A few winters ago the NRL commissioned me to do a feasibility on country rugby league.
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I spent three months covering 12 of the 21 groups.
One of my recommendations was that one NRL premiership game from each round be played in a rural town.
Everyone at headquarters thought it a good idea.
But that's all it was.
"V" is for vision and "V" is for V'Landy.
The cows say "moo," the sheep say "baa," the pigs say "oink."
Translated it says, Pete, you're a treat!
Rugby League is in the bush but the bush hasn't been in the game.
A token number of NRL games has been but a meagre allocation.
But the drought is over thanks to NRL chief Peter V'Landys keeping his words.
When V'Landys took office last year he pledged he would do he could to propogate the game in rural NSW.
The 2021 premiership draw is a blessing for rural Rugby League.
Towns such as Mudgee, Tamworth, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga will reap huge financial benefits.
At last, at long last, somebody cares.
The bush is back in the game.
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