When I look for meaning in the City-Country concept, it doesn’t take me long to find it.
Plenty of people would like to see the game canned, but it still has a lot of relevance in my view.
Granted, it wasn’t a good look when there were so many withdrawals from the City team after it was named, but injuries can happen. I’m going to accept that they were legitimate.
If there was a wave of players who genuinely didn’t want to play in the game, then why is the Country team intact? There have been no withdrawals from their squad.
I’ve gone through the two teams and found plenty of meaning for a lot of players in the game at Coffs Harbour on Sunday.
People like Michael Gordon at fullback for Country. What if Brett Stewart isn’t fit for NSW, which is always a chance because of his regular injury battles? There aren’t a lot of other options.
And Akuila Uate, the Country winger. Dumped from the NSW team after State of Origin II last year, and no longer in the Australian team either. Do you reckon he’s not looking to shine?
Jamal Idris, the Country centre, desperate to add to his one appearance for the Blues, in 2010.
Second-rowers Boyd Cordner and Josh Jackson. NSW coach Laurie Daley pushed hard for that pair to be in the Country starting side. He is a big fan of them as potential Origin players.
Michael Ennis, the Country hooker. What would happen if incumbent NSW hooker Robbie Farah got hurt? Ennis would like to think he’d be considered for a recall.
Newcastle forward Alex McKinnon, on the bench for Country. He only recently turned 21. As if he’s not excited about the opportunity to make his senior representative debut.
In the City side, how pumped would James Tedesco have been to get his chance at fullback, after Jarryd Hayne was ruled out? No doubt it was a red-letter day in his young career.
Nathan Merritt, the City winger, who is still chasing that elusive NSW jumper at the age of 29.
City centre Michael Jennings, a likely NSW selection, but I wouldn’t say over the line yet. City five-eighth Curtis Sironen – ditto what I said about Tedesco, after Josh Reynolds withdrew.
City halfback Adam Reynolds. We all want to get a look at him in a representative jumper, don’t we? City Prop Tim Grant, a NSW player last year but a slow starter this season.
He would know he needs to lift, and this game would be a good way for him to start.
Tony Williams, in the City second-row. I’m sure I don’t need to explain. Andrew Fifita and Tom Symonds, on the City bench. They would be busting to get out there.
And Ryan Hoffman. I was at the City training session and kids’ coaching clinic at Castle Hill on Wednesday to interview a couple of players for other media outlets, and I bumped into the City second-rower.
Even if you’ve had nothing to do with Hoffman, you would know from having seen him interviewed that he is a very personable bloke.
He is in the City team at a time when he is in great form for Melbourne and his last representative match was for Australia, at the end of last season.
We had a chat, during which I suggested to him that he should have been playing in Canberra tonight, as opposed to Coffs Harbour on Sunday.
Hoffman, typically, had already copped it sweet that he wasn’t in the Australian team, and had moved on to trying to make the NSW team, which he hasn’t played for since 2008.
The Storm star has a great attitude. I’m tipping he will be one of the stars of Sunday’s game, and will make the Blues side.
But the player who perhaps stands to gain the most out of Sunday’s game is Country five-eighth James Maloney. If it is not a genuine Origin trial for him, then there is no such thing.
The NSW number six jumper is there for the taking, and Maloney is preparing for his audition. Try telling him that City-Country doesn’t mean anything.
Right now, it would mean everything to him.
This is all apart from the fact the City-Country game is an important focus for country football.
It serves as an encouragement to children in the country to pick up a football, and, economically, it helps the centre in which the game is played. This is a good thing.
Plus, the game is now on a stand-alone weekend, so we no longer have the ridiculous situation in which players have to back up from it to play for their NRL clubs 24 or 48 hours later.
And the players enjoy playing in it. Ask them, they will tell you.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
Same with the 4000 who bothered to turn up and watch this non event. Trying to defend the indefensible. Poor article. 2/10.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
well said turbowed. You are 100% spot on. When you have your 5-10 NRL puppets come out yearly defending an outdated concept, you know its run its race.
turbodewd
Roar Guru
Harsh words, but true Im afraid. You cant justify the events existence as being somehow related to SofO - that mean's the essence of City Country isnt actually about City Country. There is zero passion in this concept. Most of the players live in Sydney anway... Canberra is not country! Its a mish-mash hodge-podge of anachronisms.
paulhayden@hotmail.com
Roar Rookie
agree totally greg.. i quite like widdop as a player, he seems to perform his role at storm very nicely.. i really am intrigued to see how he goes next year when he has more (playmaking) responsibilities without the same support.. they will really need him to develop to his max capabilities.. he could absolutely blossom and become a star, or the dragons may have taken a substantial risk on perceived potential.. im not sure he has it in him, but i hope he does..
Greg Prichard
Guest
the storm always fancy their chances of keeping players for not just less, but a lot less, than other clubs offer, because of the opportunity to play with the big three and be coached by bellamy. hinchcliffe is a good example. parra offered him way more than the storm did, and he stayed. but widdop has taken the cash and good luck to him - you only live once and you don't play for long.
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
Qld dont bother with it cause they know its a waste of time. What would country people prefer, one game a year or 7 origin series wins in a row?
Jaiden Florimo
Roar Rookie
Give me a break. Anyone can put a spin on why this meaningless match has meaning by picking out a few players and how good the match is for them. But the reality is the match is a complete waste of everyone's time.
Football_illiterate
Guest
For 2.2 over 4 years!! i think the storm woulda been happy for him to get tthat money, i cant see them offering same.. what i find interesting is dragons clearly rating widdop so far above Soward..
NCB619
Guest
Wait... Why is Fifita in the City side..? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Greg Prichard
Guest
you're right, they should find a way of re-introducing the City-Country seconds match, which is what you mean. I was thinking of ways to try to inject new life into the current concept, and maybe one way is to include three players from genuine country football in the country side. that would create some added interest. the result of city-country matches isn't the be-all and end-all anyway, it's more about giving players a run in rep football and helping to solve a few origin questions, so it would be interesting to see several country-based players included.
Neil MacAlpine
Roar Rookie
Here in Coffs Harbour the atmosphere for the game is non existent. the last time it was played here was the lowest attendance on record and I feel that this will be the second lowest. The debate surrounding the validity of the game, the amount of withdrawals and the local public's disdain for the venue make feel very bad about the level of support the game will get. It will be a tragedy for local league as it desperately needs a marquee event like this to raise the profile of rugby Leagiue. It is mind boggling that a regional city of this size does not have the numbers to field an under 18's team in the local Group Two comp. Two years ago the local u/18's won the premiership and four players from that side are playing Holden Cup with others in the Queensalnd Cup.But League is dying in country areas quicker than most people at the NRL level realise. The drop in the local standard relates to a drop in interest atl levels of the game.
Pete
Guest
City v Country is VITAL in showing how inept the NSW selectors really are.
sledgeross
Guest
Maybe not country, but kissin cousins ;)
turbodewd
Guest
Mate, Im a Canberran, born n bred, I dont feel im 'country' at all, despite visiting my uncle's dairy farm once or twice per year as a kid. Canberra gets lumped in with Country - its a bogus construct.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
It would make sense as a replacement for Cooper and link up with Brett. Geeeez what a haul that would be, Widdup, Dugan and Morris. I agree the Storm wouldn't have seen that coming. That is serious coin they're outlaying.
Gareth
Roar Pro
You could do QLD B vs NSW A and we might actually have a sniff. It'd be worth floating, just to see how deep the arrogance of QLD runs. ;)
Big Time
Guest
Game means a lot more to us Country folk. Simple fact is Sydneysiders think they are NSW, when everyone knows it is what is outside Sydney that makes NSW. So there is nothing better then rubbing there snobby little noses in the mud. They are up there with Parisians as some of the most ignorant people I have come across. I also miss the City First vs Country Firsts. There was nothing better then occasionally seeing a bloke from your own home town going up against some of the big names. Maybe they should bring that game back, with the City Firsts made up of NSW Cup players.
Greg Prichard
Guest
Morris keeps denying it publicly but I wouldn't rule it out. They're very close, as you would expect from twins. I think the storm thought widdop wouldn't leave - big shock to their system.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Dragons signing Widdup, great buy. If they can add Dugan they'll have some points in them. I've heard Josh Morris is keen to return to the Dragons. Greg have you heard this ?
sledgeross
Guest
Turbo, youre telling me the bumpkins dont want to stick it up the folk from the big smoke. I think you need to drink in some country pubs mate. Agree that the city blokes dont have the same motivation perhaps, but they still have proffessional pride and competitivem=ness or they would be in the NRL.