Mid-Western Regional Council mayor Des Kennedy has revealed he is working towards that end.

“We’re going to keep working on the NRL and we want to get an NRL game out here each year,” he said.

After lengthy discussions with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and ARL chairman John Grant both at the game at Glen Willow and afterwards, Cr Kennedy can reveal that Mudgee may see top-grade games sooner rather than later.

“They’ve not guaranteed anything yet but I can say that we are a front-runner for an NRL game each year, or at the worst every second year,” he said.

“Country Rugby League have also combined with us to get school-boy carnivals here in the future so those discussions have gone well.”

With Bathurst currently locked into a 10-year deal with the Penrith Panthers, the hope is that many more long-term hosting deals can bring footy back to the bush.