A long time ago in a rugby league universe far, far away, City versus Country signalled the beginning of the sport’s representative season.
It was a chance for talented players from the bush to stake their claim in the game and maybe get picked for the New South Wales team in their annual clash against Queensland.
In 1975, Country Firsts shocked their City counterparts with a 19-9 win at the SCG. This was the last time a Country team won a match against City until Origin rules were brought in.
However, the game was a trial, and remained so while there were light blue jerseys up for grabs in the state clashes. Of course, from there, an Australian team was selected to play either the touring Great Britain side or a three-Test series against New Zealand.
From the mid-’70s to the early ’80s, the City Firsts, NSW and Australian teams were virtually identical in make-up, given that the cashed-up Sydney clubs were raiding rural and interstate talent while they were still taking their first tentative sidesteps.
State Of Origin changed everything.
In fact, State Of Origin became a bigger game than any Test match: more fiercely contested, more watched, more anticipated than the lopsided contests with Great Britain. Only a fractured Australian squad in the mid ’80s, where divisions based on state boundaries splintered the team, resulted in New Zealand coming close to a series win.
It was about then that we should have left City-Country behind.
Now, the game has even less meaning, as it is played on or after the same night as Australia’s annual Test against New Zealand. (As an aside, this was supposed to be an ANZAC tribute match, which sounds fine except that the Kiwis and the Australians were on the same side at Gallipoli and the game is never played on ANZAC Day anymore.)
In fact, rugby league’s entire representative season is muddled with the first international happening weeks before State Of Origin. Apart from the obvious rivalry, it now takes meaning away from State Of Origin because players aren’t playing for a green and gold jersey. However, Origin has created an annual border war, and the marketing geniuses of commercial TV are milking it for every cent they possibly can.
City-Country inspires nothing of the sort. It is an anachronism and if I was an NRL coach, I’d be mighty cranky if I lost a player or two to injury from this meaningless fixture.
Also worth noting is that City-Country is squeezed into the schedule – there is no split round like there is for the Origin series. It’s as if the rugby league hierarchy feel it’s like the troublesome visitor who has outstayed his welcome at the barbecue, who brings no snags or beer, but the host is too polite to say anything.
It’s time to show the unwanted interloper the door and banish City-Country to the archives.
bella harris
Guest
There is so much talent in the country,, if you look at alot of past and present players alot of them come from nsw country.. loz, sterlo, hindemarsh,lazo, blocker, fulton, langlands and lord ted just to a few. The only concern is that it adds another game for rep players when the season is long enough, including rep games eg. anzac test , state of orgrin.. Some coaches must get frustrated although proud, when their best players are taken away from club footy for these games. So why not use this match purley to expose younger talent in nsw giving a hugh incentive to under 21s presidents cup players ... the scouts would love it.. the intensity of younger players hoping for a contract would make for a very exvciting clash, then maybe we will start a younger hunger to blood new players for nsw clubs.. then watch out Qld
C.T.SANDERS
Guest
It's still representative football but what is a waste of time is the NSW Cup.Only a man and a dog folloe it and if all the owners of all the NRL Franchises want it they should fork out for it and not the game at the expense of the game at the grassroots.Talk about thinking small. The NSW Cup undermines local compeitions and time to boot it firmly into touch for the good of the game. At least the City/Country game promotes football in the bush.
amy_p
Roar Rookie
Hey, at least some NSW players will have a chance to win for a change. If they want to go out and have some fun, go ahead. Doesn't mean anyone has to watch though.
Cheyne Maher
Guest
I think City v Country needs to be revamped. It has become a "second class citizen"shown on Friday night as a replayed game on channel 9. I have no problem with it being a second string side, just should be used smarter. I would play it as a three match series on Friday nights preceeding SOO, which i would play on a Monday night. Obviously this means SOO players are missing from city v country, but it would give fringe SOO players who missed NSW selection a chance to keep the pressure on the main side. By having City v Country on Fri and SOO on Monday we could have 3-4 dedicated rep weekends, which could be filled up with Pacific Cup games and/or NZ Origin matches, as well as Legends of Origin fixtures on the Saturday and Sunday.
Andrew
Guest
Or even better, have sevens carnivals in the preseason, sending one NRL club who spreads there players around all the teams that are competing on the day (1 back, 1 forward for each team). This would help the game in the bush more than a once a year City vs Country game ever would. As for those who say it's a trial for NSW SoO, thats a joke, cause the definates don't actually play in the match, and in previous years some players have had blinders, yet still didn't get selected. You only have to look at the ratings for the match to know that people just don't care for it anymore. Way past it's use by date.
Dan
Guest
City vs Country will play a significant role in the make up of this years NSW origin team. The match may have lost its significance from matches played in earlier times but I would assume that players would jump at the opportunity to be a part of this match and many fans will travel from vast distances to watch this match. I think people forget how much passion rugby league holds out in the bush.
yewonk
Guest
cut it out with your innovation code 13 and get back to the slagging off and in fighting that every other apathetic disloyal new south welshmen have for a game they say they support. its a really good idea both a country round and preseason games with rural sides. what you will find is the afl will do it in nsw before league and all gallop will say is, good luck to them and i think we have a very good product. agreed its meaningless players dont want to play for nsw neverlone country or city.
turbodewd
Guest
Agreed, City v Country is a silly concept. All the players reside in cities anyway. And how can a Canberran be classed as country? RL players play too many games per year, noone would blink if this out-dated concept was dropped. There's no silly Qld version of this. I dont think the City v Country game rates particularly highly. Its just a game where stars can get injured and where the game has no bearing on selection opportunities for each player. Let it pass. RIP City v Country. There's nothing 'country' about it.
code 13
Roar Guru
I think City vs Country should change. There should be a 'Country Round' in early May before State of Origin where 3 games are held in rural areas i.e. Southern NSW, Northern NSW and regional Queensland. My picks would be: Sydney City vs Knights - northern NSW like Port Macquarie etc Raiders vs Storm - southern NSW like Albury etc Sharks vs Broncos - regional QLD like Sunshine Coast etc Cowboys vs Titans - Townsville Dragons vs Sea Eagles - Wollongong Panthers vs Rabbitohs - Penrith Tigers vs Eels - SCG Warriors vs Bulldogs - Auckland At the SCG game there could be a country carnival of knockout matches beforehand like in the early years of the game featuring qualifying rural teams vs qualifying Sydney teams. Then as a prelude to two of the matches in the regional areas, there can be two special representative matches featuring players drawn from the NYC, CRL, NSWRL and QRL under Origin representative rules. These two games would be NSW City vs NSW Country and QLD City vs QLD Country. Scouts for NRL clubs can attend these matches in order to sign players.
Mark
Guest
I like City v Country. Another game of Rugby League to watch, why not?
apaway
Guest
Sure they can, Mitch, but they are more likely to get hurt playing a fully competitive, if meaningless fixture on an unfamiliar regional ground. Why on earth NSW selectors feel they need this game to pick a State of Origin squad is beyond me. They've had 8 rounds to assess the form of those players.
john williams
Guest
City versus Country provides a chance for every NSW commentator and scribe to put their NSW team up for review while the biggest decision facing QLD selectors is who will be 18th man. The QLD team picks itself on form is backed by a professional team and the Rugby League community.
M1tch
Roar Guru
"I’d be mighty cranky if I lost a player or two to injury from this meaningless fixture. This is an annoying quote by coaches and media etc..players can get injured at training/walking outside to get the paper, they could get injured during the weekend of footy. It should probably be a under 23's game with 1 player from local country/city grades to make fans feel more apart of it
jus de couchon
Guest
As a watcher of the NRL Id say it only exists on a State of Origan Calender in any International Calender.