The western region is already represented in a big way in the NRL and Rams chairman Peter McDonald feels that will only increase when more top flight matches head to the area.
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The NRL Regional Taskforce confirmed on Monday more NRL pre-season and competition matches would be heading to the bush from 2021, with Dubbo's Apex Oval guaranteed to host a match next year.
Rams boss McDonald described the announcement as "tremendous" and has no doubt it will have a huge impact on the region.
"With the Western Rams in the Presidents Cup we're already getting good coverage so getting NRL games out here would make young players aspire to play for the Rams and in the NRL," he said.
"You only have to look at Penrith and the amount of our under 16s and under 18s, like Charlie Staines and Matt Burton and Brent Naden, who have gone on to play first grade.
NRL Regional Taskforce chair and Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders told the Daily Liberal earlier in the week he can see four to six matches a season played in regional areas.
The plan is to share them around the state so the maximum number of supporters from all regions can attend matches, but given the quality of facilities in the western area games could be played here somewhat regularly.
Bathurst 's Carrington Park will again host a Penrith Panthers game next year while the pre-season Charity Shield fixture between South Sydney and St George Illawarra will be played out at Mudgee's Glen Willow complex as well.
The NRL match at Apex Oval means it will be a year to savour for footy fans out west.
"Having the NRL at Dubbo or Mudgee is great for our code out this way," McDonald said.
"With COVID buggering everything up for us this year it's something to really look forward to."
It's not only Dubbo, Mudgee and Bathurst who will benefit from the regional approach in the years to come.
Saunders stated a smaller ground like Parkes' Pioneer Oval could potentially host pre-season matches in the future while McDonald pointed to the planned upgrade of facilities at Orange and construction of a new stadium as another positive.
Details on the dates of games in Dubbo and Bathurst and teams involved are expected in the coming months.
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