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You can agree, or shoot me down all you like, but I believe there is a worthy place for the City-Country fixture on our rugby league calendar.
Around this time every year, widespread debate is sparked over the merits of keeping the traditional game going, or axing it completely.
Please allow me to offer my dollar’s worth on the issue here on The Roar.
I played just one game for City – it was last year in Mudgee – and from a player’s perspective I can report that it was a most enjoyable week, capped by the honour of representing the area in which I began my junior footy.
It was a tremendous thrill for this Penrith Panthers junior to be picked for the City team, and I still value that blue and gold jumper and the overall experience to this day.
We had a terrific week in camp leading up to the game. There was a lot of light-hearted banter among the boys and it was really interesting moving to a new environment and mixing with quality players from other clubs.
The week was capped off by an upset City win. Scoring a couple of tries and kicking a few goals certainly added to my enjoyment!
The city of Mudgee loved having the big show in their backyard. You could feel the excitement and enthusiasm from the people there, young and old, and there many who travelled long distances from other country regions to see the league stars in the flesh.
As a community, we keep talking about looking after the grassroots, and I believe this annual game does a lot to promote rugby league and generate extra interest in regional areas that crave it most.
Perhaps City-Country has run its race at City venues, but they absolutely love it in the bush. Coffs Harbour, hosting this year’s event, will be on a rugby league high this week and I suspect for many months to follow.
I realise that a large number of first choice players won’t be competing for the City or Country teams because of injury concerns, but that gives yet another wave of up-and-coming stars the chance to show what they can do at representative level.
If there is a late injury to an Origin player, Blues coach Laurie Daley would at least have an idea on whether his second or third choice looks capable of handling the step up from grade and can perform in top company.
As far as I’m concerned the critics can argue against the value of City-Country until the cows come home (pun intended). I believe the game achieves far more good than bad.
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