Tosh

Projection much. Again I’m not now nor ever claiming that RL isn’t the National sport in PNG or that there isn’t another tier2 nation like them. I suggest you go back and read my opening post in this thread slowly and throughly.

You seem to be having a hard time distinguishing between developing a tier2 nation like PNG into a tier1 nation and developing RL nations that have little to no domestic RL competitions and grassroots activities. To borrow a phrase from you “but you do you.”

I’ve never once claimed that RL wasn’t the National game in PNG or that it’s played by huge numbers all throughout the country. Neither have I claimed that PNG is a developing country. Again you seem to be unable to acknowledge the role of Australian RL and the Australian government in helping developing structures and pathways for talented kumuls.

And you seem to be ignoring the part where for nearly half a century there wasn’t any structures in place on the ground in PNG for the kumuls to produce quality players for the professional leagues in Australia and the UK in decent numbers and thus not being able compete against the top tier nations. Your judgement seems to be clouded by an irrational hatred of all things Australian RL.

It’s a perfect example of luck and how putting in the hard groundwork can payoff. The hardwork is being done by the PNGRL, QRL and both PNG&australian governments in both funding and creating structures and pathways for talented kumuls to progress from schools RL to local leagues and then onto the digicel cup before the top elite players in PNG get selected for the professional Hunters side competing in the Queensland cup. The luck is their geographical location being situated right next to the strongest RL playing nation Australia and it’s domestic professional league the NRL and strong 2nd tier Queensland cup competition.

This. They also beat Fiji in the pacific tests this year and really should have beaten Tonga in the World Cup group game. Its about time that PNG started to tour France and UK as well as host Australia and NZ.

If the hunters can ever get all of the junior age grade teams playing in the relevant Queensland competitions from u17’s, u19’s and u21’s then this will be a game changer and within 10-15 years the kumuls could potentially be up there and competing with Australia, NZ and England with their own home grown players. As for the short-term future I think in 4-5 years time PNG could be pulling off “shock” victories against the likes of England, NZ and Australia.

You could be right. if so it’s a bit like the NRL in that aspect.

I’m not even sure if the NRL help fund the hunters? Im guessing the QRL stump up some dollars alongside the Australian&PNG government’s and sponsorship etc.

No idea.

Money could be sourced from any profits from the recent RLWC, Jamaican government and private investment/sponsorship etc.

Where did I say that the RFL should pay for it?

Nobody is asking them to. plus the RFL don’t have any money so it’s a mute point.

PNG are the strongest they’ve ever been and that’s largely due to the hunters, QRL and both the governments of Australia&PNG funding. Not insulting but factual.

This is very true and with a very unpredictable and shifting geopolitical landscape in the pacific the NRL are in a good position to secure more funding from the Australian government in order to counteract the rising influences of China in the pacific region. something similar to the hunters and silktails is an absolute must for Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. As for Europe and Jamaica unfortunately there isn’t the money available which is absolutely frustrating as Jamaica has so much potential imo.

Latest kumul to secure a contract with a NRL club. Although it is a trial contract Namo has every chance to impress and secure that fulltime contract. https://postcourier.com.pg/good-opportunity-for-namo-says-kumuls-coach/

With what was on the whole a largely improved and highly successful tournament by the kumuls this World Cup it appears that all the hard work and development being put in by the QRL, PNGRL and both Australian&PNG governments in funding and creating pathways for talented PNG RL players is starting to pay off big time with what must be a record number of kumuls securing professional contracts in the NRL, super league, championship and Queensland cup. This surely is the right approach and model/blueprint for developing RL in 2nd tier and developing nations going forward and must be replicated in other countries in the pacific but also Europe and Jamaica etc.

And I’m all for spreading the game into Spain but I just feel that World Cup games should be played in the host nation. Especially the final. Id personally love to see a Barcelona/Catalonia side enter the French domestic league at either elite1 or elite2 level. Same goes for Italian sides.

It sure is and it’s only getting stronger. Very rich and wealthy owners, big wage payers, modern stadia, big media presence and sponsorship etc.

Domestic competition rather than a international one but I guess there’s some sort of planning involved for rugby Union as Spain actually play the game and are progressing year on year like Portugal.

Hopefully very slim unless Spain qualify.

Should have said Union 7s.

Allianz Riviera 36k capacity. I personally wouldn’t go any higher than a 40k capacity stadium for any of the games including the final.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to see if these wealthy players and in some cases millionaire players went with their heart and not their wallets and actually took a stance and refused to play origin and instead opted to represent their heritage.

Stade Vélodrome 67k Marseille Parc Olympique Lyonnais 59k Lyon Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux 42k Bordeaux stadium de Toulouse 33k Toulouse for me marseille and Lyon are too big leaving either Bordeaux or Toulouse being used for the final. my preference would be the 33k stadium in Toulouse.