In a six decade career involved in country rugby league and working in the media, the legendary Peter “Parra” Montgomery left an indelible mark on the game of rugby league in regional New South Wales and beyond. A lifelong Parramatta Eels supporter, Parra’s other sporting loves were the Hay Magpies and the Albury Thunder. As a result, he made incredible and enduring contributions to the playing, administrative and media landscapes of the three Riverina competitions, Group 17, Group 20 and Group 9. In his later years, Parra was a great supporter of and mentor to Battlers For Bush Footy and its 19-year-old editor Tallon Smith. Through this relationship, Battlers was lucky enough to host his long-running column on country rugby league, Parra’s Piece. Below is the entire collection of Parra’s articles published by Battlers For Bush Footy from 2024 to 2025.
The Parra’s Piece Archive:
Parra’s Piece: Heartbreak for Thunder in extra time thriller
Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Albury Thunder Reserve Grade team had its ‘heart-broken’ in the Grand Final played at Geohex Stadium… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Heartbreak for Thunder in extra time thriller
Preview and Player Profiles: Thunder ready for Reserves showdown with Kangaroos
Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Albury Thunder Reserve Grade team will meet Wagga Kangaroos in the Group 9 Reserve Grade Grand… Continue reading Preview and Player Profiles: Thunder ready for Reserves showdown with Kangaroos
Parra’s Piece: Group 9 Reserves Grand Final preview and tip
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder selectors have named a strong squad of 21 players for the Group 9 Grand Final… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Group 9 Reserves Grand Final preview and tip
Group 9: Thunder storms into Reserve Grade Grand Final with win over Gundagai
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder Reserve Grade side won its way into the Group 9 Reserve Grade Grand Final with… Continue reading Group 9: Thunder storms into Reserve Grade Grand Final with win over Gundagai
Parra’s Piece: Huge clash highlights final Round of Group 9 regular season
Peter (Parra) Montgomery The final round of the Group 9 home and away series will be played on the weekend,… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Huge clash highlights final Round of Group 9 regular season
Group 9: Bulls finish with Cup as playoff picture painted in incredible final round
Peter (Parra) Montgomery & Tallon Smith The South City Bulls have finished with the Ray White Challenge Cup as final… Continue reading Group 9: Bulls finish with Cup as playoff picture painted in incredible final round
Group 9: Last home game proves a winner for Thunder in Indigenous Round
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder Rugby League Club celebrated Group 9 Indigenous Round on its last home game at Greenfield… Continue reading Group 9: Last home game proves a winner for Thunder in Indigenous Round
Parra’s Piece: Thunder out of finals race as Group 9 top five all but confirmed
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder has missed out on playing in the 2025 Group 9 Final series after being defeated… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder out of finals race as Group 9 top five all but confirmed
Thunder set to celebrate Indigenous Round in final home game of the year
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Where did it go? Where has the 2025 Group 9 Rugby League season disappeared to? Just as… Continue reading Thunder set to celebrate Indigenous Round in final home game of the year
Parra’s Piece: Albury keep finals hopes alive with win over Cootamundra
Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Albury Thunder’s First Grade team kept its Group 9 Rugby League finals hopes alive recording a… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Albury keep finals hopes alive with win over Cootamundra
Parra’s Piece: Thunder lower grades continue run with wins over Brothers
Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Thunder lower grade men’s teams, as expected, recorded big wins over the Wagga Brothers club. The… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder lower grades continue run with wins over Brothers
Group 9: Thunder win big but fall short in Challenge Cup bid against Brothers
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder fell just short of retaining the Group 9 Challenge Cup, missing out by the… Continue reading Group 9: Thunder win big but fall short in Challenge Cup bid against Brothers
Group 9: Thunder struck by injuries for cup challenge
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder has been struck with injuries for its first defence of the Group 9 Challenge Cup… Continue reading Group 9: Thunder struck by injuries for cup challenge
Parra’s Piece: Premiers snatch victory with last minute field goal
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Defending premiers Young Cherrypickers kicked a field goal in the 79th minute to snatch a 23-22 victory… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Premiers snatch victory with last minute field goal
Parra’s Piece: Depth of talent on show as Thunder reserves remain unbeaten
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery The depth in talent at the Albury Thunder is on show for all to see when… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Depth of talent on show as Thunder reserves remain unbeaten
Parra’s Piece: Young clash looms as vital game for Thunder
Peter (Parra) Montgomery This weekend’s match against premiers Young Cherrypickers at Greenfield Park looms as the most important clash of… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Young clash looms as vital game for Thunder
Group 9: Cherrypickers looking to maintain momentum from Brothers win in cup clash with Albury
Tallon Smith, Peter “Parra” Montgomery Despite a mounting injury toll reaching 15 players, the Young Cherrypickers are looking to capitalise… Continue reading Group 9: Cherrypickers looking to maintain momentum from Brothers win in cup clash with Albury
Parra’s Piece: Thunder put on a show on sponsors day
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Albury Thunder Rugby League Club turned on the style in front of its loyalsponsors, winning… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder put on a show on sponsors day
Riverina Wrap Around: Griffith Waratahs, Wagga Roos remain undefeated; Gundagai into second
Tallon Smith – reporting from Perth The Gundagai Tigers have moved into second place on the 2025 Great Northern Group… Continue reading Riverina Wrap Around: Griffith Waratahs, Wagga Roos remain undefeated; Gundagai into second
Tight round in Group 9 sees Kangaroos, Thunder remain unbeaten in respective grades
Parra’s Piece – Peter “Parra” Montgomery Round eight of the Group 9 Rugby League season produced some remarkably close matches… Continue reading Tight round in Group 9 sees Kangaroos, Thunder remain unbeaten in respective grades
Group 9: South City Bulls claim scrappy victory over Albury Thunder
Peter (Parra) Montgomery South City Bulls secured a hard-fought 32–20 victory over Albury Thunder in a scrappy contest at Harris… Continue reading Group 9: South City Bulls claim scrappy victory over Albury Thunder
Group 9: Tigers topple Thunder in Greenfield Park showdown
By Peter “Parra” Montgomery Gundagai Tigers have backed up their impressive win over premiership favourites, the Young Cherrypickers, with a… Continue reading Group 9: Tigers topple Thunder in Greenfield Park showdown
Parra’s Piece: Thunder run rampant over Bulldogs at Cootamundra
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder Rugby League Club would have been delighted by the efforts of the First and Reserve… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder run rampant over Bulldogs at Cootamundra
Parra’s Piece: Thunder at full strength for Bulldogs test
Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder will be at full strength for its match against Cootamundra Bulldogs at Les Boyd Oval… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder at full strength for Bulldogs test
Parra’s Piece: Thunder convincing winners over Brothers in rivals round
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder scored eleven tries in recording its first win in Group 9 Great Northern Premiership,… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder convincing winners over Brothers in rivals round
Parra’s Piece: Thunder finally at home for rivalry round clash with Brothers
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery The followers of the Albury Thunder First Grade Rugby League team, will finally have the opportunity… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Thunder finally at home for rivalry round clash with Brothers
Parra’s Piece: Premier Pickers too powerful against Thunder
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery A masterclass performance by Young Cherrypickers playmaker Tom Demeio highlighted the Premiers comfortable 44-10 win over… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Premier Pickers too powerful against Thunder
Parra’s Piece: Albury Thunder win new trophy with strong showing
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Thunder wrapped up its preseason trial series with an impressive 36-4 victory over Group 20… Continue reading Parra’s Piece: Albury Thunder win new trophy with strong showing
No jerseys, no worries as Kangaroos power past Temora into Group 9 Grand Final
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Wagga Kangaroos are through to their second successive Group 9 Great Northern Grand Final following a… Continue reading No jerseys, no worries as Kangaroos power past Temora into Group 9 Grand Final
Roos ready to tackle Temora in Albury: Group 9 Preliminary Finals Preview
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Greenfield Park Albury will play host to players, supporters, officials and spectators for Sunday’s Group 9… Continue reading Roos ready to tackle Temora in Albury: Group 9 Preliminary Finals Preview
Group 9 Finals: Kangaroos too ‘Smart’ as Thunder Eliminated
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Wagga Kangaroos played a ‘smart’ game to eliminate a brave Albury Thunder team from the Group… Continue reading Group 9 Finals: Kangaroos too ‘Smart’ as Thunder Eliminated
Group 9: Thunder wrap up a finals spot against spirited Brothers outfit
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery The Albury Thunder first grade team wrapped up the fifth position in the Group 9 semi-finals,… Continue reading Group 9: Thunder wrap up a finals spot against spirited Brothers outfit
Group 9: Young down Thunder in high scoring affair
Cover Photo: Cat Butler Photography By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Group 9 competition leaders the Young Cherrypickers posted a strong 38-28… Continue reading Group 9: Young down Thunder in high scoring affair
Young confirms new Group 9 favourites tag with big win over Albury
Cover Photo Credit: Cat Butler Photography By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Young Cherrypickers confirmed favouritism for the 2024 Group 9 premiership… Continue reading Young confirms new Group 9 favourites tag with big win over Albury
Group 9 Wrap: Thunder and Kangaroos play out a draw
By Peter (Parra) Montgomery Albury Thunder and Wagga Kangaroos produced the Group 9 2024 “match of season” at Greenfield Park,… Continue reading Group 9 Wrap: Thunder and Kangaroos play out a draw
Group 9: Thunder out to meet benchmark against Kangaroos
By Peter “Parra” Montgomery Albury Thunder supporters should get an insight into the club’s chances in the Group 9 First Grade… Continue reading Group 9: Thunder out to meet benchmark against Kangaroos
Battlers For Bush Footy 