Season 2026

[age.s]

I’m not against expansion and I don’t have any issues with PNG or its people. In fact, I’ve never been there. But I feel their inclusion was not the right move. Who would I pick instead, to be honest, I haven’t even thought about it.

The government disagrees.

 

[Black Panther]

Not sure why the NRL decided to expand anyway, no real need in my opinion.

 

[The Realist]

Second NZ team would have been my choice.

I like that in Theory, but the Warriors haven't won anything yet, and don't appear to be on the cusp of doing so despite having all of NZ to themselves.

 

[Chins]

I like that in Theory, but the Warriors haven't won anything yet, and don't appear to be on the cusp of doing so despite having all of NZ to themselves.

Can see an argument that it would push the Warriors to be better

 

[BossleyPanther]

Casey's value is worth more than Tago's, that was poor from him

 

[Girds89]

Casey's value is worth more than Tago's, that was poor from him

Harsh. Tago had to hold on a rampaging paps... samoa hadnt slid well enough.

Casey definitely got the win but tago was good in the 2md half... couple offloads that shouldve led to tries.

If we can get casey and tago both firing we are in luck and will have the best centre pairing in the nrl..

Tago is a bit like dyl.. hes such a confidence guy. And hes not someone youd say is a natural fit player. Hes always fatigued..

Ivan really needs to get into him in the preseason and ask him what kimd kf player he wants to be. At his best he can be an origin player and top centre.

At his worst he could be overtaken by milky or alamonti.

Im one of his biggest fans but this offseason is a make or break year at penrith for tago imo. Yes he can be elite but he needs to show it all year..not just come finals.

And i domt even think finals tago is the best him.. hes capable of soo much more. We need him super fit and fired uo come rd1

 

[Chins]

Tago had a cracking game with the ball and a f**king terrible one without it

 

[maple_69]

The Warriors underachieving has no bearing on whether there should be another NZ side. It’s a club comp and the Warriors for the most part have run a shit club. Despite that, talent absolutely bleeds out of the joint and fans pack the stadium. Rugby is dying as much as I have nothing against the sport.

I think NZ2 which represents Pacifica and takes a home game every season to each of Samoa/Tonga/Fiji/Cookies would have been a good option to stake a claim and build those markets. PNG may have been a shrewd move for the Australian government but that’s not the NRL’s concern.

 

[Pomoz]

The Pacific championships games have been brutal. I expect Samoa vs Tonga to be SOO intense. Haas, Papali vs Fanua-Blake and Kafusi. That is going to be brutal. Kafusi has never seen a jaw and set of teeth he doesn’t want to rearrange. He is an orthodontist’s wet dream.

As for our players, a two month reduction in off-season has to take its toll on the body and mental fatigue. Especially the Ashes tour. They are living in hotels for a month. Nathan is probably the only one getting the benefit (cough) of being overseas because he can see Mary.

We have 11 players in the Pacific championships and Ashes tour. Most of our starting side won’t be getting as long a rest as we would like. Martin (out due to the birth of his child), Kenny, Henry, Garner, Schneider and Sorenson are the only players not playing. This has been happening for almost five years straight.

 

[Chins]

The Pacific championships games have been brutal. I expect Samoa vs Tonga to be SOO intense. Haas, Papali vs Fanua-Blake and Kafusi. That is going to be brutal. Kafusi has never seen a jaw and set of teeth he doesn’t want to rearrange. He is an orthodontist’s wet dream.

As for our players, a two month reduction in off-season has to take its toll on the body and mental fatigue. Especially the Ashes tour. They are living in hotels for a month. Nathan is probably the only one getting the benefit (cough) of being overseas because he can see Mary.

We have 11 players in the Pacific championships and Ashes tour. Most of our starting side won’t be getting as long a rest as we would like. Martin (out due to the birth of his child), Kenny, Henry, Garner, Schneider and Sorenson are the only players not playing. This has been happening for almost five years straight.

Maybe Marto can put us on his back and carry us for the first 6 weeks of 2026?.........yeah I don't see it either.

 

[PANTHERMIKE]

Does it have a casino?

The players need things to do.

It would need a brothel also...

 

[age.s]

It would need a brothel also...

I'm sure it'll have a few of those.

 

[Frankus]

It’s $4m in real money and a significantly reduced cost of living while there. A few years could set you up for life.

The real challenge is going to be ensuring it isn’t a retirement home for over the hill vets…

I get what you are saying due to the tax exemption on staff salaries and I assume this proposed players resort or village will be NRL/gov funded. Otherwise no it is not cheaper unless your employer is paying for everything. Rent for example is more than Sydney prices in POM. I would guess it rivals London or even Manhattan prices. It’s not outrageous to be paying 1400 USD per week for a nice secure place with back up generator. And unless you are eating Melanesian cuisine or the NRL are putting up hotel style buffets - food is also be very expensive if you want to continue a similar diet to what you would be used to in Australia.

Again, I stand by what I said earlier - for me personally with family considered $2mil probably isn’t enough, especially for someone like Ivan who doesn’t need the money.

 

[Pomoz]

I get what you are saying due to the tax exemption on staff salaries and I assume this proposed players resort or village will be NRL/gov funded. Otherwise no it is not cheaper unless your employer is paying for everything. Rent for example is more than Sydney prices in POM. I would guess it rivals London or even Manhattan prices. It’s not outrageous to be paying 1400 USD per week for a nice secure place with back up generator. And unless you are eating Melanesian cuisine or the NRL are putting up hotel style buffets - food is also be very expensive if you want to continue a similar diet to what you would be used to in Australia.

Again, I stand by what I said earlier - for me personally with family considered $2mil probably isn’t enough, especially for someone like Ivan who doesn’t need the money.

Good comment. It is why a lot of expats set up a home in Cairns and fly home at weekends. Port Moresby is not a pleasant place to live if you are a foreigner, especially a non-working spouse. You can't walk the streets on your own without security.

I think they will really struggle to attract talent without a financial incentive outside of the salary cap. Expats are generally paid massive salaries and living away from home allowances to live there.

I worked for three years at a mining company and visited there many times. As an ex-military guy, constantly surrounded by security and being forced into confinement at hotels and locked in restaurants didn't phase me. After Northern Ireland , PNG was easy, but most expats hated it.

I cant imagine how a young single footballer with buckets of money is going to enjoy being locked inside for most of the time.

Maybe somebody who has lived there recently, (I was there in the mid 90's) can comment on whether it is different now? If it isnt, I can see this ending in tears. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Oldpanther86]

Good comment. It is why a lot of expats set up a home in Cairns and fly home at weekends. Port Moresby is not a pleasant place to live if you are a foreigner, especially a non-working spouse. You can't walk the streets on your own without security.

I think they will really struggle to attract talent without a financial incentive outside of the salary cap. Expats are generally paid massive salaries and living away from home allowances to live there.

I worked for three years at a mining company and visited there many times. As an ex-military guy, constantly surrounded by security and being forced into confinement at hotels and locked in restaurants didn't phase me. After Northern Ireland , PNG was easy, but most expats hated it.

I cant imagine how a young single footballer with buckets of money is going to enjoy being locked inside for most of the time.

Maybe somebody who has lived there recently, (I was there in the mid 90's) can comment on whether it is different now? If it isnt, I can see this ending in tears. I hope I am wrong.

They struggle to get players to go to Canberra. PNG is DOA.

 

[Fangs]

Good comment. It is why a lot of expats set up a home in Cairns and fly home at weekends. Port Moresby is not a pleasant place to live if you are a foreigner, especially a non-working spouse. You can't walk the streets on your own without security.

I think they will really struggle to attract talent without a financial incentive outside of the salary cap. Expats are generally paid massive salaries and living away from home allowances to live there.

I worked for three years at a mining company and visited there many times. As an ex-military guy, constantly surrounded by security and being forced into confinement at hotels and locked in restaurants didn't phase me. After Northern Ireland , PNG was easy, but most expats hated it.

I cant imagine how a young single footballer with buckets of money is going to enjoy being locked inside for most of the time.

Maybe somebody who has lived there recently, (I was there in the mid 90's) can comment on whether it is different now? If it isnt, I can see this ending in tears. I hope I am wrong.

They should have compromised and played them out of Townsville.

Perth Bears have a commitment to play a match at North Sydney oval. PNG could have been a similar setup.

I haven't been myself and probably won't do the road trip when Penrith go over there.

 

[Luke Bowden]

Good comment. It is why a lot of expats set up a home in Cairns and fly home at weekends. Port Moresby is not a pleasant place to live if you are a foreigner, especially a non-working spouse. You can't walk the streets on your own without security.

I think they will really struggle to attract talent without a financial incentive outside of the salary cap. Expats are generally paid massive salaries and living away from home allowances to live there.

I worked for three years at a mining company and visited there many times. As an ex-military guy, constantly surrounded by security and being forced into confinement at hotels and locked in restaurants didn't phase me. After Northern Ireland , PNG was easy, but most expats hated it.

I cant imagine how a young single footballer with buckets of money is going to enjoy being locked inside for most of the time.

Maybe somebody who has lived there recently, (I was there in the mid 90's) can comment on whether it is different now? If it isnt, I can see this ending in tears. I hope I am wrong.

I have quite a lot of business in PNG and go fairly regularly.

It’s not the worst place I go, Solomon Islands for instance is much worse, but it’s far from good.

I think young footballers would dread it. As you said, compound or “Resort” style living is not for everyone. 90% of my work force are ex-military, so they have no issues, but annoyingly I’ve had plenty of “civilian” staff turnover.

Interesting times, I think it will be very rough going, but I like that the NRL are willing to try. I have a soft spot for PNG and I hope it goes well.

 

[betcats]

You can live a good lifestyle in PNG but you must always be thinking about safety. I have family member who has worked there on and off for years. You need security where you live and to move about. I think it would be a tiring lifestyle if you are based there, even on an exclusive nrl island.

 

[Pomoz]

I have quite a lot of business in PNG and go fairly regularly.

It’s not the worst place I go, Solomon Islands for instance is much worse, but it’s far from good.

I think young footballers would dread it. As you said, compound or “Resort” style living is not for everyone. 90% of my work force are ex-military, so they have no issues, but annoyingly I’ve had plenty of “civilian” staff turnover.

Interesting times, I think it will be very rough going, but I like that the NRL are willing to try. I have a soft spot for PNG and I hope it goes well.

That figures, for most civvies it would be intimidating to live there long term. Fly in, fly out is probably the best bet. My boss at the time just about shat himself the first time he went and told me "I am letting you handle all PNG matters, it is great career development". He never went again.

 

[Frankus]

Good comment. It is why a lot of expats set up a home in Cairns and fly home at weekends. Port Moresby is not a pleasant place to live if you are a foreigner, especially a non-working spouse. You can't walk the streets on your own without security.

I think they will really struggle to attract talent without a financial incentive outside of the salary cap. Expats are generally paid massive salaries and living away from home allowances to live there.

I worked for three years at a mining company and visited there many times. As an ex-military guy, constantly surrounded by security and being forced into confinement at hotels and locked in restaurants didn't phase me. After Northern Ireland , PNG was easy, but most expats hated it.

I cant imagine how a young single footballer with buckets of money is going to enjoy being locked inside for most of the time.

Maybe somebody who has lived there recently, (I was there in the mid 90's) can comment on whether it is different now? If it isnt, I can see this ending in tears. I hope I am wrong.

I was there early 2010s - same reason you were - mining. Nothing has changed mate. It’s still f**ked.