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I've said it before, the fact there's only a handful of PNG players at NRL clubs is laughable. 6 Million people, all RL nuts and yet there are few just over the sea in Australia. Smacks of laziness really, I know there are VISA issues but surely not to the extent where NRL clubs have an excuse not to even look over there.
I'd like to hear some idea's on how to improve the PNG national team and embrace the country as RL fans, Australia could be helping them a lot more with not much effort IMO.
A few ideas of my own:
The introductions of the Toyota Cup quota would be a long term development but if it's stuck with it will pay huge dividends in 5-10 years. Out of squads of 25, 2 really isn't that many and can't see why clubs couldn't/wouldn't go for more ocassionally. The best juniors in the country can all be gathered for a tournament/festival and NRL scouts can work from there.
The Salary Cap concessions would allow clubs to hopefully look at more and ones that have some already get rewarded. Not suggesting it be much, just enough to encourage players to stick with a developing national team.
The Kokoda Cup wouldn't be too hard to set up IMO, if Origin went to stand-alone weekends it would make it alot easier to have NZ V PNG on the same weekend as the first origin, then it's just a matter of finding a weekend for Aus V PNG. Ideally if origin went to stand-alone weekends a Pacific Cup could also be played with the final at the end of season. When PNG get a new stadium it would be great to have the tournament as 1home, 1 away per team. Australia play in PNG, NZ play in Australia and PNG play in NZ, the just shuffle it the next year.
Week 1
Two things people complain about are lack of player depth in the NRL and the lack of a 4th genuine competitor on International level, well if done correctly PNG could very well be the answer to both of those problems.
I'd like to hear some idea's on how to improve the PNG national team and embrace the country as RL fans, Australia could be helping them a lot more with not much effort IMO.
A few ideas of my own:
- A QLD Cup side - PNG Vipers
- An annual U-16,18 & 20 trial to bring the best juniors together, NRL scouts will be there because:
- The introduction of a quota of atleast 2 PNG born players for every NRL team's Toyota Cup Squad.
- Salary Cap concessions for current PNG Internationals
- The Introduction of a "Kokoda Cup", a 3 team mid-season tournament with Australia and NZ.
The introductions of the Toyota Cup quota would be a long term development but if it's stuck with it will pay huge dividends in 5-10 years. Out of squads of 25, 2 really isn't that many and can't see why clubs couldn't/wouldn't go for more ocassionally. The best juniors in the country can all be gathered for a tournament/festival and NRL scouts can work from there.
The Salary Cap concessions would allow clubs to hopefully look at more and ones that have some already get rewarded. Not suggesting it be much, just enough to encourage players to stick with a developing national team.
The Kokoda Cup wouldn't be too hard to set up IMO, if Origin went to stand-alone weekends it would make it alot easier to have NZ V PNG on the same weekend as the first origin, then it's just a matter of finding a weekend for Aus V PNG. Ideally if origin went to stand-alone weekends a Pacific Cup could also be played with the final at the end of season. When PNG get a new stadium it would be great to have the tournament as 1home, 1 away per team. Australia play in PNG, NZ play in Australia and PNG play in NZ, the just shuffle it the next year.
Week 1
- Origin 1
- NZ V PNG (Kokoda Cup)
- Tonga V Samoa (Pacific Cup 4V5)
- Origin 2
- PNG V Tonga (Pacific Cup 1V4)
- Fiji V Cook Islands (Pacific Cup 2V3)
- Origin 3
- NZ V Pacific Islands (Tonga, Samoa, Fiji & Cook Is.)
Two things people complain about are lack of player depth in the NRL and the lack of a 4th genuine competitor on International level, well if done correctly PNG could very well be the answer to both of those problems.