Responding to the momentum building behind the Advertiser’s Our Sporting Chance campaign, rugby league’s peak body said it would be happy to talk to the game’s powerbrokers in Wagga about the prospect of a competition match being played at Equex Centre.

“We would always welcome the chance to talk to any regional area which wishes to host an NRL match,” a spokesman for the NRL told the Advertiser on Friday.

The Our Sporting Chance campaign, launched on the back of the hugely successful City-Country clash in Wagga on May 3 that drew a crowd of more than 9100 people, has received the backing of much of the city’s rugby league community and civic leaders.

Support for an NRL match in Wagga has also been forthcoming from those involved in the City-Country clash, including both coaches, and Channel Nine’s executive director of network sport Matt Callander, who oversaw the network’s broadcast at Equex earlier this month.

However, while the NRL has indicated in-principle support to the idea, it is up to the clubs to take the plunge and move one of their games to Wagga.

“Ultimately, it is up to the clubs to decide where they want to play their home matches, but our door is always open for discussion,” the NRL spokesman said.

Since City v Country close to three weeks ago, discussions between the NRL and Wagga City Council have been limited to an “exchange of pleasant letters” according to Wagga mayor Rod Kendall.

“We haven’t had any further detailed discussions (since the game) but we willl continue to keep the line of communication open,” Cr Kendall said.

Cr Kendall said council would continue to canvass opportunities.

“Very much our discussions with the NRL to date is it’s about the development of the game – it’s in their prime interest,” he said.

“I know we’ve now demonstrated we’ve got a role to play and I’m sure we will continue regular discourse.”

One of the main hurdles facing Wagga’s bid is the cost associated with staging a game, estimated to be upwards of $200,000.