eal

Nobody wants to go to PNG, not even the locals.

Save yourself some time with all these podcasts and just listen to Eddie and Stevo instead.

I wonder if the Moroccan federation knew this game was happening? I wonder if there is a Moroccan federation? This is like those South African "international' fixtures in Sydney using a bunch of guys who were born in Sydney with Dutch-sounding names.

I am impressed by their current recruitment.

How realistic is a SL return for Oldham?

This is a smart move by V'landys - nothing to lose, a lot to gain.

Yes the Salford farce is unacceptable and the broadcast issue was unfortunate, but I think there is much to be excited about from the first round of matches so far. Good crowds, some awesome rugby league on offer, and some of the lesser teams still looking competitive and well coached.

Not exactly a bumper crowd in Toulouse.

I thought the broadcast issue was Fox Soccer Plus over here in the USA, but obviously not.

Are any of these games broadcast anywhere? I know all Toulouse home games are streamed on their YouTube channel, although only available in France or with a VPN.

Looking back at that first game on YouTube - PSG v Sheffield in front of a healthy crowd in Stade Charlety, it really must have felt like the game was on the cusp of a new era. I remember reading an interview with Eddie Hemmings where he said that was one of his career highlights was that night in Paris, it didn't feel far fetched to dream of the game flourishing in Paris, London, Rome, etc. Alas it wasn't to be!

I was in primary school in New Zealand when the SL war broke out, of course most of the coverage was of the split in the game in Australia/NZ. In the media it was always depicted that the English game just jumped ship to SL en masse with little conflict.

Yeah, seemed like someone forgot to pay the bill.

3 points for a win, 2 points for GP win, 1 point for a GP loss, 0 points for a loss. Done. Next topic?

McNamara out.

The Grand Canyon is stunning and anyone who isn't blown away upon seeing it is without humanity.

I watched most Catalans games on L'Equipe last season for free with a VPN.

What a joke that was. Like Al Qaeda were sizing up Wigan or Huddersfield as their next target!

Obligatory mention of promotion/relegation.

Australian government money going to Fiji rugby is about $52,000,000 over four years I think, whereas PNG money is going to be $600,000,000 apparently - astronomically more money. The Fijian Drua have also been good at securing local sponsorship whereas I'm not sure how much will exist locally for the PNG team - the Fijian economy is certainly much more robust. The Drua can also field a competitive team with local players whereas a PNG NRL side is probably 30 years away from that. Investing in Rugby League in PNG is a good thing to do, but I really feel building a more professional local league with 1-2 QLD Cup sides is the much better option. I could see someone like Kurt Mann going there to make 800k per year way above market value, but is Cameron Munster or Reece Walsh going to? Perhaps PNG will be a final career stop in place of coming over to Super League for some? How much worse is Port Moresby than Bradford I wonder?

It won't be, PNG has produced very few players of NRL quality. The Hunters haven't produced a single NRL player after 10 years of existence.

As with any government funding, it can just as easily disappear. Don't think the Labor Govt ploughing millions into a rugby league team overseas isn't going to become an election issue, particularly given the underfunding of health and education in Australia. The government is happily going to be building a luxury compound for professional athletes in another country all the while everyday Australians are struggling to afford rent, mortgages, etc. The political theatre around it all writes itself. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/nrl-boss-peter-vlandys-and-png-prime-minister-respond-amid-major-issues-with-600-million-deal-024437311.html

Justin Olam isn't a product of PNG Hunters.

This has disaster written all over it, they will never be anything other than bottom feeders. Even with tax free income, no marquee players are going to want to go and live in a covid bubble-like compound in one of the worlds most crime-infested cities. And any local players who are of NRL standard (keeping in mind the PNG Hunters have never produced an NRL player in 10 years of existence) won't want to stay either as anyone who can leave PNG does.

Imagine the scoreline if they'd borrowed Hull FC players!