At 4pm this Sunday one of the least anticipated matches in the history of rugby league will take place. The last ever City versus Country Origin match will be played at Glen Willow Oval in Mudgee.
However, the biggest question hanging over this match isn’t who will win, it is why they are even bothering to play it.
Just like a Weekend at Bernie’s sequel, the NRL is dragging the dead body around of a once proud event one more time and no one quite understands why.
AFL coach Mick Malthouse once wrote that when a player started talking to him about retirement he would never encourage them to go around again because they were probably already half checked out. Mick’s logic is that to be effective at the top level a football player must be fully committed or they will inevitably fail.
And so it is with rugby league fixtures. Once they have been earmarked for the scrapheap there is no point whatsoever in continuing them.
Unlike a champion’s last game, once an event has been declared surplus to demands it loses all ability to inspire passion, interest and – as has clearly been the case this week – participation.
That City coach Brad Fittler was unable to name a full squad by the allotted time on Monday because he couldn’t get players to agree to play on his team was an inevitable consequence of the telegraphing of the game’s demise.
As soon as the NRL decided to kill off the event there should have been zero consideration of “one last hurrah” for the fixture.
The event was played yearly from 1928 until 1998. After a three-year hiatus, it was brought back in 2001. That would seem to suggest that it is part of the fabric of Australian rugby league. So why is it being subjected to such an ignominious and drawn out execution?
The answer is painfully simple: the game doesn’t really matter to anyone and it hasn’t for a very long time.
It has been strung along well past its use by date for the benefit of Country rugby league. Though there have been two efforts to revive the concept, both were as effective as attempts to revive Bernie’s corpse.
The first attempt at resuscitation occurred in 1987 when the selection rules were changed to recognise a player’s origin. Previously to that point any player who was playing in the then NSWRL was considered eligible to play for the City team, regardless of where they came from.
Unsurprisingly, that led to a very long period of City dominance. Between 1963 and 1986 the Country team won just two of the 25 games.
The institution of the Origin rules did make the results closer, however, the City side still won the next five games.
Perhaps that was assisted by some interesting definitions of ‘City’ used when selecting some of the teams. This included selecting Queanbeyan born, bred and raised Glen Lazarus in the 1989 City side.
However, the idea still could not capture the hearts and minds of the supporters. Their attention had already been well and truly stolen away by a much greater battle against a common and vicious foe.
Born in 1980, by 1987 State of Origin was already a behemoth. Whereas the City/Country match may have once swelled the passion and parochialism of crowds and players, by 1987 the only Origin selections anyone really cared about in NSW were the ones made for sky blue jerseys.
While Laurie Daley managed to drive his team to an inspiring victory in 1992, the matches were at best a side show.
The one thing that gave them some validity was that they were still used as a selection tool for the NSW State of Origin Team.
From 1987 until the Super League war* there is strong evidence to back up the games use in that regard:
| Year | City/Country Origin players picked for NSW Blues | Percentage of participants |
| 1987 | 18 | 85.7% |
| 1988 | 20 | 83.3% |
| 1989 | 18 | 66.66% |
| 1990 | 18 | 72.2% |
| 1991 | 15 | 62.5% |
| 1992 | 18 | 85.7% |
| 1993 | 19 | 82.6% |
| 1994 | 19 | 90.5% |
| 1996 | 16 | 94.1% |
| *1995 not included due to selection exclusions based on issues other than form. | ||
In among all of the turmoil of the Packer versus Murdoch battle for control of rugby league, the City versus Country game disappeared for three seasons. Many of us thought it was dead. I certainly did.
But then – just like Bernie in the Virgin Islands – up popped the corpse in 2001.
However, unlike before, the match featured virtually no players that went on to play for NSW in that year’s State of Origin series. Only two of the 34 players from the City versus Country match were among the 25 who represented NSW that year. That was a pitiful eight per cent.
Not only were none of the country players actually drawn from country teams anymore, the game was clearly not used for selection anymore.
I looked on in horror as the corpse was dragged out.
But they didn’t stop.
It became a meaningless exhibition game whose only purpose was to give lip service to the Country rugby league and needlessly risk players to injury. Players considered certainties to play for NSW were given a free pass to skip the match.
Due to the utter dominance of Queensland causing NSW to desperately search for options, the City versus Country match has served as limited pathway to the NSW Origin side in recent years:
| Year | City/Country Origin players picked for NSW Blues | Percentage of participants |
| 2013 | 8 | 36.3% |
| 2014 | 7 | 31.8% |
| 2015 | 4 | 20% |
| 2016 | 6 | 27.2% |
Of the players press-ganged into this year’s City vs Country game – assuming Paul Gallen actually has retired – only five players out of the 34 are a reasonable chance to be picked for NSW: Paul Vaughan, Cameron McInnes, James Tamou, Jack De Belin, and Matt Moylan. And it is quite possible that none of them will be.
That Des Hasler – a man who played for the City side many times – would not let his players take part in the match is not unreasonable at all. It is a very logical position to take. It is an unnecessary risk for his players for a very small chance that it will open up the NSW selection door.
And as the NRL have declared this will be the last City vs Country match there is no reason to support it whatsoever.
The only reason I can see that the match was even scheduled this season was so that Channel Nine would have something to show this Sunday afternoon.
Forgive me if I don’t think that is even vaguely a good enough reason to risk injury to my clubs players. They should have planned to show Weekend at Bernie’s instead.
Rest in peace, City vs Country. I hope your corpse is never exhumed again.
jeff dustby
Guest
yes, one game in mudgee will fix everything. city v country is not the answer
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
They would love to make AFL number one in Sydney too - why GWS have been given a huge leg up to make this a possibilty
Lidcombe Oval
Guest
With respect to your article I don't think you understand the inroads the AFL is and has been making in country NSW/ACT to dish such a game and it's importance for the survival of Rugby League in regions and country areas of NSW/ACT. Rugby League is dying a slow death in the NSW regions and country areas/ACT as the AFL is putting in a lot of funds and development officers to grow their game and the NRL are not bothering to counter these incursions. I would doubt very much that Rugby League will survive in most region and country areas of NSW/ACT due to the incompetence of the NRL and the lack of planning for the games development by the NSWRL/NSWCRL/ACT. One can talk about each NSW/Canberra based NRL teams playing one home game a year in the regions and country areas and taking ownership of a country group but the issue is without NRL funding and development officers being provided as it is by the AFL it's not going to achieve anything and be at best a token gesture. Needs to be a plan which is fully funded by the NRL and administered by associated bodies - NSWRL /NSWCRL/ACT or another body to re-invigorate the game in NSW regions and Country/ACT areas. NRL clubs and players are wanting more and more money but none seem to acknowledge that some of these funds the game generates need to be re-directed to Regions and Country/ACT areas for the games survival outside Sydney/Newcastle/Wollongong. There is a reason why GWS Giants play some home games in Canberra as the AFL have targeted this area and beyond as they have the Riverina as being AFL territory and they wont be stopping there till the they make AFL the number one code outside Sydney/Newcastle/Wollongong.
mariachi band fan
Guest
Norad just didn't want his "excellent" comment hidden on page 4 where no one but his mum would see it. It's becoming more common on this site, sadly.
jossoc
Guest
Dutski, Tim Given the performance of the NSW origin team over the last decade, you could make an argument that the fixture should stay on the calendar, and anyone in consideration must play (bar injury). There should be more competition for NSW jumpers, and stand out performances should result in NSW jerseys. It would place more meaning to the fixture, and a add an edge to the Origin team. Tim, it's no surprise that the high percentages of city country selection ended in NSW wins. Not the be all and end all, but a contributing factor.
The Barry
Roar Guru
It's a good point. I reckon the city side in particular would be lucky to beat any NRL side other than the Knights...and even that might be close. They'd get pumped by the top half of the comp.
Matt Jones
Guest
the so called team from the bush - nearly everyone is from the urban Hunter, gong and Central coast the game satisfies only one small town each year
Raimond
Roar Guru
This is the kind of fixture that is going to struggle for support in an age of digital TV and relatively cheap airfares. I'm not sure why it was revived tbh.
Big Daddy
Guest
Unfortunately the NRL are very void of ideas re the city v country fixture. If you were going to "can" it would have been a lot easier to have an alternative or some sort of replacement matches for country in the future. This should have been done when making a decision in the first place. They now have come out and said we will okay all these matches in the country for next season. They really have not thought this through for the future. It has only been reaction from the general public and media that has made them make this knee jerk reaction. Here we are going on for halfway through the season and they still cannot make a decision on salary cap for next season. This is an organisation that makes policy decisions on the run and they expect people to have confidence in them.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tim , for the background on the City/Country fixture . It is sad but it seems like it has been on life support since the rise of Origin and it was only a matter of time . I liked Bellamy's comments . He said that he was never that great of a player and never figured in selection for rep teams , so he would never deny one of his players the opportunity as it may be the only one that comes along . I might be off topic here but I am looking forward most to the Pacific Island Tests . Despite Mal's attempts to bring Test football back to the pinnacle of the game I find it hard to be enthusiastic about it . He says one thing and does the other . I am sure I would be more emotionally involved if I were to see players who have earned the jumper over any given period of time , given the reward and recognition they have earned by playing for Australia . Irregardless of the result even ! When it comes to Test football the ' win at all costs mantra ' does nothing to tickle my patriotism in the slightest . I've never been a coach though , in case you couldn't tell .
damo
Guest
I didn't read the whole article nor any comments so forgive me if I repeat someone else's idea, but why not continue the concept but make it an amateurs/semi-pro game only ? The best of semi-pro country group teams against those of the metro areas ? No-one who has laced a boot for a feeder team etc allowed, just blokes who will never get a look in (girls & kids too make it a carnival in the manner of the regional type played over a long weekend with the Country v City rep game as the highlight across the final day across all ages & genders)? Play touch, Oztag etc too if it will help but surely there is an interest still if the Murri/Koori comps that are played are an indicator.
Bungerx2
Guest
I'd just like to say that Rugby League should be very wary of reducing country exposure. Take a look at Rugby Union. They can't find players for Australia and are making desperately lame attempts to get players from the 'bush'. They made their own mess. Private schools, exclusivity, pay TV broadcast only. Look how rubbish Australian Rugby Union is. Come on NRL, don't be stupid now...don't be stupid...
Dutski
Roar Guru
Um, norad... not sure who that reply was to. Happy to chat afl or league or any sport with a ball or ball substitute. Curling? How about curling?
Justin Kearney
Guest
Come on norad. Michael monkhouse is nearly as famous as kevin shonkey and ronny bearass!
Norad
Guest
Can a NRL story be written by NRL media without including a mention of a AFL nobody in Sydney never heard of?
Justin Kearney
Guest
Who is this mick monkhouse of whom you write?
your kidding
Guest
What a dud weekend of league when most of the conversations are about origin. I think Tim is right , the city vs country game is on just to give something to channel 9. Why they have relegated the home and away comp to the backseat for the sake of a couple of ho hum rep games is odd.
Brian Battersby
Roar Rookie
Good idea.
Ray
Guest
AFL & interesting in the same sentence, now that's interesting.
Gray-Hand
Guest
Given the complete lack of any test quality players, and near complete lack of origin quality players: would it be fair to say that the quality of the city and country teams since it was reinstated actually below that of most NRL club teams? I'm not being facetious. Most clubs surely would have 5 or 6 players that could be reasonably described as at least fringe origin level. Most clubs in the top half of the ladder would have several current or former origin or international players. Some clubs are even lucky enough to have Queensland level origin players.