Former Country Origin captain Michael Ennis has expressed his disappointment at the demise of the annual Country-City fixture and has pleaded for more NRL games to be taken to regional areas in order to maintain that pathway.
Sunday’s clash between Country Origin and City Origin will be the last in a concept that stretches back to 1911 and has attracted attention this week more for the players who won’t be playing rather than those who are.
Clubs such as the Bulldogs, Raiders and the Cowboys have made players unavailable for selection with City coach Brad Fittler requiring extra time on Monday in order to field a squad of 17.
Writing in this week’s special Representative Round issue of Big League Ennis speaks of the pride in wearing the Country jersey for the first time in 2009 and captaining the team in Coffs Harbour for the 2013 match. While he acknowledges that the clubs have a responsibility to ensure their players are fit and available to play in the NRL, Ennis is concerned that if something isn’t done to replace the fixture that country areas will struggle to generate talent in the manner they have in the past.
“During the week of City v Country it was so special to see what it meant to people to have NRL players in town and to hear the passion of some of the people who have been involved with Country Rugby League for a long time. I still consider them friends,” Ennis said.
