The western region is already represented in a big way in the NRL and Rams chairman Peter McDonald feels that will only increase when more top flight matches head to the area.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NRL Regional Taskforce confirmed on Monday more NRL pre-season and competition matches would be heading to the bush from 2021, with Dubbo's Apex Oval guaranteed to host a match next year.
Rams boss McDonald described the announcement as "tremendous" and has no doubt it will have a huge impact on the region.
"With the Western Rams in the Presidents Cup we're already getting good coverage so getting NRL games out here would make young players aspire to play for the Rams and in the NRL," he said.
"You only have to look at Penrith and the amount of our under 16s and under 18s, like Charlie Staines and Matt Burton and Brent Naden, who have gone on to play first grade.
"I heard Phil Gould only last night talking about how he set-up that pathway from out this way to Penrith and this is all good for Western Division."
READ ALSO:
NRL Regional Taskforce chair and Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders told the Daily Liberal earlier in the week he can see four to six matches a season played in regional areas.
The plan is to share them around the state so the maximum number of supporters from all regions can attend matches, but given the quality of facilities in the western area games could be played here somewhat regularly.
Bathurst 's Carrington Park will again host a Penrith Panthers game next year while the pre-season Charity Shield fixture between South Sydney and St George Illawarra will be played out at Mudgee's Glen Willow complex as well.
The NRL match at Apex Oval means it will be a year to savour for footy fans out west.
"Having the NRL at Dubbo or Mudgee is great for our code out this way," McDonald said.
"With COVID buggering everything up for us this year it's something to really look forward to."
It's not only Dubbo, Mudgee and Bathurst who will benefit from the regional approach in the years to come.
Saunders stated a smaller ground like Parkes' Pioneer Oval could potentially be a venue for pre-season matches in the future while McDonald pointed to the planned upgrade of facilities at Orange and construction of a new stadium as another positive.
"That could be another, too," he said.
NRL games in regional areas bring much more than a match for the fans to take in.
The economic benefits to towns and cities has been spoken about at length by Saunders and deputy premier John Barilaro in recent days but the chance for young players to see their heroes playing in their own backyard is huge, according to McDonald.
"When games are out here a lot of the preliminary ones on the same day feature our rep teams and everyone tends to cast an eye over them," he added.
Details on the dates of next year's games in Dubbo and Bathurst and the teams involved are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Saunders has said multiple times he wants "meaningful" games to be played in regional areas and while McDonald knows fans would already be dreaming of seeing the best do battle he's just thrilled those in regional areas are being supported.
"It would be ideal if you could get teams at the top of the ladder and those in the top four because it would make it easier to promote the game," he said.
"It's a matter of what they can all do but it's just a big boom for our region."