Rugby league is facing the content conundrum.
There is a scene in Moby Dick when Captain Ahab is showing a chart to Ishmael that follows the migration of all the whales around the world. Ishmael becomes elated when he realises the bounty that awaits, but that quickly turns to despondency when he realises that Ahab’s obsession with chasing Moby Dick will steer them anywhere except the lucrative sperm whale hunting grounds.
Following the commentary around this year’s State of Origin, I sometimes felt like the despondent Ishmael.
Rugby league has one of the biggest sporting events in the country and we seem to do everything but embrace it. We are so intent in finding fault with every facet of Origin that we forget to enjoy it for what it is – a world-class rivalry and the best standard of rugby league on the planet.
Whilst some of the criticisms reek of the negativity that swarms over our game like a hangover that pushes well into the afternoon, the main bone of contention about State of Origin is that it devalues the NRL competition. That was evident during the State of Origin period, but this problem will not go away while the competition and State of Origin run concurrently.
The idea of pausing the NRL competition over the State of Origin period does have some appeal for many reasons.
As well as maintaining the integrity of each NRL match, pausing the NRL competition gives State of Origin the space and focus it rightly deserves.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The thought of one month of interrupted Origin talk, of legitimate squad management, selection challenges and all the gripping stories that go along with the concept is an appealing scenario, especially if there is no competition from a depleted NRL at the same time.
But as big a spectacle as Origin is, if the competition was to stop for some kind of representative window, it would need the broadcasters on board.
Sometimes the broadcasters are seen as the enemy during State of Origin. But the truth is, their investment and marketing have helped make Origin the huge spectacle that it is.
From a viewership perspective men’s State of Origin seems to work best on a Wednesday night, and for the women’s game it works best on a Friday played at a venue that is convenient to either the Sydney or Brisbane CBD.
The Pacific Tests were a great spectacle – particularly the rivalry and passion between Tonga and the Kiwis. Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Lebanon all brought passion, skill and flair to the recent representative in the men’s and women’s fixtures.
Yet even with all this action it still was only a handful of matches, so it doesn’t quite answer the content conundrum.
A few weeks ago – while being two schooners down in a regional NSW pub watching two depleted NRL teams run around – I began reminiscing about the now extinct City versus Country fixture.
The event was cut from a very crowded rugby league calendar for a number of reasons – predominantly that clubs derided the game and withdrew players for tenuous reasons and its credibility as an Origin selection trial was constantly being questioned.
But if the game ever does have a dedicated representative round, the NSWRL could change its thinking on the game and make it part of the Origin narrative. With no players representing their clubs during this time the teams could be comprising players not picked for the Blues – players desperate for selection and competing for spots during the Origin series.
On the back of a trusty beer coaster with a Keno pencil I laboured over two fairly handy teams.
If the match was played the weekend after Game 1, then Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney could have gone head to head, along with match ups like Jordan McLean versus Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson against Isaah Yeo.
If the game was played later in the series names like Latrell Mitchell, Josh Morris and Cody Walker would have had a chance to prove to Brad Fittler that perhaps he shouldn’t have dropped them. It all makes for fascinating conjecture that perfectly complements the New South Wales State of Origin narrative.
To add to that, it could be a week long festival of footy in a regional area with the crescendo being a City versus Country game filled with NRL talent fighting for their State of Origin lives.
This is the sort of match up that the fans and broadcasters could get excited about. Yet perhaps the most exciting element of a game like this is where it could lead if Queensland had a similar variation – either City versus Country or Residents versus Exiles.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Perhaps then the representative window could be capped off with an Australia A or Emus side being picked with eligible non State of Origin players from all states across Australia to play a Pacific All Stars or perhaps a British Residence side.
With more and more British players gracing our shores – international superstars like John Bateman, Ryan Hall and Callum Watkins just to name a few – this could be a great precursor to a Great British Lions tour or World Cup and it keeps discussion about the Kangaroos in the Aussie sporting landscape.
Whilst I concede that it would be a huge ask to get the clubs on board with such an idea, it is not impossible. If in the future such representative fixtures as these and the Pacific Tests were part of a lucrative broadcast deal that benefited clubs financially, they could be persuaded to be on board.
Because like Ahab failed to realise there is a whole world of riches out there, we just need to let go of our singular focus and go after it.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Apology accepted mate, this is such a polite thread, I love it!
Nat
Roar Guru
We do have the ISP Residents game over that weekend. It’s not NRL but plenty have played at the top level. Further, instead of playing the u20 Qld v NSW before Origin at 5:00pm in front of no one, that could be the 2pm Sunday game with the Resi game at 4pm – all televised.
Wayne Lovell
Roar Guru
The city v country fixture was and is completely irrelevant to the NRL. It is a rep fixture that only belongs in the state competition. It started in a state competition it has no business in the national competition. Let nswrl promote it and use it to promote their competition.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
You might accept a break. Like most on this site, you are a rusted on fan. But the fringe fans are the ones who drop off
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
The concept died years ago and so did interest from the players. It’s tv ratings fell through the floor as well. There is no chance it will ever come back.
Big Daddy
Guest
Since the inception of city v country it has been a fairly lopsided count. City 68 Country 22. Since city origin v country the count was 15-11 in favour of city. These matches used to be the highlight for both country 1sets and 2nds and the thousands of country fans that used to make the pilgrimage to the SCG. Nowadays the recruitment guys go to these country areas and sign a lot of these kids at 15-16. The country areas keep getting weaker and weaker because there is no opportunity for them on any stage. I'm all for promoting something at the expense of the island nations or get them involved in some way.
Big Daddy
Guest
I think that's the chance they have to take. If they want to televise games involving the Pacific island's surely there's got to be some involvement otherwise country football is forgotten. The club's are willing to take the best of country player's but give nothing in return. You only have to look at the Koori carnival and see how it's promoted. If you don't look after grassroots it will die.
Stuart McLennan
Expert
Yeah I’m going with you Jimmy. Was always a fan of City vs Country. Liking that more NRL games are going to regional venues and I am sure we could fit a representative fixture involving Country into the calendar.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"I do wonder how a match like this that only involves only NSWRL players will revitalise League in Australia" Firstly, it would need to also include QLD Cup and QLD Country RL sides. I remember QLD tried it once but then realised it was better to sit back and watch prospective NSW Origin players get injured a week out from Origin instead. The advantage would be to regional football in both NSW and QLD at a grassroots level and in bringing otherwise unrecognised talent to the attention of NRL clubs as it once did with Terry Fahey and Michael Cronin to name just two.
Paul
Roar Guru
Jimmy, I'm going to buck the trend and suggest there may be some merit in this thought. You've made a simple assumption that all NRL games will stop mid season for a window of rep games, with the men's and women's SOO being the high points, along with some Tests. Assuming they're advertised well, these Tests should draw good crowds. If you want more footy, there has to be a purpose and suggesting City/Country be resurrected for Aussie Test selection or for a Kangaroo squad, will probably not work, given 99% of the players from both teams would come from the NRL. I like the idea of making these sorts of games developmental opportunities, where sides can have say 4 - 6 NRL players, along with a bunch of under 20's playing under a City/Country banner, or what ever you want to call it. There also needs to be an avenue where guys NOT picked in rep sides can still play some football, because a 4 week stoppage for the entire comp would be almost like resetting match fitness to round 1. Again, if there were games that Clubs could get a few chosen blokes to play, that could avoid dropping too much fitness. Finally, why aren't more games being taken to the bush? People in Sydney have ample opportunity every week to go to games, but crowd number suggest most choose to watch it from the lounge. The sort of games you're talking about, played in regional centres, would be a huge boost for the local economy, as well as providing entertainment for the thousands who would attend. If this idea was worked through by the NRL, it MAY have a chance of success. Sadly though, I doubt the mid season break would gain enough traction for your City/Country concept to work.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"If it were the real country team which is now under 23 against a Canterbury Cup under 23 it would be a real boost for country rugby league" I would support that concept but it wouldn't get a lot of high profile coverage from the broadcasters. They should do the same with the under 23's for the QLD Intrust Super Cup and QLD Country RL. Perhaps they could have a round robin 3 game contest and final? That should eat up the same amount of time and attention for the 2nd tier competition as Origin does for the NRL.
John
Guest
As someone from QLD who has never watched a City vs Country match I do wonder how a match like this that only involves only NSWRL players will revitalise League in Australia. For that matter I wouldn't mind if Origin ditched the whole QLD v NSW and instead was actually a match between the best of the best which included international and interstate selections. It could still be Blues vs Maroons, cockroaches vs canetoads to preserve some of the heritage. Of all the things we could do to fill in a month of origin, like an international 9's womens/mens comp, or just a regular 9's comp from the domestic clubs, expanded women's comp, more test matches surely there are better opportunities to be explored there that could help expand the game and give better content than just a City vs Country match.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Agreed, at present it’s just fanciful but the appeal of Origin could possibly make it a reality in the future.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
Adam if you actually read the article I suggest nothing but NRL players, names like Gutherson, Moylan, Cotric, McLean, Aubisson. Recognised NRL talent representing their origin.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
City v Country rep games only increase the burden NSW players and their clubs while QLDers and clubs like the Broncos, who heavily invest in QLD talent, reap all the benefits. It also gives a lot of fringe rep players who are not up to Origin standard the false perception that they are rep players. So it is cruel on all counts. The City vs Country concept has had it's day and if the NRL All Stars vs Indigenous All Stars is struggling to keep it's place on the Rugby League representative stage then City vs Country has no hope!
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
The NRL during Origin takes a back seat anyway, so in a way it is paused, before the run into the finals. I'd happily have a mid season break to play rep games, albeit Origin should be played over 3 weeks, and get back into the NRL. You would get good crowds for that first round back after the break too
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
No Mary I dont think so. Bringing "rep teams" devoid of big name players does nothing for the game. At least with NRL fixtures you have stars to watch and it's a great promotion. City Country had it's day but that day has passed. We haven't played one on a few years and it's not being missed
Big Daddy
Guest
If it were the real country team which is now under 23 against a Canterbury Cup under 23 it would be a real boost for country rugby league. Although now CRL is now under control of NSWRL it probably won't happen. The focus is on SOO . While the focus is on that they could play these matches then. When SOO was in Perth they played international matches. No reason why the couldn't play some country based rep teams on that weekend.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Sorry Jimmy, Pausing the NRL compeition is ridiculous in my opinion. Why kill all momentum of a competition? Why would you want to literally stop talking about a competition for a month? Even since coming back from the Origin window, it feels like the NRL has lost some interest and is treading water. Stop the league and people will find something else to do on a Friday night - a new TV show to binge watch, a new activity to do. Once you have people in, don't let them go. Nothing but Origin talk for a month?! Spare me. Rugby League media already have a problem with coming up with actual content (as opposed to made up content) when they have 16 teams to discuss. How are they going to do it with 2 teams for a month?! Especially when it is two even teams. There is no actual reporting during Origin - Neither team really has any actual signficant advantage. You end up with just a few background stories and a couple of injury concerns. Everything else is just noise. As for City v Country in a rep period. All you are doing is adding a lower tier game. People in this country have shown time and again, they won't go to an event or watch it on TV just because you are putting it on, it has to have some quality attached to it.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Sorry jimmy, but I'm with Adam here. City v Country lost all relevance when they stopped using it as a serious trial for State selection. If it means nothing to players, it becomes only an exhibition match with limited player commitment. At least the NRL matches that are taken to the bush have meaning and player commitment to the two points.