One of rugby league’s most astute minds is hopeful the axing of the City-Country match will serve as a catalyst for the NRL to revive the state of rugby league in the bush.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The curtains were drawn on a century-old tradition, with City winning 20-10 in Mudgee on Sunday.
Wagga hosted the game in 2015, where more than 10,000 spectators saw Country prevail 34-22.
While admitting the clash had lost its relevance as a NSW trial, Wagga Kangaroos junior and league legend Peter Sterling said it was a sad day for footy.
“It’s disappointing a 106-year-old tradition goes out with a whimper rather than a bang,” Sterling said.
The former Parramatta halfback said a harking back to the game’s glory days would have been a fitting send-off.
“(I would have liked to see the Country team comprised of) six NRL players formerly from the country with the rest of the team made up from the best playing in country rugby league teams,” the Channel Nine commentator said. “In 1983, Paul Field from Cootamundra made the NSW team.”
Sterling said the concept was one “dear to my heart”.
“I would probably struggle to remember the 1981 Parramatta team (which won the club’s first premiership) but I could tell you the 1975 Country team that beat City 19-9,” he said.
Wagga Kangaroos legend Steve McDonald was a part of that Country side – made up entirely of bush footy players – that caused arguably the greatest league upset.
“It had a real impact on me,” Sterling said. “I was 14 at the time and here was this young bloke from my club (playing for Country).”
Fellow league champion Chris Mortimer said the Country Rugby League (CRL) was doing a great job, but the ball was “at the feet of the NRL” to do more to support bush footy.
“I thought the NRL and CRL would be under one roof (in the new commission),” Mortimer said. “The future of the game is in its youth.”
CRL regional manager David Skinner said country players made up 30 per cent of NRL rosters.
“So (the CRL) is seen as an important root,” Skinner said.
All three men said the NRL needs to invest in bringing regular season games to the bush. An NRL season game is believed to cost up to $180,000.
“The City-Country bill was covered by the NRL – that’s why it was so successful,” Skinner said.
