City v Country revival: Panthers captain Isaah Yeo’s plea to return iconic fixture to the bush

There’s a push to regenerate rugby league in the bush, so is it time to reconsider City v Country in a modern NRL schedule? Two heavyweight stars have thrown their support behind reviving the concept.

In the spirit of helping out the bush, Dubbo legend and Penrith champion Isaah Yeo wants to revive the traditional City v Country clash.

The once annual fixture involving the game’s elite stars was a childhood highlight for country kids like Yeo, who went on to play just one game for Country on the wing in 2016 – a year before the concept was abandoned due to a packed NRL schedule.

But at the launch of Telstra’s Footy Country Series on Wednesday, an initiative to help regenerate rugby league in the bush, Yeo said there was a place for it somewhere on the calendar, knowing how influential the game was in his life.

“I played one country game on the wing, so I would like to have another crack,” he said.

“For the country people it’s such a big thing out there. I understand it’s a packed schedule and that sort of stuff, but we’re trying to put our focus into grassroots and into country rugby league. There’s no bigger thing to aspire to than to play for Country.

“I always thought it was a wonderful initiative. I still remember City-Country games out in Dubbo, they were the best thing ever.”

Isaah Yeo playing for Country in 2016. Picture: NRL Imagery

Under State of Origin selection rules, the games dated back to 1987 and grew to be a genuine trial for NSW, but as a concept the City v Country clashes started in 1928.

The final game involving NRL stars was played in Mudgee in 2017, with the call to scrap it made due to a stacked calendar and demands placed on top players. The NRL committed to play more season games in the bush instead.

From 2021 it was revived on the NSWRL calendar, with the selection criteria based on residency with players from the NSW Country Championships and the Ron Massey Cup, as well as a women’s game.

“I would love to see it back, but I feel like the way it’s going, it’s probably not going to be the case with the scheduling … but there’s a space for it,” Yeo said.

“Back in the old days it was a trial for NSW and it’s probably not going to be that at the moment. But for any of the younger boys coming through … and that’s your first taste of rep footy, there’s nothing better.”

Across eight NRL games and two NRLW games this year, Telstra has funded an initiative to support country rugby league with community activities at local clubs.

Kids will also be given free tickets to the games and be given the chance to mingle with their NRL and NRLW heroes.

“Country footy always needs a bit of help and it’s a great initiative that these guys, Telstra and the NRL are doing,” said Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards, who grew up in Albury and then Bellingen.

“I do remember City v Country games and I’m very envious that Yeoy got to play in them and I didn’t. So it’s something I think country kids really enjoyed watching.

“In a perfect world it would be amazing to have those sorts of games on the calendar somewhere, but logistically it’s very hard.”