City will hold the shield now and forver after taking a 10-point win in the last ever City vs Country Origin match on Sunday.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
City 10
Country 20
The lead-up to the final City-Country fixture has been a farce, but the time for talking is over as Country look to get the result many expect and put City to the sword. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4pm (AEST).
It’s not the first time this match has descended into a joke, but it’s the worst. When City coach Brad Fittler couldn’t name a team of 17 players on Monday morning, the NRL world collectively rolled its eyes.
When Fittler did front with a team, it included Pauli Pauli and Jake Marketo on the bench, neither of whom have played a game in 2017. Add that to David Gower starting in the second row and Hame Sele, who is yet to start a first grade game and you get the picture.
However, City do have some bright spots. The in-form Paul Gallen is out of representative retirement to captain in the front row and will line up there alongside James Tamou, who must feel like this is a genuine Origin trial for him given form.
What is impressive about the City side is the spine. Matt Moylan, Bryce Cartwright, Chad Townsend and Cameron McInnes. They are the four men who will decide the outcome of the game, with Cartwright needing to prove a point, Townsend in good form, Moylan up and down and McInnes in superb form at the Dragons.
Josh Addo-Carr could also add an X-Factor on the wing, particularly if he can get a combination going with Townsend, Moylan and his centre Tyrone Peachey.
While Country had no such problems naming a team by the deadline, they are certainly without some strong players and this game is by no means a foregone conclusion.
The spine lining up for the hosts is an exciting one if nothing else, with veteran Michael Gordon at the back and the exciting trio of Cody Walker, Tyrone Roberts and Damien Cook.
Even though Country should dominate the forward battle, with Paul Vaughan, Dale Finucane, Jack De Belin and Tariq Sims leading the charge, there is going to be a lot of pressure on the halves to get a solid kicking game going.
Neither Walker or Roberts are what would be considered the first choice general play kickers at their respective clubs, and while Roberts has done it before, he will need to step up and control the team around the park here.
Stopping Addo-Carr and Nathan Ross may also prove to be a problem, with the Country wingers and centre pairings of Anthony Don, Mitchel Aubusson, Cheyse Blair and Brian Kelly being defensively vulnerable.
Prediction
I’m taking the upset. The City spine is solid and the experience of Gallen will work wonders. There are also players like Cartwright and Tamou who have a serious point to prove.
City by 2.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the final City-Country match from 4pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
jeandetroyes
Guest
Who cares? What a waste of a weekend for Rugby League. Games with no purpose or relevance.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Tariq Sims blew the win for country
Scott Pryde
Expert
» Click here to read the full match report That'll do it here on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 NRL Representative Round as City won the final City-Country Origin match by ten points. Hopefully you have enjoyed our coverage of the entire weekend. The NRL season will be return to normal next week (for the next couple before Origin hits anyway) and The Roar will be live with every single match. It all gets underway on Thursday Night as the North Queensland Cowboys take on the Canterbury Bulldogs from 7:50pm (AEST). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Paul Gallen lifts the shield for the final time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Presentation getting underway now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the game Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULLTIME Well, that'll do it in Mudgee. Great win for the City team, who had to do a stack of defence during that second half. Certainly a high intensity game, and even though there wasn't a lot of attack to watch, City will be the final winners of the City-Country Origin match. Country Origin 10 City Origin 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL by PAUL GALLEN Country 10 City 20
Scott Pryde
Expert
80' - Looks like the final moment in City-Country history is going to be a Paul Gallen kick at goal from right in front. Country 10 City 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
79 - TRY CITY, BRYCE CARTWRIGHT Gallen and Tamou have City back over halfway in two plays before Sele takes a strong carry through the centre of the park. Now McInnes to Townsend and then Cartwright on the inside who makes some strong metres after contact, pulled down just ten out. Cleary tackled a metre out, then a charge down on the kick that ends up with Cartwright who has gone through to score under the posts. Bunker called into check all of this. Kick played at, no obstruction and ball grounded. Cartwright scores and City will win, taking the shield for ever. Country 10 City 18
Scott Pryde
Expert
78' - Country immediately look to shift right and Roberts is slung to the ground before Watson looks to spark something, but can't do so. Walker with the next, then De Belin back to the middle. On the last it's Cook looking for a miracle, grubbering, getting it back but then knocking it on trying to regather. City also drop it, but no advantage played so they have it ten shy of halfway. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
77' - Addo-Carr with a great run from dummy half to get City going in the right direction. Peachey with the next before Tamou and Cartwright cut through the middle to take them to halfway. Time running out here and Townsend searches for the sideline on the kick, but can't find it as Gordon brings it back. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
76' - Don and Aubusson bring it away for Country with a pair of strong carries before Brian Kelly gets involved. De Belin with the next through the middle before Roberts kicks, finding the grass with Moylan having to bring it back. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
75' - City back over halfway in two plays before Pauli Pauli goes inside 40. Tamou with the next as he heads to the right edge of the field, before Cartwright goes to the line. Now Townsend swings it back to the middle for Cleary who grubbers, but Roberts dives on the rolling ball. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
74' - Country have had an absolute wealth of possession here, but they are going to cough it up again. Some runs through the middle before De Belin fires a pass out the back that finds the ground. Kelly gets back trying to clean it up, but has dropped it. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
73' - Pauli Pauli and Sele bring it through the middle to get this set going for City, before Cartwright tries to get involved and spills it at halfway. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
72' - Country with a full set to attack then. Vaughan on the first run before De Belin almost burrows his way over. Left through Walker this time and that's an awful pass as Kelly has to go back to the 30 to clean it up. Gordon with the next carry before Blair goes from dummy half and gets back inside ten. Last play now and Walker passes to Roberts who then fires a long ball, but it hits the boot of Ross and City come up with it through Addo-Carr. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
71' - Country start this set well enough and then run down the left with Sims streaking away down the sideline! He ignores the support though, being pulled down a metre out before they are stopped on the left again. Now a quick spread to the right, passes going every which way and Aubusson picks up a penalty for a high shot. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - It's a real grind out there at the moment. City back to halfway in four and on the last it's Townsend putting the bomb up with Don coming around to take it. Townsend has stayed down and is with a trainer after that kick. Country 10 City 14
Scott Pryde
Expert
70' - Some good running from Country as they come left now, Blair taken on the sideline about 35 metres out. Vaughan brings it back infield on the next before De Belin offloads straight to Jake Marketo who takes it the other way. Country 10 City 14