Furious Fittler slams City-Country availability farce
City Origin coach Brad Fittler has been left disappointed by a number of NRL coaches after he was unable to name a 17-man team on Monday morning.
The representative availability crisis hit a new low when City were forced to delay their team naming due to the high amount of withdrawals of eligible players.
By midday, well after the 9:30am deadline, they were finally able to name their side after Penrith's Matt Moylan and James Tamou answered an SOS.
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However the back row and bench of the City team is where the dramas are best highlighted.
Parramatta's David Gower will start despite spending all but two games this year as the Eels' 18th man or in reserve grade, while Hame Sele is at lock after having come off the bench in four games for the Dragons.
St George Illawarra's Jake Marketo and Newcastle's Pauli Pauli have been named on the bench despite spending no time in first grade so far this season.
"At the moment we're hearing a lot of negative news from clubs not willing to release their players," Fittler told Fox Sports.
"But on the other hand I spoke to Anthony Griffin (Panthers), Shane Flanagan (Sharks) and Trent Barrett (Sea Eagles) who are all willing to release some of their players.
"So it's good to see it's not across the board.
"But you talk about self interest and it is a problem.
"They didn't bother to put any power around who could play and who couldn't play and it's a massive oversight and it turns it into a farce."
There are no players from Canberra or North Queensland in either City or Country sides after coaches Ricky Stuart and Paul Green suggested they would make their players unavailable.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs have just one after Des Hasler made a similar threat - with Adam Elliott named for Country.
Rugby league greats Mark Geyer and Matthew Johns were left gobsmacked by the crisis.
"My good mate Brad Fittler, when he rings every City player on a Sunday night and he can't get 17 players to play for City, that worries me a lot," Geyer said on the Triple M Grill Team.
"Freddy fights a good fight, he loves rugby league, he is rugby league to a man and he played the way he now commentates and he now coaches. He’s enthusiastic about the game. He just loves it.
"When he rings up and he can’t get 17 fit players to play for the City team it's time this game goes. That's embarrassing isn't it."
Johns described the situation as "unbelievable" and slammed the NRL.
"It's the message of the NRL not doing anything to help this fixture. It's the message it sends to grassroots rugby league in the bush," he said.
"They always talk about the grassroots are so important, the country is so important.
"Well I tell you what, they've done nothing to help you (country rugby league supporters) in this game. They've done absolutely zilch."
City: Matt Moylan, Clinton Gutherson, Nathan Ross, Tyrone Peachey, Josh Addo-Carr, Bryce Cartwright, Chad Townsend, James Tamou, Cameron McInnes, Paul Gallen, Curtis Sironen, David Gower, Hame Sele, Joseph Paulo, Nathan Cleary, Pauli Pauli, Jake Marketo.
Country: Michael Gordon, Anthony Don, Euan Aitken, Cheyse Blair, Brian Kelly, Cody Walker, Tyrone Roberts, Dale Finucane, Damien Cook, Paul Vaughan, Mitch Aubusson (c), Kyle Turner, Jack De Belin. Int: Connor Watson, Matt Prior, Tariq Sims, Adam Elliott, Daniel Alvaro (18th man).
with AAP