With City-Country done and dusted, some say forever, while Country coach Craig Fitzgibbon was hopeful the concept can be re-booted, what do we all do now?

Are country communities likely to be able to host more top flight rugby league? Are we talking NRL trials? Competition games? If so, when? How much?

What is the answer?

At the moment, there really isn’t one. Insert sad face emoji here.

The NRL, when announcing the 2017 City-Country would be the last, committed fixtures to the bush, without confirming any number.

Depending on what end of the Chinese whispers you’re at, that number ranges from two to eight, a full round … which would be incredible, but in all likelihood, not a reality. 

At the moment, though, it’s all a bit of lip service. And that’s probably the most frustrating part.

The NRL says it’s committed to the bush, the grassroots of the game, the ideas are plentiful, but nothing ever really comes to fruition.

The game leaves it to the clubs. The clubs put it in the too-hard basket.  

Country landing in Orange on Monday, making its way to Mudgee on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s game was brilliant. 

As a whole, Western Division embraced the team on its final camp before the 106 years of history the City-Country fixture has fostered is thrown to the scrap heap.

But, now we reach the same point again – what now?

The 2018 NRL draw scheduled for October release.

Already we know Bathurst will have a game following Penrith inking a deal with the city’s council to play at Carrington Park for the next decade.

CRL bosses have indicated the game should share the love – absolutely. 

Although Western has arguably some of the best grounds in Country NSW – think Caltex Park, Glen Willow, Carrington Park – rugby league isn’t just ours to love.

Tamworth, Wagga, Port Macquarie, Albury, those areas are crying out for the same sort of commitment we are in the central west. p

As a starter point, two clubs playing a trial game in Sydney with a couple of hundred people watching is shameful, especially when those games will attract a couple of thousand at a country ground.

Send them bush.

Let’s get that ball rolling ahead of 2018. It might not be THE answer, but it’s at least better than what we’re facing in the post City-Country era.

CYMS prevailed, but what about Willie Heta. Wow.

The classy half proved he’s capable of taking Hawks to the finals in 2017 with a stunning display against the best team in the competition.

But the two blues must defend better than they have been. Leaking 112 points in two weeks isn’t good. It’s abysmal. 

While Oberon suffered a first loss of the season … in the club’s first away game of the season.

Panic? Not likely. Luke Branighan’s men have been battling injury all year. They’ll bounce back.

The Tigers win, Demons win … Cowra, loses again!

The defending premiers battled, and look likely to for the rest of 2017 following the loss of a stack of league talent and some players to retirement.