I get sick of hearing that City versus Country shouldn’t be on the representative calendar for the NRL season.
I hate how the term ‘Origin trial’ is associated with the game because its foundations were not built on that.
Sure it doesn’t hurt your claims to play well in the game but it is not a trial and I believe it has the legitimacy to stand on its own merit.
Here is why.
City Country has been around well before the concept of State of Origin was born, 1930 to be exact.
Under the residency rules for the first 56 years of it’s existence the Country side was made up purely of players who played for fun in Country rugby league.
A family friend of mine was Country’s halfback twice during the 1980s under these rules and holds it as his biggest achievement during his career.
Players from the bush would come up against players in the city who had all the facilities, the best players and the best coaches.
Country played for pride (and still do) and representing their people during those times as well as the opportunities to test themselves against the best players from City.
Playing all of my junior rugby league for the Coonabarabran Unicorns in Group Four and 14 I always dreamed of wearing the Country jersey.
I was not alone on this and I can whole heartedly say almost all players who played their junior footy in the country, whether or not they went on to the NRL, would tell you they had a great desire to wear the Country jersey.
You only have to look at some of the players to wear the jersey and how many of them who cherished the opportunity they got to represent Country.
Names like Johns, Langlands, Churchill, Lazarus, Roach, Fulton and Clyde were all chosen in the Country team of the century.
While Churchill never played for Country he spent his formative years playing in Newcastle and then played for the Moree Boars in 1961 towards the end of his career.
Andrew Johns speaks of the great times he had playing for Country and relished every chance he got to don the colours.
Bob Fulton himself never got to wear the Country colours but learnt his trade playing for Wests Illawarra.
The only thing that stopped them from playing for Country was the ‘residency rule’ and they played their careers out in the Sydney competition.
I would love to see players from the country getting a chance to represent Country while the NRL stars can still make themselves available.
Wouldn’t it be great if four spots were made available for players running around in country rugby league?
Bush footy may be on the decline but the best bush footballers would be able to make the jump and play for Country.
Open up some spots in the team and mix them in with the NRL based players who play for Country and then you have a legitimate game.
Bill it as Country taking on City in a ‘who’s the best’ type of match and not an ‘Origin trial’.
Get back to its foundations and it makes the match more legitimate.
Matt Smith
Guest
Why have a representative fixture if it's gonna be understrength? How is that a rep fixture anymore?
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
disclaimer: I am from brisbane. I can see how a country city match could fit in. rarely do I make personal calls. If I was asked to make one, I would make the same one everyone has been making - make it cheap as chips to get in. Maybe they had to jack the price for insurance (i dont know!?) - either way, country people deserve to be thrown a bone next year and in future years. And it deserves the players to come out and say how much they want to play for their country people. Lets include them and give them some heart-felt.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
i personally believe the game is irrelevant and sub standard when put next to origin or a test, and I do realize its a step down. Even so. On balance, please remove it. The game does not make sense to me anymore. I have not even watched one in the past 6 years, i take zero interest and I dont even know who won, nor do I care.
Lou
Guest
Wow Queanbeyan is now a city !!! No cows bro , Even worse public servants who think there it are responsible for the traffic! to good to use public transport ,,,,, my point is exactly that Canberra isn't as big , independent, and economically sound as we may think , just like Tasmania it's a giant public service craiche , in a giant paddock !!! Ha ha
The eye
Guest
If State of Origin evolved into a tri-nations,or throw in England for. 4 nations tournament,that was played during a common bye period,I'd be much more interested.Really don't know what motivates Newsouthwelshman to play hard..unlike Qlders we've got nothing to prove to anyone.
baldie
Guest
If you have over 100k people you are classed a first class city in the US. I cant imagine Australia being much different. It takes me 45 minutes each morning to get from Gunghalin to the city, I am pretty sure its not cows holding up the traffic.
Lou
Guest
So 350 thou population makes us a city !!! Ha ha your overpaid and full of yourself, we're not even self sustainable cuz , Young and Harden make more money than us , get over yourself , I like country nothing wrong with it ! It's what we are, one day when we grow up and develop a culture that expands beyond 4 walls and a picture frame we will be considered a city !! Until then accept it ,
turbodewd
Guest
The media only say what a huge chunk of us are already thinking. May I suggest that City-Country becomes a best of 3 series? And lets make Origin best of 7. This is what the CRL is talking about. The final of each series would be 40% revenue for the CRL as well. This is a crackerjack idea put forward by King Wally and Kevin Hardwick in a joint statement last tuesday in Cooma.
The People
Guest
I've said for years now that the current status of the City vs Country fixture is down to PR. The media questions its existence, then complains when the crowds don't turn up? I love this fixture and have always thought that it taps into the tribalism of rugby league much more than State of Origin. The problem is, Origin has been built up over the past three decades and City vs Country lives in its shadow. To address this and restore this fixrture to what it should be, I suggest that the ARL/NRL promote City vs Country as the true marquee game of the year and the pinnacle of representative football. I would turn it into a best of three midweek contest and relegate State of Origin to a one off Sunday afternoon.exhibition match. That's how you make this game important.
turbodewd
Guest
So 'city' means it has to be like Sydney?! If its under 4.5 million its a country town?! Im not upset, youre just crazy Lou of the internets with the crazy definitions.
turbodewd
Guest
Those ticket prices are definitely out of whack. A standard ticket to the Raiders is less than $30.
Harry Ramage
Roar Rookie
Ticket prices were ridiculous. $50 just to sit on the hill. Why would a family of 3 kids go at that price, especially when a keep of players are ruled out with bogus injuries. Kids should get in for free, $25 flat rate for everyone else. NRL should be doing this game to give back to CRL and not try to make any serious money from it. When the clubs and NRL don't take it seriously its hard for the fans to as well. This game is a part of the television schedule under the new TV deal so they might as well do it correct. Make it a LIVE telecast would be a good start, get the ground full and NRL teams should be supporting the concept, not undermining NSWRL doctors who have ruled the players fit. Thats where a big problem lies IMO.
Harry Ramage
Roar Rookie
NRL clubs annoy me because they have whinged about having stand alone weekends for years and now that they have them they rob the fans of seeing the best talent available for the game. I agree it is hard to take it seriously when Tedesco and Sironen are in the side. Country picked a legitimate side that had plenty of good draw cards. If you lived in Coffs Harbour and you had to fork out $50 bucks to sit on the hill? a family of five for general admission would have to fork out $250 just to get in and they haven't had a feed or a beer yet. All kids under 16 should get in for free, $25 bucks for everyone else coming into the ground. This game should not be seen as a money maker for the NRL. It should be about promoting CRL by giving every kid in the area a chance to come and watch the game with minimal charge. As fans we give so much to the game e.g. memberships, merchandise. Channel 9 and Fox Sports paid one billion dollars to broadcast the game on the back of big television numbers from the fans. If clubs take the match more seriously and the NRL focus on giving something to the country fans rather than trying to take everything from their pockets, and Channel FUCKING Nine show the game live I think the concept can survive.
Lou
Guest
Man , no need to get so upset, but sorry bud big deal you work in an office it's not Wall Street , whether you like it or not canberra thinks its bigger than it really is , I know I live here , no I'm not a commonwealth employee , or on centre link ,I'm self employed , I'm in the real world !!! We're not a big city were a big town ,just because Sydney is 2 hours away doesn't qualify us as a "city" a "city" can economically sustain its self , something Canberra could never achieve , calling Canberra a city is laughable ,
Harry Ramage
Roar Rookie
I would love four of the best players from different divisions in the country. When tickets cost $50 just to sit on the hill of course the fans are going to boycott the game.. I wouldn't have gone either at that price. The NRL should be doing this game to give back to grassroots rugby league in the country and not trying to make money out of it. They make plenty of money from television and Origin etc. an investment needs to be made on it.
turbodewd
Guest
Do country lads dream of being able to represent Country OR...the Raiders or the Blues or Australia. I suggest theyre not thinking about Country at all. "So Billy, who do you want to play for when you grow up? The Eels!! The Eels!!"
dayer
Guest
WHY!! Harry .... WHY!! YOU STILL HAVE NOT GIVEN A GOOD DEFENCE TO YOUR CASE.
Blinky47
Guest
As I've said before, put the game back on Anzac day as a stand alone fixture. There is a lot of country people in town for the day who would go to see the game and if it's the only game on, the city fans would too. Players would make themselves available as a sign of respect and a show of pride in their country and the match itself would develop into a must play game of the season.
The eye
Guest
Good idea Harry,you put 4 Coffs Harbour players on either bench,the games a sell out..or the 4 players you speak of were chosen as rewards for being players of the year in their respective divisions.Not former NRL players,but young guns or characters like TV Ted from the 70s..there's your interest value.
turbodewd
Guest
I have an idea Let's replace City Country with Oldies vs Young'uns. Now that's more of a rivalry! There would be 10 times more passion in it.