Canberra Raiders to play in Wagga Wagga in 2019 as NRL takes more games to regional NSW
THE NRL will take a Canberra Raiders game to the bush next year to fight the AFL invasion into a town that was once rugby league heartland. And the players are right behind it.
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THE NRL’s plan to take premiership matches to regional NSW in 2019 has been welcomed by the players.
In a huge boost for bush footy, the NRL and the state government have agreed to take least four regular season games to country towns from next season.
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The Canberra Raiders will take a game to Wagga to fight off the AFL invasion into a town that was once rugby league heartland. Wagga has produced some of the game’s most famous names, such as the Mortimer brothers, Peter Sterling and Greg Brentnall.
The AFL has spent tens of millions of dollars in the Riverina to attack rugby league grassroots and now the NRL is getting proactive.
Temora-born South Sydney star Angus Crichton praised the NRL’s plan to play more games in regional areas.
Excited to be in Wagga Wagga today to announce a home game in 2019! #WeAreRaiders pic.twitter.com/TYmWWM5fhi
— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) 28 August 2018
“I used to go and drive to Canberra to watch games and I didn’t even care who was playing,” said Crichton, who played his junior league for the Young Cherrypickers.
“I remember you’d see all the players walking around and you’d get their autographs and photos … even if you didn’t know who they were. But just because they were a footy player you wanted to go and shake their hand and meet them.
“The opportunity for me to be able to give that to other bush kids would be unbelievable, a great experience.”
Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker was born in Nowra and raised in Casino and believes it’s vital the NRL acts to rescue regional rugby league.
“Because I think the game in the bush is slowly dying,” Walker said.
“I grew up in a small country town and what more games would do for the people out there, it would be amazing.
“It will lift the spirits and give someone that bit of inspiration to follow on with their rugby league career.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says playing more NRL games in the bush is the perfect opportunity to provide a jobs boost to regional economies, as well as promoting tourism to country towns given league fans will travel to watch their team.
All future regional locations will be announced as part of the 2019 NRL season schedule, which will be confirmed later this year.
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