton

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