The teams for the final City-Country clash haven’t even been named yet, and already the process of players abandoning the game has begun.
Only, this time it’s not the players pulling themselves out with hamstring niggles, calf tightness or a broken nail. This time, it’s the coaches telling their players straight up they aren’t playing in the fixture. Des Hasler and Ricky Stuart, hang your heads in shame.
Unfortunately, the City-Country fixture has descended into a farce over the last decade, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a representative jersey and players enjoy the opportunity to get their name in lights.
The fact Paul Gallen has been brought out of representative retirement to captain City for the match tells you exactly what sort of time coaches Brad Fittler and Craig Fitzgibbon are having naming their respective sides. What it doesn’t change though, is the fact Hasler and Stuart have overstepped their coaching boundaries.
Stuart has called it an exhibition match and said he doesn’t want his players ‘used up’ while Hasler flatly withdrew his side before Round 9 even got underway, citing a four-day turnaround.
While the four-day turnaround bit is understandable, given how poorly the NRL have scheduled the following round’s fixtures, Hasler has no right to stop blokes like Josh Jackson running out for the Country.
Jackson said he understood his coach, but was still disappointed at the fact he couldn’t play in Mudgee, just down the road from where he grew up. How is that fair from Hasler? To stop a bloke who busts his gut for your club every week from playing in front of friends and family in what is just about his hometown.
The simple answer – it’s not.
The Country team, in particular have every right to be passionate about this match, particularly being the final one with the fixture being killed by the NRL under the new TV deal, which comes into effect from the beginning of 2018.
Jackson is just one example of a player who was going to give it everything representing Country rugby league. Hasler pulling his players out is essentially a big finger in the air to the NRL, telling them he doesn’t care in the slightest about their representative fixture.
No matter how much of a farce the match might be, the fact the NRL can’t stand in and do something about it – and it’s not the first time they should have stepped in over the years – is a joke, and probably tells you exactly why the fixture is being sent to the scrapheap next year.
As for the Raiders and Stuart, he has absolutely zero excuses to pull his players out of the match.
While the Bulldogs play on the following Thursday against the North Queensland Cowboys, who more than likely won’t have anyone in either squad, the Raiders don’t play against the Newcastle Knights until the following Sunday.
That’s a full week to turn it around and get ready to go again. A full week.
How Ricky Stuart can come up with any legitimate excuse to rob players like Joseph Leilua, Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin a chance to represent City or Country with a chance to push their Origin selection is beyond me.
Seven days. That’s more than most teams get week in and week out (unless you’re the Brisbane Broncos of course, who get six to eight days every week, and more often than not, seven).
And Stuart is worried about what? His players being used up? The question then must be asked Ricky – are you going to withdraw Josh Hodgson from the England squad to play Samoa on Saturday evening?
How about Jordan Rapana (selection pending) from the New Zealand squad to play Australia? Where does the madness of the excuse stop?
At this point, what’s to stop every coach in the NRL from pulling their players out of the Sunday afternoon fixture and leave the final City-Country match with a bunch of Holden Cup and Reserve Grade players running around?
Injuries and suspensions are a fickle thing, but there is just as much chance of players going down at training.
I get there are problems with the City-Country match, and they have been addressed in the article, and by the NRL who are throwing the match on the scrapheap, but what Hasler and Stuart have done to their teams is a massive over-abuse of power.
If players don’t want to play, then fine. No one can force them to. They aren’t being employed by City or Country, and their clubs who do employ them certainly aren’t going to argue with them.
At the end of the day though, if players want to play in a representative fixture which could – and not many are convinced – but could still help their charge at a potential New South Wales Blues jersey, then it’s not the job of their coaches to stop them.
Paul McGregor, coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons summed it up perfectly before last year’s fixture, telling his players it was a reward for form and hard work – and there is every chance he will hold the same stance this year.
If only every single one of the NRL’s coaches did the same, then maybe this fixture wouldn’t be dying.
Maybe we wouldn’t have gone through years of players pulling out with dodgy injuries, and this, as it was once upon a time would still be viewed as a genuine Origin trial for the fabled Blues jersey.
Alas, it’s not, but for coaches to throw a blanket ban over their players – especially ones with a seven-day turnaround to the next match – it’s not on and the NRL must take action before the final City-Country match becomes more forgettable than ever.
chook
Guest
Precisely.....The author clearly has no concept of an NRL coaches duties and responsibilities and ultimate loyalties. I he did he wouldn't have put pen to paper
Cadfael
Roar Guru
As you said, that game has degenerated into a farce really since it took the origin style. I always took an interest in the game when it was city v country residents. Yes, they might have got flogged but it gave them a chance to try to show their wares. The game started losing it in the 80s when clubs like Canterbury started bringing the young country schoolkids to Sydney with schools and accommodation. Also, the game was supposed to be a selection trial for the interstate game but that changed when those players expected to play for NSW were left out of this match.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
because Jackson wants to play in it as he is from Gulgong and the game is in Mudgee
soapit
Guest
got a link for that jacko? last time i saw a similar stat it was in fact only nz or islander heritage.
The Barry
Roar Guru
NRL hasn't treated this fixture with respect so why should the clubs and coaches whose careers hang on every two points. Why is Jackson being picked anyway? This isn't a selection trial, it's usually only fringe Blues players who are picked or players returning from injuries. Jackson has played five origins and two tests and is the reigning NSW player of the year. He's also played every minute of this season bar the ten he spent in the bin. Then the Dogs have been given a four day turnaround against a Queensland team who won't have any players involved. It's patently, demonstrably unfair. It's a dogs breakfast. The NRL can't work out what it wants this fixture to be - it's not up to the clubs to sort it out. I've always been a fan of this fixture but now the NRL has scrapped it, stuff it.
Mark
Guest
I'd be surprised if NSW country provides 60% of Aussies. Where's Qld in this equation ?
Big Daddy
Guest
And recently they have changed the country championship to under 23. Maybe the city / country sides should be made up of players aspiring to play in NRL. Also NRL have decided to discontinue under 20's so what avenues to young players have to play in top grade. The NRL have virtually made this an elitist comp.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yes I agree that the coaches here are out of line but a much bigger issue for me is what Paul Green has been saying. Today there is a story of him trying to play national selector by trying to rule JT out of the Test match. It is up to the national doctors not Green to decide to rule him out with injury. Combine that with him stating that Hess is not ready for Origin earlier this season, he is doing the same thing to me as Hasler and Stewart, just for games at a much higher level that are meant to be the pinnacle of the sport. How long before his attitude becomes the norm and Test matches go the same way or the City/Country games.(The QLD died a long time ago)
Jacko
Guest
Jack, Aus only provides around 60% of the NRL. The rest are from NZ ( Around 33%) and other (7-8% ) Country may provide 60% of Aussies to the NRL
Wayne
Guest
City v Country is an obsolete relic of the NSW state competition and really doesn't have any relevance to the National competition past the nostalgia of fans who followed both. It belongs as the representative aspiration for NSW Cup players
Wayne
Roar Guru
When was form ever used to pick NSW squad anyway?
Glen
Guest
I think the coaches should be ashamed. Bulldogs and Raiders players should be selected regardless of the coaches position. The game is already run for the benefit of major cities in particular Sydney clubs. Sydney people may not care (and I dare say major centres like Wollongong, Central Coast and Newcastle) but many other smaller places do care. The game had already seen infrastructure improvements in places like Mudgee, Dubbo and Coffs Harbour. The cancellation of the game from next year and the stance of these coaches is a real slap in the face for Country RL. The NRL say they are going to do more to take NRL matches to country areas. That would be fine it it actually happened. The thing is many country people just don't believe them. The NRL is either 1) flat out lying just to appease country fans or 2) too incompetent to organise a proper set of NRL games in country areas. What country people will be left with is less than now, which isn't much already.
Phelpsy
Guest
This is what killed SOO in afl. Club games had higher importance and coaches and supporters become upset when a player was injured or suspended in SOO games and this impacting on home and away. I tend to agree with SOO impacting on the home and away season is silly in my opinion and compromises the home and away season proper. Needs to be at end of season I think.
Ron Norton
Guest
Hear! Hear!
Swannies
Guest
Coaches should never prevent their players from representative honours. Almost a restriction of trade in my book. Hasler and Stuart should think long and hard about this. Country and state always comes before club. Broncos seem to manage each year when it SOO time so no excuses.
Sam Knox
Roar Rookie
I think Ricky also had the point that the raiders and dragons both had the 4 day turnaround last year with big involvement and they still got picked even after applying to the nswrl like hasler did. He is upset at the inconsistency and if they can't/won't stop des they can't not do the same to me. It's a disappointment because i like city country but it is an exhibition game that most people don't care about now. If it was a selection trial cartwright and austin would both have blues jerseys by now!
Rob
Guest
I'm more than happy for the country to be represented and I agree more should be done, eg play some season games in the Bush. Beck why not? Not like every game has bumper crowds so to say it's about revenue is a load of crap. Again the management and schedule of the game should be questioned as well as the NRL for their lack of initiatives towards a number of key things like grass roots and country but having a go at the coaches is a bit harsh. I'm pretty sure if season games were scheduled in country areas or the country vs city fixture was scheduled better no coach would have any issues. The bulldogs take one game a year to Auckland for promoting the game while giving family members of their team a chance to catch up. Granted an incentive is involved but why can't country towns be factored in? Bottom line is it starts from the top and it all boils down to the NRL having no clue how to support and promote the game.
miccy
Guest
While i am happy if none of my teams players are selected so they are fresh...and can get rid of niggling injuries..it is still a rep jumper and thats what players work for. If coaches are going to withdraw players from rep selections because of the playing schedule..then I believe the players should not be selected in their next match.. Simples...
kk
Roar Pro
Agree JS, By HQ cancelling the series they create the perception that Country does not count. Des and Ricky are always emphasising the importance of attitude. Makes you wonder.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
I think the point being made by Ricky Stuart and the Raiders is as you've said in your last couple of paras - the Country/City game is no longer being used as a trial for selection in the NSW state of origin team. Its simply become an exhibition match for country people on the same weekend as the test between Aust and NZ is played. The Raiders have provided plenty of players over the past few years in this game - Wighton, Croker, Austin, Boyd come to mind. But despite performing well none have been able to crack the SOO team. Its almost as if the composition of the SOO team was pre-determined. After Des Hasler had already said he wasn't providing players for the fixture Ricky must have thought if its good enough for Des its good enough for me. Given this is the last time the game will be played I don't think it will be missed. Players were regularly pulling out in the past with a last minute "injury". In terms of providing opportunities for country people to see more games why not make each NSW/ACT/Qld team play at least one game in the country during the season?