Is City V Country still an interesting game , or has it seen it's day ?

It has seen its day. I think this happened when they changed the format excluding country based players. It was a great thrill for the country players to go out on the SCG for the City v Country match, But those days are gone. Secondly, the game was a selection trial for state selection which was the trial for the Australian side. This weekend, the first rep game is a test followed two days later by the city game. The game serves no purpose any more. Get rid of it, as you pointed out look at the number of player withdrawals.

Edit: Before city and country origin it was country based players versus city based players. Yes country did get beaten normally but at least it was country and did we ever support them. I was lucky to have played with and against some of those who beat city last time when it was based on where you lived.

If you are representing NSW Country it is a big honour. Just ask any who have.

With what the NRL has done to country rugby league it should be kept as they have been treated very badly and the only thing left for them to be proud of. They should also have a City v Country 2nds match, where only those not playing NRL are eligible. I prefer to watch country games rather than NRL ones these days. They play because they like the game and not because they have a big fat pay cheque dangled in front of them!

I also think they should get rid of it, I don't know whether it's just me or not but I always thought that city vs country game was for testing/choosing players for SOO but I guess I was wrong. Would rather watch anything else that watch city vs country, nothing exciting about it anymore, better off watching union or afl to be honest.

I hate to say it but it should be booted.