2024 Battler of the Year: Your Five Finalists

By Tallon Smith We have arrived at the pointy end of the year, and it is almost time to crown our 2024 Battlers For Bush Footy Battler of the Year. The Battler of the Year is the most prestigious award given by Battlers For Bush Footy, to the player or volunteer that does the most for a club or the game across regional Australia. The … Continue reading 2024 Battler of the Year: Your Five Finalists

Blueheelers are back: 50 year rugby league exile over

Cover Photo: Deniliquin Blueheelers President Kurt Longford (left) during his days at the Narrandera Lizards By Tallon Smith Rugby league will return to Deniliquin for the first time in a quarter of a century after the Deniliquin Blueheelers elected a committee at their AGM on Sunday afternoon. The club elected an extensive committee in the meeting at the Railway Hotel, with all executive positions filled. … Continue reading Blueheelers are back: 50 year rugby league exile over

Proten Cup: Dragons defy halftime deficit to shock Lizards in epic finale, Rams win again

By Tallon Smith & Jamie Parsons The Rankins Springs Dragons are the 2024 ProTen Community Cup premiers after a come from behind 20-18 victory over Narrandera at Narrandera Sportsground in the Grand Final on Saturday afternoon. The Dragons, who proudly proclaim their status as the ‘smallest town in NSW with a rugby league club’, chased down an 18-4 halftime deficit to win their third premiership … Continue reading Proten Cup: Dragons defy halftime deficit to shock Lizards in epic finale, Rams win again

Proten Cup: Dragons and Roosters play out epic draw in Preliminary Final

By Jamie Parsons Rankins Springs and Ivanhoe played out a unique game in the Proten Cup men’s preliminary final last Saturday, finishing level after 20 minutes of golden point. Under current NSWRL rules, Rankins Springs qualify for the Grand Final as they finished higher on the ladder, ending the season in second position compared to Ivanhoe’s fourth. In the women’s game Barellan bounced back after … Continue reading Proten Cup: Dragons and Roosters play out epic draw in Preliminary Final

Two Riverina clubs celebrate 100 years of football

By Tallon Smith In a unique occasion for rugby league in the Riverina, the Yenda Blueheelers and Narrandera Lizards will each celebrate a century of rugby league on consecutive weekends. The Yenda club, founded in 1924 and originally known as the “Blues”, have competed in Group 20 since the competition’s inaugural season of 1954, winning seven titles in that time, in 1982, 2001, 2002, 2003, … Continue reading Two Riverina clubs celebrate 100 years of football

Proten Cup Semi-Finals Start with Two Golden Point Games

By Jamie Parsons At Rankins Springs on Saturday the Proten Cup finals went the same way much of the regular season went, with four very close games. The Men’s competition had four draws this season after there were zero in the previous five years, and two more games on Saturday followed the theme and ended up in extra time. Women’s Games Rankins Springs Dragonettes enjoyed … Continue reading Proten Cup Semi-Finals Start with Two Golden Point Games

Proten Cup Round 6 Report: Finals set in stone as Lizards win Minor Premiership

By Tallon Smith & Jamie Parsons The Narrandera Lizards have won the 2024 ProTen Community Cup Minor Premiership after completing a perfect 6-0 regular season campaign at the Barellan Sports Ground on Saturday. The Lizards secured the minor title after a 42-12 victory in their final regular season match against the winless Goolgowi Rabbitohs to open the day’s play. Centre combination Caleb Atkinson and D’Andre … Continue reading Proten Cup Round 6 Report: Finals set in stone as Lizards win Minor Premiership

Proten Cup: Round 5 Report from Hillston

By Jamie Parsons A freezing, foggy morning as teams travelled to Hillston luckily gave way to a sunny afternoon and another great round of Proten Cup rugby league games. With all teams still eligible for finals, a lot was on the line with a couple clubs on their last chance to make something of their season. Women’s Games Barellan started off the day against Rankins … Continue reading Proten Cup: Round 5 Report from Hillston

ProTen Cup: No need for panic as NSWRL, Competition Committee seek to accommodate all clubs

By Tallon Smith The bush footy rumour mill has entered overdrive this week after a series of rumours pertaining to the potential entrance of the newly re-formed Deniliquin RLFC into the ProTen Community Cup, and the implications this would have on the future of the Narrandera Lizards and the competition as a whole. The misunderstanding centres around a Facebook post which advertised the Deniliquin club’s … Continue reading ProTen Cup: No need for panic as NSWRL, Competition Committee seek to accommodate all clubs

ProTen Community Cup: Round 4 Report

By Jamie Parsons A very sunny winter’s day eventually turned to rain as Round 4 of Proten Cup rugby league was played out in Goolgowi on Saturday. Another very good crowd was on hand early to see six games of local rivals battling it out. Women’s Games The Ivanhoe Hens got their best side on the park for the first time this season, with an … Continue reading ProTen Community Cup: Round 4 Report