It's an old concern, but just as relevant now as it was in the past.

To refresh - the Clayton Cup is awarded annually by the CRL to the team in country NSW with the "best overall record".

This simply means the Clayton Cup goes to the team that achieves the most success over the season, albeit in Wagga, Wilcania or Wee Waa.

The Clayton Cup was first awarded in 1937, and is regarded as a significant prize in bush football.

Over the decades, Group Nine teams have claimed the Clayton Cup 10 times, which, at first glance, seems a sizeable figure.

Taken in context, however, the number is actually an embarrassment for all concerned; bar the teams in Group Nine.

The Clayton Cup honour board on the CRL website is conclusive proof that the manner in which the winner is chosen is totally flawed - and needs to be changed.

Yes, Group Nine teams have won the Clayton Cup 10 times, but only one of those successes has come in the last 56 years.

Check this out.

In the old days, the makeup of Group Nine was distinctly different to what it is now.

Since the inception of the Clayton Cup in the 1930s, clubs have come and gone, a point superbly illustrated by the fact Bombala and Henty are listed as Group Nine teams to have collected the trophy.

Henty (1940) and Bombala (1947) played in Group Nine when the boundaries were spread even further and wider than they are in 2014.

Still, a quick history lesson also shows that more familiar teams, including Wagga Magpies (1939), Cootamundra (1948), Tumut (1949), Gundagai (1952), Young (1955, 1957) and Temora (1957), claimed the Clayton Cup in its early years.

For this reason alone, the cup honour roll is quite the rugby league revelation.

The statistics reveal Group Nine teams won the Clayton Cup nine of the first 16 times it was awarded - or an astonishing 56.25% in its formative years.

Compare this to the modern era, and the shock and horror should really kick in.

Staggeringly, only one Group Nine team has managed to get its hands on the Clayton Cup in the past 56 seasons - an abysmal 1.78% of the time.

As the years, and decades, have rolled on, just Temora in 2004 has managed to give Group Nine a slice of the Clayton Cup action in the intervening period.

And, true to CRL mandate, the Dragons of a decade ago needed to do something remarkably special to get the nod.

Rest assured, this wasn't your average bush football team - far from it.

Back then, the Dragons had a rugby league goldmine in town, and the team abounded with stars and quality.

For starters, Chris Brennan was captain-coach and the pack contained, among others, Mark Stimson, Steve Reardon, Brett Williams and Trevor Krause.

This truly was a team deserving of the title of the best in the bush, but, still it only just nutted Gundagai 28-24 in the grand final at Eric Weissel Oval.

Ultimately, the Dragons finished the year with an impeccable record - 19 wins in 19 games and 964 points (for) and 218 (against).

They also got the Clayton Cup.

Nowadays, Temora is more or less a shell of the team of a decade ago - and the Dragons have no earthly hope of getting the Clayton Cup at the end of September.

Significantly, neither will any other Group Nine team - they just aren't good enough.

Under the ridiculous vagaries of the Clayton Cup criteria, the best in Group Nine - Albury, Southcity or anyone else for that matter - have already been wiped off the list.

Pure and simply, or rightly or wrongly, only Group Four "powerhouse" North Tamworth or Scone from Group 21 can get the Clayton Cup.

At the moment North Tamworth, Scone and West Wyalong are the only unbeaten teams across country NSW - and barring a catastrophe of biblical proportions, will all finish that way.

North Tamworth is currently 11-0 and has an absolute stranglehold on the Group Four premiership.

Likewise, Scone is 14-zip and will gallop away with the Group 21 title and West Wyalong probably has the Group 20 crown parceled up.

But, working to CRL the script, however, North Tamworth will collect the Clayton Cup when for and against points are taken into account.

All well and good, except North Tamworth plays in an absolute Mickey Mouse six-team competition that is little more than a football joke.

The same can also be said for Group 21, another six-team premiership that is shrinking by the minute, and lacks any real football credibility.

Contrast these boutique competitions with the might of Group Nine - all 11 teams and some formidable player lists.

The likes of Albury, Southcity and Gundagai would eat the opposition for breakfast in Group Four or Group 21 - North Tamworth or Scone wouldn't even get a look in.

Still, one way or the other, the Thunder, Bulls, Tigers etc just can't hack it - they fail the CRL test.

Rather than waltz their way through a lamentable six-team competition, they have to contend with real opposition, and actually lose a game or two along the road.

How on earth this is fair or equitable is beyond comprehension.

The CRL cannot allow this situation to continue to haunt the Clayton Cup.

The huge discrepancy of player numbers and quality between the various regions in the state must surely be taken into consideration or the Clayton Cup will slide further into utter insignificance.

After all, this trophy is supposed to be about honouring the "best" of the best in the bush - but nothing is closer to the truth.

A big fish in a very small pool will always have an unfair edge.

Group Nine Team of the Week

Fullback: Kane Hammond (Tumbarumba)

Wingers: Chris Seaton (Albury), Naya Freeman (Young)

Centres: Peter Little (Southcity), Damian Willis (Gundagai)

Five-eighth: Daniel Fitzhenry (Southcity)

Halfback: Luke Branighan (Young)

Lock: Ross Hewitt (Young)

Second rowers: Jake Grace (Albury), Joss Cleal (Tumbarumba)

Props: Brett Eccleston (Gundagai), Grant Boyd (Cootamundra)

Hooker: Pani Manawatu (Southcity)

* players can be picked out of position