What value do the governors of rugby league in Australia place on the traditions of our great game? How much do they care about the massive football nursery outside of metropolitan Sydney? There are legitimate questions to be asked of NRL executives as the farce of selecting teams for this year’s City vs Country clash unfolds.
In an era that sees the game’s hierarchy adopt promotional catch phrases about creating history, we are instead confronted with the hypocrisy of clubs snubbing the final year of this annual clash. Worse still, the NRL seem unable or unwilling to exert any authority over said clubs.
The decisions and attitudes are both embarrassing and disrespectful to the history and values of rugby league. The final City vs Country event in Mudgee this Sunday should be a celebration. It’s being treated as anything but that!
A Proud History
The roots of this match can be traced back over 100 years. Back in 1911, a “metropolitan” team defeated a country selection team to the tune of 29 to 8. It would not become a regular annual fixture until 1928, but from that point it became an avenue for country players to test themselves, or even showcase their talents in the big smoke.
Naturally, the odds were always stacked against the boys from the bush. Players hailing from the country or even Queensland were selected to wear the city jersey against counterparts residing outside the Sydney area.
Nonetheless, Country did manage to occasionally upset their city rivals over the years. A twenty year drought from 1966 to 1986 that yielded only a single 1975 victory to Country saw interest in the clash decline. Inspired by the “origin” concept which revolutionised interstate matches, City vs Country adopted a similar selection qualification in 1987. With an accompanying move to regional centres, it would be viewed as the ideal vehicle for reconnecting the elite of the game with grassroots bush folk.
The Demise
In recent years, this clash has probably generated greater headlines about player withdrawals than it has about the feats on the field.
Prominent players have decried the crowded rugby league calendar. Clubs have complained about the unnecessary risk to highly paid stars. The media have focused on the waning support and interest in the clash. A cynical rugby league public have questioned the value of the game as a genuine State of Origin trial.
Regardless of the reason, the 2017 fixture will go down in history as the final City vs Country match. Unfortunately, there are clubs who care little about what this means.
More Than A Match
For the last time, the City and Country jerseys will be worn on the football field. This is meant to be an honour. The colours represent a player’s origin, and more importantly, they are a recognition that extends beyond their club. It’s a message to the players that their talents and efforts are worthy of a bigger stage.
It is the ultimate snub to our history and traditions, and to the players themselves, that particular clubs are denying this honour being bestowed upon their stars.
Without disrespecting this year’s team, the absurdity of delaying the team announcement only focuses attention on the legitimacy of selections and further, it unfairly diminishes the importance of the event.
Let’s consider this match in its truest form.
Rising stars and incumbent representative players are pitted against each other in a true contest for higher representative honours. It’s a stage above the premiership clashes that occur every week, and a great honour for the players.
What of the risk to the players? Aren’t clubs who make their stars unavailable simply protecting the best interests of themselves and their fans? After all, they are the ones responsible for ensuring that the players are well compensated for their services.
The answer is simple. Players are injured at every level of the game, from training, to match warm-ups, to the footy field itself. It can happen in a collision. It can happen with nobody around them. It’s sport. It happens. Placing a player in cotton wool for one match a year is hardly protecting your investment.
Indeed, players returning from genuine representative experiences such as Origin or test matches come back better footballers. It’s a positive consequence of spending time with the elite.
City vs Country should be viewed in the same way. When Parramatta coach, Brad Arthur, was asked by Brad Fittler about which of his players he could select he replied, “whoever you like.” He recognised the positives that can be taken out of the game. No doubt other coaches feel similarly. Unfortunately it doesn’t apply to all.
But of course, such arguments about the value of a representative opportunity now apply only to this year’s match. The fate of this annual fixture has already been decided.
A Final Blast
It is difficult to comprehend the failure of certain clubs and coaches to respect the importance of this last ever clash. These people don’t just hold the responsibility for the success of their own jerseys – they also hold the key for the direction and ultimately the history of our game. There are but a few of them, yet they make decisions which impact hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of followers of our code.
Ultimately the selfish acts of a few have diminished the integrity of the last ever City vs Country match. The representative jerseys of these sides should be an honour to wear. Staging the event should be a responsibility that is honoured by those who control the game.
Instead, the players have been denied an opportunity, the people of the bush have been robbed of one last chance to watch the elite up close, and the game is poorer for it.
Worse still, the NRL have allowed the farce to unfold.
This is not a history or a legacy to feel proud of!
Sixties
If a player is withdrawn from any other representative fixture, he misses the next NRL game. Why is this not the case in this instance Mr Greenburg? Is it because theBulldogs were the1st team to exclude their players?
Valid question Nonna.
Hear hear Sixties, well said!
Thanks Fletch.
Sixties. I have to agree totally in what you have said. What the in charge boffins cannot see is the next step in the destruction of RL outside of the main centres of NSW and QLD, to me the last City – Country game should have been promoted at a much higher level than it has been so far, the problem is that its akin to celebrating the death of a person while they are still walking and breathing.
I guess as I am one of the old fossils who loved the game and still do even though I don’t attend the matches as much as I would like, RL has been dying a slow death now for many years especially in the regions, former RL heartlands in Rural NSW & QLD are hard pressed to get young people interested in playing and many such towns, large and small no longer field teams at all. The RL Boffins have sat and lauded over the demise of the game but boast about the money that’s earnt as a result of TV and sponsor earnings, and why not their wages are pretty good and where does it come from?
Interesting that they are talking of expansion at NRL levels, yet they kill of tradition, the move to the current set up with the top team comprising players based in the NRL competing against each other based on their league background is a showcase of how country players can achieve high rep honors beyond this level of the game. Previously we also had a lower grade match that included a Country rep team that had players playing in the bush, I used to love those games, and it also meant playing against not just City second stringers either.
Those who remember the Mid week Amco cup can remember how wide and diverse the teams were and not just from Sydney either, and they pulled good crowd numbers as well. IIRC one year the Western division won the trophy with a fellow name Ted Ellery who was close to 40 becoming a crowd favorite. I believe that the game today of full time professional players in many respects is only that in name only as the only full time professional aspect of it is that they all do not have other jobs like players of the past had. All of whom were proud and pleased to pull on whatever jumper they could to play the game they loved, and not for money.
Remember the slogan of a bygone time, Its not the same unless you’re at the game? That has elements of truth but the games not the same today even if you’re at it.
It’s a tragedy Colin. I really like your analogy about celebrating the death of a person whilst they are still walking and breathing.
Totally agree with you Colin, the NRL don’t do enough for the CRL either financially or promotionally. Even the kids in my area which is Western Sydney are losing interest in playing the game, soccer and AFL are taking over. We even have kids winter cricket on a Sunday as well now.
Nonna, that is just a byproduct of the professionals (just ask them for their qualifications and they will tell you) who are running the game, all it seems to me is nothing more than the old grandstanding, akin to poor old Nero when Rome was burning, not sure if they had fiddles back then though, but its a bit before my time to be sure.
Bad enough seeing whats happening these days.
Yes, well said Sixties. A great tradition has been treated with contempt. Being from the country, I am saddened at this total disrespect of country supporters. I don’t think the hierarchy of the NRL has any appreciation at all of the real grass roots. Weak, weak, weak. For the clubs banning their players, karma would be their season going belly up.
You’d hope that some sort of Karma awaits mate.
I agree that the withdrawal of this game has not been handled well by the NRL and as a result the game has suffered a massive loss in dignity.
However this has been going on for a long time now and games have suffered greatly by player withdrawals. As an example of the loss of dignity you see Gower being picked out of Wenty’s side to play. I have respect for Gowie and he has been a great servant to the club. He was especially good for the Eels in the early days of BA when we were down on talent and needed some class in the forwards. Having said all of that to be fair he is not in the top echelon of City forwards.
I do not know if it was ever a vehicle for SOO selection and if it ever was it has long since passed the use by date. In the early days of the concept people would get picked out of the City V’s Country game to play for the Kangaroos. There was even a player from Moree picked for SOO.
As a vehicle for saving Country League I don’t think it is the answer. I think that people would get more out of a regular NRL game with the local team playing the curtain raiser than a City V’s Country game full of second and third pick players. The bigger issue from my view is a lack of cash from the NRLto support Country League.
One thing is for sure is that Counrtry RL needs to be saved if the NRL is to survive.
They sure would John, but the issue IMO is the tradition of OUR game. The game belongs to the people, yet these people from the NRL, and NSWRL have allowed this to occur. I think on tonights show Rothfield and Kent said that two directors of the game are form Canterbury..Dib and Peponis ( not sure if they’re NSW or NRL directors) and there lies the conflict.
I am about over the NRL and all of it’s going on, and I merely support my team, the NRL and co promised a lot but has done little IMO. We’ve seen the game become further apart than ever before IMO….no salary cap sorted, issues with scheduling, certain teams on Friday nights and now this. There is no hard decision making, and each team should be playing a game in the country – end of story.
And then we have J Papaali who has been given a mere one game by his club, yet he’s got history I believe with indiscretion….and I go back to M Pearce who copped a huge fine and 8 weeks….for a private disgraceful act.
Someone wise said today that shoulder a charge gets 4 wks and drink driving 2..? Go figure. But where is T Greenburg and co……? They’re the first ones to sign pledges for white ribbon, sexual inclusion, and ATSI issues, but on the big issues, silence of the lambs.
John and Mitchy, firstly thanks for the replies. The NRL is basically the guardian of our game. The buck stops with them when it comes to caring for the health of the code. If individual clubs can’t make decisions that support the fabric and future of the rugby league, then they need to be made to tow the line. The coaches making such decisions owe their livelihood to rugby league, not the other way round.
There was going to be no saving the fixture after years of decline John. I just find it reprehensible that in its final year, this event has been treated with open disdain. And it’s basically been condoned.
I agree with you which is why I talk about a lack of dignity for the final game,
Why dont they continue the annual fixture but utilize u/20 players instead? At least they can keep the jersey’s alive and give something back to the bush. I know that it isn’t going to be the elite players but at least give them something.
Fair idea Daniel. Next year there are going to be changes to under 20s so it might be worthwhile. The profile might decline, but the tradition could continue.
The way i would save city country is play as a pre season game around the same time as the all stars game thats in qld. The players not in that play city country in regional nsw players will be picked on deeds from the previous year maybe give extra bench spots so as to avoid the burn out argument
To me the real question out of this remains, when will the CEO do something for the benefit of the game . Penalties are inconsistent, his dream the bunker remains a worry, and the same teams remain unaudited in the manner which would expose their cap management. The least he could do would be to publish the total amunt of TPAs registered for each club, that way we could at a least understand how some teams accumulate rep players whist seeming to not lose anyone of similar status.
They could PR lay a true country division chosen team agst second tier players of the NSW Cup , that takes it outside the top 30 of each club and be more even. Played at a rural ground , would be attractive to country resident players.
Don’t think that Greenberg would contemplate a sensible idea unless he sought approval from the Dogs and Roosters, at least that’s how it appears he makes decisions.
I’d hate to see the tradition lost. Even if they don’t keep the status, please keep the jerseys.
If you want to know what is wrong with the NRL you just need to look at Bernie’s presser today to talk about Semi’s charges being thrown out of court today.
Not only did he have the polish of a great politician but he articulated the point that the NRL handled the situation appallingly and the Eels got it spot on by allowing Semi to continue playing.
I thought that he was brilliant in the presser today. How is it that this man, our Bern, applied for the same CEO job as Tod Greenburg and did not get a look in. I will tell you how politics. I believe that TG was given the job in an attempt to keep the NRL clubs happy in order for JG to keep his job as chair of the commission.
The identity politics and people like TG and the NRL Chair John Grant trying to be politically correct permeates a lot of what is happening as the game changes under their administration. By TG and MM not selecting Semi on the Kangaroo tour meant that he was denied natural justice. Given the decision today they now have egg on their face.
The NRL’s loss was Parra’s gain John. I’ll leave my response at that.
John
I totally agree with what you have said, but IIRC it was Meninga as coach who dropped Semi from the Oz team and sanctioned by the two amigo’s.
In saying that, I would not be at all surprised if the amigo’s made the call and put it to Meninga,
Col
I have no doubt they put MM up to it. TG is up to his ears in the PC stuff.
Col
Reading the article in the Sun Tele today, Semi describes how his agent was asked to supply a Visa application sometime prior to the team announcement. He said his agent was advised only 5 Minutes prior to the team announcement that Semi would not be going to England
This tells me that MM initially picked Semi but was overruled.
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