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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Video & Report: Terrific Thirroul take title in instant Illawarra classic

By Tallon Smith The Thirroul Butchers have stunned the local rugby league community by taking out the Illawarra Rugby League Premiership with a 24-18 win over two-time defending champions Collegians in the Grand Final at WIN Stadium last Saturday. After facing the serious prospect of missing the finals altogether just a matter of weeks ago as Dapto made a late charge and threatened their spot, … Continue reading Video & Report: Terrific Thirroul take title in instant Illawarra classic

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Statewide First Grade/Senior Men’s Scoreboard: Sep 9/10

Updated: Weekend of 9/10 September 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 Preliminary Final: Queanbeyan Kangaroos 40 defeated Belconnen United 10 Central Coast Season complete Illawarra Season complete Illawarra Second Division Season complete Newcastle Season complete Northern Rivers Grand Final: Cudgen 18 defeated Ballina … Continue reading Statewide First Grade/Senior Men’s Scoreboard: Sep 9/10

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Exclusive: Deniliquin looks to put Blue Heelers back on rugby league map

By Tallon Smith In a major shock, the Deniliquin Blue Heelers have announced they are looking to end almost 50 years in the rugby league wilderness and return to the playing field, after a steering committee was formed this week in an attempt to restart rugby league activity in the town. Apart from a brief period in the 2000s when the Deniliquin Raiders entered the … Continue reading Exclusive: Deniliquin looks to put Blue Heelers back on rugby league map

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Grand Final Watch: Thoroughbreds outpace Colts to deliver Scone fourth-straight title, Maitland win again

By Tallon Smith The Scone Thoroughbreds have won their fourth successive Group 21 Rugby League Premiership after defeating the Greta-Branxton Colts 30-28 in the Grand Final held at Greta Central Oval on Sunday. Although they faced a much more challenging year than last year’s Clayton Cup winning effort, the Thoroughbreds came from third place, defeating Muswellbrook and Denman en route to taking out the club’s … Continue reading Grand Final Watch: Thoroughbreds outpace Colts to deliver Scone fourth-straight title, Maitland win again

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Griffith Waratahs sign Willie Lolohea as First Grade Coach for 2024 return: Q&A

The Griffith Waratahs Tigers have announced that Willie Lolohea will be the head coach of their First Grade team in their return to the field from recess in 2024.  The local star will lead the team as they tackle the difficult challenge of rebuilding head-on, as Group 20 itself looks to continue its rebuild heading into the off-season. Read this Q&A to get to know … Continue reading Griffith Waratahs sign Willie Lolohea as First Grade Coach for 2024 return: Q&A

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Group 7: Sharks score dominant defeat of Jets to book Shellharbour showdown with Stingrays

By Tallon Smith The Shellharbour Sharks have booked themselves a place in the Group 7 Rugby League preliminary final after a 38-22 win over Nowra-Bomaderry at Ron Costello Oval on Saturday. After finishing the regular season in third place, the Sharks bounced back from a 24-10 qualifying final loss to Gerringong, running in seven tries to four to end the Jets’ promising campaign in the … Continue reading Group 7: Sharks score dominant defeat of Jets to book Shellharbour showdown with Stingrays

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Group 20: DPC mount monumental comeback to beat Black and Whites

By Tallon Smith The Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters have completed one of country rugby league’s greatest comebacks to defeat the Griffith Black and Whites 32-31 at EW Moore Oval on Sunday afternoon. After leading 26-0 at half-time, the Black and Whites were firmly in control of the match, and appeared to be cruising to a Grand Final appearance in front of a healthy home crowd in … Continue reading Group 20: DPC mount monumental comeback to beat Black and Whites

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Illawarra Rugby League: Corrimal qualify for Reserve Grade Grand Final for first time in 34 years

By Tallon Smith The Corrimal Cougars have qualified for their first Reserve Grade Grand Final since 1989 with a 13-12 Preliminary Final win over Collegians at Collegians Sports Complex on Saturday. After making the finals for the first time in 10 years last season, the Cougars have gone another step further this year courtesy of a match winning field goal to captain Josh McConnell in … Continue reading Illawarra Rugby League: Corrimal qualify for Reserve Grade Grand Final for first time in 34 years

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Goulburn Murray, Group 16, Group 19, Hastings

Grand Final Watch: Kendall, Narwan, Merimbula, Wolfpack all crowned premiers in respective competitions

By Tallon Smith The Kendall Blues have been crowned the Hastings League Premiers for the 2023 season after a 34-10 win over the Beechwood Shamrocks at Kendall Showground on Saturday afternoon. A large crowd gathered to watch the first Hastings League Final to be played outside of Wauchope in the league’s 103-year history, with the Blues piling on the points in the second half for … Continue reading Grand Final Watch: Kendall, Narwan, Merimbula, Wolfpack all crowned premiers in respective competitions

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Manildra go back to back in Woodbridge Cup with Grand Final win over Trundle

By Tallon Smith The Manildra Rhinos are again the Woodbridge Cup Premiers in 2023 after an 18-16 win over the Trundle Boomers on their home turf at Jack Huxley Oval on Sunday afternoon. After breaking a 23-year drought stretching back to their Group 11 triumph in 1999 last season, the Rhinos held on for the narrow win over the Boomers, washing away the pain of … Continue reading Manildra go back to back in Woodbridge Cup with Grand Final win over Trundle

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