By Tallon Smith The Cootamundra Bulldogs have made a major move in securing football for their rising stars by linking their Under 16s and Under 18s with the Gundagai Tigers club for the 2024 season. The deal, which involves Cootamundra’s youth sides playing at ANZAC Park prior to the Tigers’ senior teams follows Gundagai’s painstaking decision to pull out of the two grades for the … Continue reading Cootamundra Bulldogs 16s, 18s to hunt with the Tigers in 2024

By Tallon Smith The Junee Diesels are generating momentum heading into the 2024 season, with strong numbers being recorded at training across all six grades as they prepare for the upcoming Group 9 Rugby League season. After a few tough seasons, things are looking good for the Junee club as they again attempt to end a 38-year premiership drought. Diesels President David Holt said that … Continue reading Diesels gathering momentum ahead of massive Group 9 season

By Tallon Smith The cricket season is drawing to a close, the summer sun is showing signs of exhaustion, and football season is fast approaching across the Riverina. WIth the recent release of the Group 9 draw, Battlers For Bush Footy has compiled a list of the must-watch Group 9 games in 2024, with some familiar rivalries and other matches of importance highlighted and previewed … Continue reading Group 9 2024 draw: Six must-see games

By Tallon Smith The hunt for a successor to Andrew Hinchcliffe is over, with Mark Daly elected to the post of Group 9 President at the competition’s AGM in Wagga Wagga on Sunday. The change to the top job occurs at a critical time for the league, with two clubs looking to return to the competition after a difficult few years post-pandemic, and the lingering … Continue reading Mark Daly elected Group 9 President for 2024

By Tallon Smith Rugby league will again be played on the Canola Way in 2024 after a proposal for the formation of the Coolamon Raiders Junior Rugby League Club was made last week. Situated half an hour’s drive north-west of Wagga Wagga, Coolamon first played rugby league in 1935 and formerly had a team in the Kennedy Shield competition (Wagga Second Division) in the 20th … Continue reading Coolamon Raiders to bring Junior Rugby League back to Canola Way

By Tallon Smith The Wagga Brothers have pulled off a major coup ahead of their return to Group 9 First Grade after securing the services of former Dragon and Bronco Aaron Gorrell as coach for the 2024 season. After player shortages and other difficulties forced the red and greens to pull out of the competition’s premier grade this year, the club has its sights set … Continue reading Brothers land ex-NRL star Gorrell as coach for First Grade Return

By Tallon Smith The Tumut Blues are the 2023 Group 9 Rugby League Premiers after they chased down a fast-starting Wagga Kangaroos outfit to win the Grand Final 23-18 at Wagga on Sunday. The Kangaroos got out to an early lead through tries to Hayden Jolliffe and Jacob Mascini, with Latrell Siegwalt adding the extras as well as a penalty goal to bring the score … Continue reading Group 9: Tumut complete comeback to take title

By Tallon Smith The Albury Thunder will play finals football in 2023 after the club edged out Gundagai for fifth position following a tense final day of the Group 9 regular season. The Border club may have faced a difficult season in 2023, but a strange set of circumstances beyond their control, culminating in a 32-20 loss to the Wagga Kangaroos, was enough to guarantee … Continue reading Group 9: Draw complexity sees Albury First Graders join Reserves and League Tag in Finals

By Tallon Smith The Temora Dragons have done what many thought they couldn’t, sewing up the hotly contested 2023 Group 9 Minor Premiership with a 22-20 win over a vastly improved South City outfit at Harris Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday.  The Red and Whites’ victory, coupled with Tumut’s loss to Young, sees the side take an unassailable lead into the final two rounds, … Continue reading Group 9 Wrap: Temora top table and take home Minor Premiership after holding off South City

By Tallon Smith The South City Bulls have pulled off a massive upset in Group 9 First Grade, beating the Albury Thunder 30-22 at Greenfield Park on Saturday afternoon. In front of a big crowd as the Thunder hosted NAIDOC Round, the Bulls shocked the Albury faithful to record a famous victory over their fierce rivals, moving the club further away from the dreaded wooden … Continue reading Group 9 Wrap: South City surprise a desperate Albury side, Tumut-Gundagai derby draws huge crowd