It doesn’t matter what sport you love, we’ve got it covered. This year we celebrated our stars young and old and dived into some new and exciting sports – check them out.
16. Wagga’s Piper Duck is ready to lead the Wallaroos after 12 months out
by Jarryd Rowley
Member of the Legislative Council Wes Fang is ready to cheer on Piper Duck as she leads the Wallaroos for the first time since returning from injury. Photo: Wes Fang.
Returning to anything after 12 months away can be a daunting task, but for Wagga’s own Piper Duck, returning to captain the Australian rugby union team means everything.
15. Junior rugby union club claims club of the year title at Rugby Australia Awards
by Jarryd Rowley
Wagga Wagga Junior Rugby Union Club’s professionalism and welcomeness were recognised at the Rugby Australia Awards. Photo: Wagga Wagga Junior Rugby Union Club.
Wagga Wagga Junior Rugby Union Club has beaten more than 500 clubs to be named the Cadbury Club of the Year at the Rugby Australia Awards.
One hundred and five clubs from across the country were nominated for the award from a pool of more than 500, with the award’s main criteria focusing on the clubs’ ability to highlight the importance of creating inclusive and safe environments while celebrating the vital role of volunteers in the rugby community.
14. Representative stars shining a light on Wagga softball
by Michael Murphy
Wagga softball players Alex Maiden, Braith Warren and Austin Gooden before travelling to Western Australia for the Softball Australia National Titles. Photo: Wagga Softball Association.
Softball might not be the first thing that springs to mind when locals are asked about summer sports, but a group of talented local players are shining a light on the game in Wagga through their exploits at representative level.
Six Wagga-based players took part in the Softball Australia National Titles that were held at Mirrabooka, Western Australia, in January, with another junior playing at the ACT regionals.
13. Riverina basketball star shoots for the big time in the US
by Michael Murphy
Amelia Hassett playing for Eastern Florida State College where she averaged 19.4 points per game and 13 rebounds. Photo: Supplied.
Adelong basketball star Amelia Hassett has had her outstanding sporting talents recognised by being recruited to the prestigious American college Virginia Tech.
It continues a meteoritic rise in the popular sport for the 19-year-old, who is described by those close to her as a hard-working and humble young athlete.
Beef producer Steven Scott is preparing to run three marathons in the next few months, culminating with the world-famous New York marathon in November. Photo: Ian Cossor.
As Henty sixth-generation farmer Steven Scott gets ready to promote some 230 Angus bulls to cattle breeders from around the country, he’s also in training for the City2Surf Fun Run in August and the Sydney Marathon in September.
11. Wagga Cricket Ground masterplan endorsed, council to seek funding
by Jarryd Rowley
The Wagga Cricket Ground is one of the city’s oldest sporting venues but has been forgotten in recent years. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
The desolate Wagga Cricket Ground is set to come alive once more after a new masterplan was approved by Wagga Wagga City Council this week.
The masterplan would see the removal of the velodrome, allowing for better playing areas for cricket and rugby competitions, upgrades to the existing facilities including the clubhouses and bathrooms and the introduction of new cricket nets and an electronic scoreboard.
10. The Gundagai Tigers veteran helping to make a bush footy club tick
by Michael Murphy
Mark Elphick in front of the Tigers’ clubhouse. Photo: Jade Smith.
Gundagai’s Mark Elphick is the perfect example of what makes a bush footy club tick.
As a player, he has excelled on the field, winning multiple Group 9 premierships, but it is his additional work as a coach and clubman that has earned him the admiration and respect of the local Gundagai community and footballers from all over the Riverina.
9. Four-midable teamwork! Wagga junior footballers’ grand effort on national stage
by Jarryd Rowley
The U11 girls were one of four Wagga teams to win a grand final at this year’s Kanga Cup. Photo: Wagga City Wanderers.
Football Wagga has demonstrated its growing presence in Australian football after winning four divisions at the country’s biggest youth football competition.
Sending its largest cohort ever to the Kanga Cup, an annual, week-long event held during the July school holidays, the association saw four of its 19 teams bring home trophies, with the U10 and U11 boys, as well as the U11 and U13 girls, claiming grand final victories.
8. Young Griffith cyclist excels at Tour de Riverina, eyes world championship
by Oliver Jacques
Mia Stockwell hasn’t been riding for long but has earned plenty of silverware. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The baby of Griffith Cycle Club has become its latest superstar after taking out the female division of the Tour de Riverina, a multi-event series that takes place over several months and towns.
Mia Stockwell, 21, is enjoying a dream season, having also won the male-dominated Griffith club series, the Bertoldo’s Cup.
7. Paul Kelly to be honoured with NSW Legend status
by Jarryd Rowley
Wagga’s own Paul Kelly will soon be recognised as a NSW Sporting Legend. Photo: Supplied/Sydney Swans.
Wagga’s own AFL hero Paul Kelly will soon be recognised as a national sporting icon after the NSW Hall of Champions announced he will be crowned a NSW Sporting Legend later this month.
Kelly was born in West Wyalong before being raised in Wagga Wagga where he turned to AFL at the age of 12. Kelly first played for the Wagga Tigers in the RFL, where he kicked 12 goals in his first game.
6. No other option: Rugby Australia takes control of the Brumbies’ Super Rugby program
by Tim Gavel
Brumbies CEO Phil Thomson, Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh and Brumbies chair Matt Nobbs at the announcement of Rugby Australia’s plans for the Brumbies Super Rugby programs. Photo: Tim Gavel.
Just how close the Brumbies came to folding we may never know, but there was a palpable sense of relief with the announcement that Rugby Australia would be taking control of the Super Rugby program.
Rugby Australia will take over the debt being carried by the Brumbies. There is a guarantee that the Brumbies will stay in Canberra.
5. Local cricket league looks towards expansion across Southern NSW
by Michael Murphy
Adam Swanston, pictured centre, at a recent South West Slopes Cricket League presentation. Photo: A Swanston.
Country cricket has been struggling to maintain player numbers at the senior level for several years now, but one local league is aiming to buck the trend and expand its competition.
The South West Slopes Cricket League was formed 10 years ago when the towns of Cootamundra, Young and Temora decided they would be stronger as a united competition rather than struggle to maintain their traditional formats.
4. Griffith Swans player selected to represent state in netball, sets sights on Iceland
by Oliver Jacques
Brooke Buckley with Griffith Swans coach Joh Munro. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A Yanco Agricultural High School student and Griffith Swans netball rising star has been selected to represent her state after excelling at a tournament at the Griffith Regional Sports Centre.
Brooke Buckley, 16, who grew up in Coopernook in northern NSW, won the players’ player award at the Combined High Schools Netball State Championships in June.
3. What is pickleball and why are so many people jumping on board?
by Jarryd Rowley
Pickleball has taken over social sports across the world including Wagga, where more than 100 people play weekly at PCYC. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Pickleball is taking the world by storm and has become the fastest growing sport around the globe for the past two years and it’s beginning to take over Wagga Wagga.
So what is pickleball and why has it become so popular?
2. POLL: Would the Wagga Kangaroos beat the Australian Wallabies in a union match?
by Oliver Jacques
The Wagga Kangaroos are soaring in 2024. Photo: Wagga Kangaroos RLFC.
Could the high-flying Wagga Kangaroos RLFC first-grade rugby league team beat the Australian Wallabies in a game of rugby union? NRL great Bryan Fletcher suggested they could in a light-hearted comment on the Matty Johns Show this week.
1. Footy star punches above his weight with a new boxing gym in Wagga
by Chris Roe
Fetongi Tuinavai opened Tee’d Up Fitness in Wagga earlier this year. Photo: Chris Roe.
Riverina rugby hardman Fetongi Tuinavai, better known as Tee, is expanding his sporting resume in 2024, stepping into the boxing ring for his first professional fight and opening his own gym in Wagga’s CBD.
Tee’d Up Fitness opened earlier this year in Fitzmaurice Street opposite the Wagga Courthouse and Tee said owning a gym had been on his mind for a while.
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