Country Origin Coach Craig Fitzgibbon says more could have been done to ensure the legacy of the final City v Country match was honoured and scheduling an NRL match four days after the Mudgee clash has hurt the classic fixture.

‘It’s disappointing, the scheduling,” Fitzgibbon said.

“It puts a strain on clubs, it puts a strain on the concept and that’s possibly why it’s the last season.

“‘If it was managed better, I’m sure it the concept would have survived a bit longer, it just wasn’t put in the right spot on the calendar.

“I think the addition of the international games on the same weekend reduced the pool slightly, the player depth.”

City and Country used to play as a trial for State of Origin selection and Australia after that. Now it falls on the same weekend as the Kangaroos play New Zealand in Canberra.