Mudgee’s Glen Willow Stadium will be ready to host next year’s Country-City origin match if Wagga Wagga’s Equex Centre is unable to do so, according to Mid-Western Regional Council mayor Des Kennedy.
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After hosting the fixture two years ago, which was praised by many within rugby league circles as a outstanding success, the match could return in 2015.
With Wagga Wagga still reportedly waiting on a final grant to finish the upgrade of facilities at the Equex Centre, Mudgee and this year’s host Dubbo have been quick to throw their hat into the ring as a possible replacement venue.
Other replacement venues also include Cessnock and Bathurst’s Carrington Park, the venue of the round 20 clash between Penrith and Cronulla.
“We’ve told them that we will host any game they want, and we can make it happen at short notice."
- Des Kennedy
Despite Wagga Wagga being far from certain as the host, CRL chief executive Terry Quinn admitted he and the CRL were keen to see the match played there next year.
“I’ll be going down there soon and if it’s not looking good then we’ll make a decision [on a replacement venue] quickly,” he said.
“We’ll be heading down there to make sure it’s right to go and we’ll be going with Channel 9.
“A lot [of the facilities] are pre-made but they’re just waiting on a grant and apparently no one has been told when it’s going to happen so it’s a slow process.”
As part of the hosting rights, the ground must include two coaches boxes, a video referee’s box, a television broadcast box and a camera platform, and Quinn admitted there were some concerns over the current facilities.
Councillor Kennedy confirmed he had discussions with Quinn when the CRL chief was on his way to watch the Castlereagh League grand final at Dunedoo.
“We’ve told them that we will host any game they want, and we can make it happen at short notice,” Cr Kennedy said.
“Council is regularly in touch about the Country-City game and other events. The 2012 Country-City game and other major events at Glen Willow have always been runaway successes.
“If Wagga can’t have the City-Country game, CRL know we’ve got the best venue and the best team on the ground, ready to go.”