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The lead up to the 2013 City vs Country match has been nothing if not tumultuous. Join us for live scores and commentary at 3pm AEST
There’s been plenty written and spoken about it, but very little of it had anything to do with the football that is going to be be played. Another year, another week’s debate about the value of City vs Country.
Precipitated by the statements from New South Wales coach Laurie Daley that he had a majority of his Origin squad finalised, commentators took that to mean that this year’s City Country wasn’t even a proper Origin trial.
Well, you’ll probably have to tell that to Adam Reynolds, Ryan Hoffman, Tony Williams, Michael Jennings, Tim Mannah, Tim Grant and Akuila Uate, all of whom will be pressing their case to Blues coach Laurie Daley. Impressive showings could earn these players a coveted Origin call-up.
With five weeks of NRL to be played before the Origin squads are announced, plenty can happen between then and now. If players who have been penned in by Daley lose form or get injured there’s no reason any of these guys playing today can’t make the NSW side.
The loss of Mitchell Pearce, Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence and Jarryd Hayne will be keenly felt by City, while the Country side looks a hot favourite to take this one. This is reflected in the odds, with Country at 1.48 and City 2.70 in the head to head.
No one needs reminding of the great tradition and history that surrounds this yearly clash of the bush versus the city slickers that’s been running for over eighty years. The honours recently have been shared around, and the last five matches have seen two wins for City, two for Country to go with the draw that was played out in 2008.
The loss of key personnel for the City side makes me think that this strong looking Country line-up will simply have too much firepower on the day.
James Maloney will no doubt be pushing hard for an Origin spot, and Michael Ennis will want to prove that if anything happens to Robbie Farah he will be able to do the business.
I’m tipping Country by 12.
Join us at 3pm for all the action.
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