Post by Ryan N on May 10, 2009 13:48:12 GMT 10
Restoring pride in the Country Jersey
The annual City/Country clash is now quite often viewed as a representative trial for NSW Origin. However, this just shouldn’t be the case.
The players, both for City and Country should be proud to be representing the place they grew up in. Not proud of themselves. They should be excited because they are about to run out and stick it to the pretty boys from the city. Not because this game could lead onto better things, such as Origin.
One of the problems is the fact that a lot of these players live in the city. They have to for their football careers. Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, essentially they are all cities. The guys don’t live in the country. There are a few guys like Alan Tongue, who go out and play for their town. Not to make it to Origin. I doubt that was even in Tongue’s mind when he ran out onto the field. Sure, he has a good chance, but I think whole heartedly he wanted to do his family proud. He does the same every game he plays. But I doubt some other players had anything other than Origin on their mind. I remember Lyon saying he didn’t even want to play rep footy this year? What kind of credibility does that give this game?
Somehow, they have to restore pride in the jersey. The media definitely have influence over this. The media influences almost everything to do with the game now. So why don’t we hype up the annual city/Country clash like we do Origin. Instead, all we ever hear in the media is what influence the game will have on Origin selectors. Something has to change before we lose this (potentially) magnificent match forever.
Ryan Norman
www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
Sunday 10th May 2009
The annual City/Country clash is now quite often viewed as a representative trial for NSW Origin. However, this just shouldn’t be the case.
The players, both for City and Country should be proud to be representing the place they grew up in. Not proud of themselves. They should be excited because they are about to run out and stick it to the pretty boys from the city. Not because this game could lead onto better things, such as Origin.
One of the problems is the fact that a lot of these players live in the city. They have to for their football careers. Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney, essentially they are all cities. The guys don’t live in the country. There are a few guys like Alan Tongue, who go out and play for their town. Not to make it to Origin. I doubt that was even in Tongue’s mind when he ran out onto the field. Sure, he has a good chance, but I think whole heartedly he wanted to do his family proud. He does the same every game he plays. But I doubt some other players had anything other than Origin on their mind. I remember Lyon saying he didn’t even want to play rep footy this year? What kind of credibility does that give this game?
Somehow, they have to restore pride in the jersey. The media definitely have influence over this. The media influences almost everything to do with the game now. So why don’t we hype up the annual city/Country clash like we do Origin. Instead, all we ever hear in the media is what influence the game will have on Origin selectors. Something has to change before we lose this (potentially) magnificent match forever.
Ryan Norman
www.rugbyleagueinternationalscores.com
Sunday 10th May 2009