The 2017 City vs Country match took place at Mudgee on Sunday May 7 and was the swansong match – won by City (20-10)
While the NRL world goes crazy for State Of Origin during the representative Rugby League season the other key match during this time up until 2018 was the City vs. Country clash that played for the last time in 2017.
Another representative NRL match that drew players from across the 16 NRL clubs, the game pitted a City squad from Sydney’s metropolitan area against the Country boys from the rest of the state and took place each year in provincial New South Wales.
Leading up to the incredibly popular three-match State Of Origin series, the City vs. Country showdown was often viewed as a selection trial for players hoping to represent the New South Wales Blues in the biggest NRL games of the year.
Key State Of Origin Blues players in recent history to come out of the City v Country game included Jarryd Hayne, Brett Morris, Josh Reynolds and 2015 Country Origin captain James Maloney.
The latest format of the now defunct Rugby League match was inaugurated in 1987 when the ‘origin rule’ for squad qualification was introduced so that players in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition outside of Sydney could play for the Country team.
The game however had roots going as far back as 1911 when the first annual clash between a City and Country Sydney football team took place. The City side finished-up with a slightly superior overall record with a total of 16 titles since 1987 to Country’s 11 victories under the origin selection rules.
There were two draws in that time when the squads drew 22 all in 2008 and 26 all in 2014. There was no City vs. Country NRL game played in 1998, 1999 or 2000.
The 2017 City vs Country origin match was be the final time the fixture takes place with more NRL games to be played in subsequent seasons around regional NSW.
City v Country 2017
- Result: City (20) defeated Country (10)
- Date: Sunday May 7, 2017
- Venue: Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex, Mudgee
City vs. Country Odds
Betting on the annual NRL City v Country representative game was always popular especially as the City squad traditionally consisted of New South Wales Blues-bound State Of Origin players.
Standard head-to-head NRL odds were available on the game as soon as the representative teams were announced, while all the exciting exotic footy bet types like First Try Scorer and Man of the Match markets were up before game night.
City vs. Country Winners
YEAR |
WINNER |
RUNNERS UP |
SCORE |
2017 |
CITY |
COUNTRY |
20-10 |
2016 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
30-44 |
2015 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
34-22 |
2014 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
26-26 |
2013 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
18-12 |
2012 |
CITY |
COUNTRY |
24-22 |
2011 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
18-12 |
2010 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
36-18 |
2009 |
CITY |
COUNTRY |
40-18 |
2008 |
CITY |
COUNTRY |
22-22 |
2007 |
CITY |
COUNTRY |
12-6 |
2006 |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
12-10 |