Country Rugby League (CRL) supremo Terry Quinn is absolutely stoked after it was revealed on Monday morning the NRL is set to take as many as five premiership matches to regional areas in 2018.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The scrapping of the City-Country representative fixture was a blow for supporters outside metropolitan areas but calls for League Central not to turn their backs on the bush are poised to be answered.
NRL officials are busy compiling the draw for next season and it can be revealed that the fixture list will include four or five first-grade games staged in the country.
There are two already locked away – one in Bathurst as part of Penrith's 10-year agreement, and another in Tamworth. They’ll be in addition to the Sydney Roosters' deal to play one game a season in Gosford.
The likes of Mudgee, Wagga Wagga and Coffs Harbour, which all hosted City-Country games in its final years, are expected to be contenders for matches.
