Papua New Guinea NRL side...

[Gomersall]

37 minutes ago, Hello said:

I seem to recall PNG beating us the last time we played them in an international, so yes, they will compete against domestic level teams

I’ll wager several of that PNG team won’t be playing for the newly proposed NRL team.

[John bird]

3 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

Did they have several hundred million dollars of federal government money to sweeten any deal?

No they didn’t but they offered silly money to players who still turned them down.

do you think those same players who turned down the dolphins would jump at the chance to play for the PNG team?

[gingerjon]

2 minutes ago, John bird said:

No they didn’t but they offered silly money to players who still turned them down.

do you think those same players who turned down the dolphins would jump at the chance to play for the PNG team?

I think they will have precisely zero difficulty putting together a competitive squad given the secured government money behind them if it goes ahead.

I find it bizarre that anyone would think otherwise.

[John bird]

4 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

I think they will have precisely zero difficulty putting together a competitive squad given the secured government money behind them if it goes ahead.

I find it bizarre that anyone would think otherwise.

I gave my reasons why a few posts up.

[gingerjon]

4 minutes ago, John bird said:

I gave my reasons why a few posts up.

And you were wrong then, just as in your previous 150 posts on the same topic across multiple threads.

[John bird]

4 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

And you were wrong then, just as in your previous 150 posts on the same topic across multiple threads.

I guess we’ll all have to wait and see over the next decade to find out who was right and who was wrong.

[Coggo]

Out of interest, have there been any other sports franchises created primarily to be a geopolitical pawn? 

The publicity for the PNG club will be huge, as will the impact on local player development and the Kumuls, but their provenance is frankly bizarre. 

[Copa]

26 minutes ago, Coggo said:

Out of interest, have there been any other sports franchises created primarily to be a geopolitical pawn? 

The publicity for the PNG club will be huge, as will the impact on local player development and the Kumuls, but their provenance is frankly bizarre. 

The Australian government helps fund the Fijian team in the Super Rugby and also funds player pathways etc.

[John bird]

What happens if there’s a change in government and policy in Port Moresby and they decide they want Chinese investment?

[John bird]

Set to be signed off by Australian federal government cabinet and announced on PNG independence from Australia Day the 16th September.

 

https://www.zerotackle.com/more-details-emerge-as-nrl-expansion-moves-closer-210584/

[Hello]

9 hours ago, Gomersall said:

I’ll wager several of that PNG team won’t be playing for the newly proposed NRL team.

Quite possibly, yes

[Gomersall]

2 hours ago, John bird said:

What happens if there’s a change in government and policy in Port Moresby and they decide they want Chinese investment?

I’m assuming the financial inducement will be pulled.

[NRLandSL]

2 hours ago, John bird said:

Set to be signed off by Australian federal government cabinet and announced on PNG independence from Australia Day the 16th September.

 

https://www.zerotackle.com/more-details-emerge-as-nrl-expansion-moves-closer-210584/

I’m sure they’ll announce it earlier than that given it’s pretty much confirmed now. Not joining till 2028 though which is still a long way away.

[DoubleD]

13 hours ago, John bird said:

Look how badly the dolphins struggled trying to put together and recruit players for a squad for their maiden NRL season.

Quite. Also that federal government money won't make a difference, given they will be subject to the same salary cap as others.

12 hours ago, John bird said:

I guess we’ll all have to wait and see over the next decade to find out who was right and who was wrong.

I don't think we will have to wait, because I think there's a slim chance it will actually materialise, even if announced. A lot of things can change in politics before 2028, particularly in a country like PNG. 

Making decisions in sport, on the basis of politics is not a good policy. NZ2 and Perth is where the NRL should be focusing, but I understand why they might want to piggyback the government money. I just hope they have a contingency because I doubt this will materialise.

 

[Damien]

I disagree that this decision is being made just for politics.

There are two angles to this.

Finances withstanding, is the admission of a PNG team good for the NRL as a competition and does it solidify and enhance its status as the premier Rugby competition in the world? 

The answer to that is certainly a yes

Is this made possible because of the finances provided because of the political angle?

Again the answer is yes

Sure the political will and funding makes this possible but for Rugby League it is a good move too. Adding a fanatical RL country representing 12 million people, and the second largest country in the region, to the NRL is a good thing. Other sports like Aussie Rules have also made moves there so this pretty much solidifies RL's place. It's not like we are just politically plonking a team in virgin RL territory for the money with no reasoning behind it.

Edited May 30 by Damien

[JonM]

2 hours ago, DoubleD said:

Also that federal government money won't make a difference, given they will be subject to the same salary cap as others.

I would guess (not in any way an expert) that there is rather more scope for paying less of your income as tax by being employed as an expat in PNG compared with being an employee in Australia.

[EggFace]

5 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

I’m sure they’ll announce it earlier than that given it’s pretty much confirmed now. Not joining till 2028 though which is still a long way away.

WTF so going have to wait longer for NZ2 and Perth...I still want to be some what healthy and alive to see a NRL 20 team comp again.

[Gomersall]

48 minutes ago, JonM said:

I would guess (not in any way an expert) that there is rather more scope for paying less of your income as tax by being employed as an expat in PNG compared with being an employee in Australia.

That has been mooted as a lure to get players to commit to the PNG team.

[Sports Prophet]

8 hours ago, John bird said:

What happens if there’s a change in government and policy in Port Moresby and they decide they want Chinese investment?

That when WWIII starts and the Brits can come over here and help defend us from the enemy for a change…

 

[Gomersall]

1 hour ago, Sports Prophet said:

That when WWIII starts and the Brits can come over here and help defend us from the enemy for a change…

 

What are you whinging about, just throw Queensland to the wolves again.

[John bird]

8 hours ago, Gomersall said:

I’m assuming the financial inducement will be pulled.

And then the club folds?

[İzmir Rugby League]

My issue is a sense of lack of ownership and responsibility for the team by the people of PNG. 

Frankly the stadium is small and needs to be upgraded for atleast 20 thousand plus (not really too hard. Fill in the corners should do it. Add another tier on one side. 

İf I were the NRL I would actually require 20 thousand season tickets sold. İt should not matter if they are expensive but the view each game should be convincing. 

They also need to be aware of optics with safety, child and women. These are serious issues in PNG that need be addressed. 

The goal also should be that this team is self sufficient, so the extra funding can go into ensuring the development of the game is beyond belief. 

PNG government needs to create some benefits not just the Aussie gov. A serious tax break for large corporations to invest etc. 

To be practical I would also think that being based in Cairns for atleast 2 - 4 years is going to be the only realtistic option till the NRL is flooded with PNG players. 

 

[John bird]

8 hours ago, NRLandSL said:

I’m sure they’ll announce it earlier than that given it’s pretty much confirmed now. Not joining till 2028 though which is still a long way away.

Maybe announce it sooner but you’d expect some sort of ceremony on PNG independence from Australia Day to mark the occasion.

[Gomersall]

1 hour ago, John bird said:

And then the club folds?

Not necessarily. It would be funded the same way the other NRL teams are IMO. That or they join the Chinese league.

Edited May 30 by Gomersall

[John bird]

On 30/05/2024 at 16:37, Gomersall said:

Not necessarily. It would be funded the same way the other NRL teams are IMO. That or they join the Chinese league.

Don’t think the current NRL grant would cover the operational costs of running a professional NRL club in PNG.