Wagga looks set to be handed another ideal opportunity to showcase its suitability for NRL games, with Equex centre in line for a potential hit-out between the Country Rugby League (CRL) representative side and Samoa’s World Cup squad in October.
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CRL officials were reluctant to formally discuss the match until the fixture is finalised, but local league officials have been asked to book the ground for October 14, a fortnight before the World Cup.
Country has a strong relationship with Samoa after touring there last year and the CRL is hoping to confirm the match at its next board meeting on February 24.
Southcity’s premiership-winning coach Nick Skinner declared it a great opportunity for rugby league.
“It’d be awesome,” Skinner said. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it but it’d be good for country footy and good for Samoa. They’d have a really strong team and it’d be great experience for any of the country players.”
Samoa’s last Test team in October incuded NRL stars Junior Paulo, Sam Kasiano and Ken Maumalo.
Skinner is a fan of the CRL’s recent restructure making representative teams an under 23s competition.
“It’s great for those younger blokes who want to progress their footy and haven’t been picked up yet… it gives them a pathway,” he said, adding that a game against Samoa would be an added incentive for local stars to push for selection.
The 2015 Country-City game in Wagga was a sell-out and the NRL has indicated it intends to take more games to regional areas from 2018.
