PNG solves an underlying issue that I don’t think has really been discussed here to much extent anyways. Player surplus and player pool.
I don’t think this franchise will be a powerhouse off the bat - hell I think they’ll genuinely struggle on the field because of play makers and potential lack of but I also think that’ll be contained to possibly inside their first decade of existence.
Covid, lack of junior development and lack of sides really investing into pathways over a period of time has shown that whilst some positions have quality surplus - other positions do not. Quality middles, quality halves etc. Now this isn’t me saying that there isn’t enough players for 18, 19 and 20 teams because by the time they come in I’m sure there will be. This me saying there isn’t enough top tier players to fill 20 teams.
A side like Parramatta Eels - known for their great in house built success during the 80s has struggled with development and pathways through out the 90s and up til now. That should be an indication that getting these pathways right isn’t an easy task and that Panthers are the exception not the norm.
It’ll take a decade for these critical pathways and development to come to fruition - regardless of the club. Currently in the comp or potentially coming into the comp. But what PNG can provide that no other side except a botched til now NZ Warriors can provide. A pool of rugby league playing kids who are ripe for development to feed into the overall comp. Whether PNG management or NRL management get it right though is a completely different topic - but one thing is for sure it’s that PNG does have that pool and to date no current NRL club has been able to resource it effectively. So why not let them resource it for the rest of the comp - obviously they would require some astute rugby league people who know how to set up programs, development systems and pathways to assist.
Dog eat dog world and that’s a glass half full out look. When you observe it beyond the political play that it actually is and actually observe it from a pure rugby league play - you suddenly see the upside for the entire comp and game for having a PNG side.
Strip all that away and without an existing club well established in lower grades that invests into Perth then Perth will have to rely solely on being a recruitment club. Much like Panthers with pathways - the Storm and Roosters are the exceptions with being recruitments clubs having a lot of success - not the norm.
Suddenly you starting seeing between the lines and words that PVL has been using and saying. Ie pathways, ie juniors, ie development.
Suddenly you can start understanding why a Dolphins model is absolutely critical for a new side which doesn’t have resources built into its location DNA. Because that new side isn’t Roosters, they’re not Storm and they’re not Panthers.
No pathways and development = not many quality players.
Not many quality players = teams struggling to attract talent.
Teams struggling to attract talent = down performances.
Down performances = low crowds and team not being watched on tv.
Low crowds and team not being watched on tv = less corporate appeal.
Less corporate appeal = less money going into club.
Less money going into club = financial strain on club and league.
Financial strain on club and league = nothing good comes from it.
Now time for this to fall on deaf ears.
