Rugby league great Garry Jack has called on the NRL to introduce a City-Country residents clash to replace the axed elite representative fixture.
Sunday's City-Country Origin match will be the last of the time-honoured fixture, as dwindling player availability combined with a packed NRL calendar take their toll on the concept.
Jack was a part of the first City-Country Origin match in 1987, after moving from Wollongong to Sydney to play 247 games for Balmain and Western Suburbs, as well as 21 Tests for Australia.
However he has watched on in dismay this week as more than 50 players became unavailable, and on Friday joined fellow Country great Michael Cronin in condemning the fixture's axing.
But the 1986 Golden Boot winner hopes there can be some silver lining from the decision.
"It's terrible they're axing the game without giving it something else," Jack told AAP.
"It's an important game, and we've still got to keep the tradition. Rugby league is all about tradition and this goes way back to the beginning."
In its place, Jack wants to see a Country side - comprised of the best players in country (group) rugby league - take on a NSW Cup All-Stars side.
He argues it will still give young players a chance to represent their area, and also keep the dream alive for older players as they aim to get a break impressing potential scouts and NRL clubs.
"There are some diamonds in the rough out there," Jack said.
"They just mature at a later stage and could be in their mid-20s until they are at their best, playing in the country.
"We lose a lot of players after under-20s but if they go back to the country there's an opportunity for them to get found again in two or three years time."
Jack's appearance for the first Country Origin side was alongside the likes of Peter Sterling and Noel Cleal and 18 players from that clash went on to represent NSW in Origin that season.
Last year, that figure crashed to five and the notion of the match being a geuine selection trial appeared long gone.
Ironically, that first clash also included now-Canterbury coach Des Hasler representing City, whose move to originally block Bulldogs players from selection this year was the first of similar moves by country legend Ricky Stuart in Canberra and North Queensland mentor Paul Green.
"It's made me very angry to see that," Jack said.
"Dessie played in that game so he shouldn't say to his players he doesn't want them to play.
"It gives players a chance to put on a rep jersey. Every player, if they want to play, they should have been able to."
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