Dubbo’s Isaah Yeo has come out in defence of the annual City-Country fixture while adding he hopes more NRL clubs take games out to regional areas.
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The NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) representative fixture will come to an end after the 2017 match at Mudgee, and when speaking to the NRL’s official website recently the St John’s junior said it was disappointing to hear the match would be coming to an end.
“Obviously the City-Country game is massive out in the country," Yeo told NRL.com.
It's a loss for rugby league and it might make it a bit harder for country players to come through the grades...
- Isaah Yeo
"It's able to bring crowds out to the bush and it impacts the community for whoever's holding it. I know in the country we hold it in very high regard so obviously for it to be finished after this year is disappointing but that's the way it goes I guess.
"Hopefully this year I can play well before it and hopefully get picked in the last one. It's in Mudgee which is where my family is now but there's a long way to go before I can think about that."
While the game has struggled to attract the best players in recent years, Yeo was adamant the match still means a lot.
As well as the economic benefits for the host venue, the Panthers back-rower said City-Country helps inspire juniors to keep chasing their dream.
"It's a loss for rugby league and it might make it a bit harder for country players to come through the grades but there's enough pathways now for country players to still be able to come through the system and hopefully play NRL," he added.
Yeo is one of the few players who gets to make a regular trip to a regional area of NSW during the regular season, with his Panthers side annually taking a match to Bathurst.
Each Sydney-based club will play a game away from their regular home ground in 2017 but none will be playing matches in regional areas.
The Roosters are taking games to Gosford and Adelaide, the Rabbitohs are going to Cairns and Perth, the Sea Eagles are also heading to Perth while the Bulldogs will play a match in Dunedin and Parramatta are again taking a fixture to Darwin.
"It would be [good to see more clubs taking game bush] even if it's taking a game to country areas in New Zealand," Yeo said.
"I know Bathurst love having us there and we love going to Bathurst; it's something different to be able to go out in the community and it does help. I can only see positives in teams going out there.
“It's definitely something I circle on the calendar, the Bathurst trip, being from the country and I think a few more clubs should get behind it."
