The scoring in the match, which hadn't been played since 2017, began when City hooker Soni Luke found Danny Fualalo with a pass - following a mounting penalty count and weight of possession against Country, whose side featured Gerringong's Corey Mulhall, Albion Park-Oak Flats' Sam Clune, Shellharbour's Ryan James, Warilla-Lake South's Cam Vazzoler and Stingrays' Chanse Perham.

Half Zac Greene landed the conversion to put City up 6-nil.

Greene was then involved again, sending Eli Roberts down the sideline with a cut-out pass and then backed up the City winger to score the try and extend the lead to 10-nil.

A surging run from Matt Stimson and another penalty conceded by Country provided City with another chance and it wasn't long before Greene was putting centre Semisi Kioa over the line.

Greene landed the conversion from out wide and City were in control at 16-nil.

Read more: Wright brothers progress to Rottnest Search's third round after first-ever CT showdown

City ensured it would be a long road back when Luke put a grubber kick in for fullback Jake Toby to grab a try just before half-time with Greene converting to make it 22-nil.

Country started the second half with plenty of intent with Cameron Davies coming up with a great cover tackle to deny City winger Eli Roberts a certain try.

They went one better when Vazzoler and fullback Dane O'Hehir combined to put Perham over the line.

Hamish Oxley converted to make it 22-6 and keep Country's hopes alive.

City sparked into action soon after with Kane McQuiggin, Kieran Hayman and Toby all grabbing tries to extend the lead to 38-6.

Cryer had a hand in all three including an ugly-looking towering bomb that was spilled backwards for O'Hehir for Hayman to chase down and score.

Country never stopped trying and captain Jake Goodwin scored a well-deserved try in the final 10 minutes with Oxley landing the conversion to make it 38-12 at full-time.

This was just one of four matches played at Collegians on Sunday, with City defeated Country in the physical disability fixture, Newcastle downing Illawarra 26-22 in the under 20s Steel City Challenge and Newcastle overcoming Illawarra, featuring former Group Seven talents Jason Gillard, Tarje Whitford, Josh Dowel, Blake Phillips, Tom Angel and Liam Scott, 36-4 in the open men's Steel City Challenge.

Earlier in the weekend, three NSWRL representative fixtures were played at Bankwest Stadium.

Read more: Prices enjoy Sydney success as Gwenda Markwell dominates on home turf

The open women's Country side, which has Adam Bezzina and Ruan Sims on the coaching staff, went down 40-16 against City, while City, headlined by Stingrays' James Walsh, defeated Country, containing Gerringong duo Caleb Hall and Bailey Marks and Stingrays' Dextar Grant, 34-12 in the under 16s.

The final game saw City down Country 46-6 in the under 18s game.

At Shellharbour Stadium, Country defeated City 56-22 in the wheelchair match.

"Country vs City has always been a great concept and it's great to see it back on the NSWRL calendar," NSWRL head of football Robert Lowrie said.

"All the matches have been high quality and congratulations goes to all the winners, participants, coaching staff and officials for helping to make it happen.

Read more: Hawks' Goorjian dismisses rumours of move to South East Melbourne

"It's been a great week with the under 16s, under 18s, women's and men's teams enjoying the experience of going into camp; while the pathways players got the opportunity to experience playing on a world-class facility at Bankwest Stadium.

"The matches also had added significance as the women's open age game acts as part of the selection process for the NSW women's Origin team while the under 18s game will have a bearing on the NSW under 19s team to face Queensland this year."

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.