The Penrith Panthers' NRL match at Bathurst last week and next week's visit from the Australian Wallabies is proof country NSW, in particular the central west, is the next battle ground for Australia's major sports.
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So often Western Sydney dominated the headlines as the major footy codes fought for dominance in popularity.
The GWS Giants in the AFL and the A-League's Western Sydney Wanderers were both created to tap into the market there and now the battle has crept across the mountains further and into the bush.
The Panthers have acted quickly and will play one match a season at Bathurst's Carrington Park for another four years while negotiations continue between Dubbo and the Manly Sea Eagles in order to bring them out here in 2015.
With league making its move, rugby union has now caught on and will visit Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst next week.
Rugby has often struggled to compete with league, AFL and soccer but the Australian Rugby Union's decision to visit our area is a masterstroke.
Combined with the Waratahs' run to the Super Rugby final and Country NSW featuring the upcoming National Rugby Championships, the sport is going through one of its most popular phases in recent times, especially in rural NSW.
If rugby is to gain some ground and improve its standing in the Australian sporting landscape it needed to act and capitalise on that popularity.
While the NSW Waratahs players look set to miss the trip to Dubbo, it is still a great and rare opportunity to meet some of the best athletes in the country right here on our doorstep.
With our own Caltex Park arguably the best ground outside Sydney, Mudgee having the Glen Willow Sports Complex and the likes of Orange's Wade Park set to undergo major redevelopment, there is no way teams from the city can argue the facilities here aren't good enough.
Mudgee and Bathurst have both played host to A-League sides in recent years.
Cricket is not missing out either and many clubs and associations are beginning to extend their reach so to capture the best talent this side of the mountains.
Last year the Hawkesbury and University of NSW clubs visited Dubbo to play matches and create links with the area and Hawkesbury have already confirmed they would be back this summer for a pre-season match.
On top of that the NSW state side looks all but certain to play a match at Orange this season, another great opportunity for fans in our area to see elite sport in our own backyard.
The real winners out of all this is us, the fans, and our juniors athletes, with more and more big sports turning their gaze this way in order to find the next batch of superstars.
The major sports are all coming our way, and I for one can't wait.
