18th club, whose next?

[Perth Red]

My question, with the NRL season draw released yesterday and PNG rumoured to be the ‘HOT’ favourite for the 18th team, why are no NRL games being taken to PNG to test the waters ?. Thoughts ?.

Clubs dont want to play there, NRL doesnt want a pitch invasion jeopardising the possible hand out coming, no one is paying for it. Take your pick. Maybe they could have played a game in cairns instead lol

 

[Wb1234]

too dangerous lol but you know, it will magically be better when the new NRL team comes in

Pacific bowl

 

[Wb1234]

Clubs dont want to play there, NRL doesnt want a pitch invasion jeopardising the possible hand out coming, no one is paying for it. Take your pick. Maybe they could have played a game in cairns instead lol

Jealousy is a curse

 

[Pippen94]

No money from the PNG or Australian govts for it.
WA govt put their money up for a game in Perth however.
AGIAN.

Article said tigers are favorite

 

[Pippen94]

Clubs dont want to play there, NRL doesnt want a pitch invasion jeopardising the possible hand out coming, no one is paying for it. Take your pick. Maybe they could have played a game in cairns instead lol

Clubs probably don't want to travel to Perth either..

 

[Perth Red]

Clubs probably don't want to travel to Perth either..

Except the ones that are lol

 

[Maximus]

Pacific bowl

Jealousy is a curse

So if everything is all good, why do the players have to be based in Cairns?

 

[Wb1234]

We all know news ltd hate the idea of Perth

Webster works for their rivals and even still Perth gets no mention

pretty funny when certain people here said the nrl wanted more brisbane teams and the anti expansionists said two was enough

 

[Pippen94]

We all know news ltd hate the idea of Perth

Webster works for their rivals and even still Perth gets no mention

pretty funny when certain people here said the nrl wanted more brisbane teams and the anti expansionists said two was enough

More & more of media want more teams in Brisbane. Always said it was best for business.

 

[Gobsmacked]

Breaking down NRL’s 18th team race — and smokeys that could stun $600m favourite

Breaking down NRL’s 18th team race — and smokeys that could stun $600m favourite

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Perth Red]

PNG
Perth
NZ2 or Brisbane3

Those are the most likely admissions for a 20 team NRL. Probably in that order if the smoke signals are to be believed.

 

[MugaB]

PNG
Perth
NZ2 or Brisbane3

Those are the most likely admissions for a 20 team NRL. Probably in that order if the smoke signals are to be believed.

Depending on the bears,
18th PNG
19th and 20th either Perth, Vic2 or NZ2

 

[Perth Red]

FFS they dont even have an expansion plan yet lol


Next month’s meeting won’t be limited to possible rule changes, with the commission set to discuss the prospects of bringing in an 18th team as early as 2026.

Papua New Guinea has emerged as the frontrunners, with the Australian government reportedly willing to financially back the bid to strengthen diplomatic ties in the region with growing fears over China’s influence in the Pacific.

The NRL has learnt plenty from the most recent expansion team, the Dolphins, which is why bringing a team like PNG in by 2026 may be premature given concerns over infrastructure, travel and the difficulties they’ll face with recruitment.

“Growth is absolutely at the forefront of the commission’s focus, and they’ve said all along that they want to invest in growth and growth in the men’s and the women’s teams, so moving from 17 to 18 is our next step,” Abdo said.
“We’re hard at work looking at when the right time is for that and how that all fits together. And obviously we’ve had a huge amount of interest, not just from our fans in PNG, but fans across Australia and New Zealand and in the Pacific.
“And that’s great for our sport to be in a situation where there’s this huge demand.
“The commission will think carefully, look at all the opportunities that lie ahead of us and then start planning for what that growth looks like.”

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/it-wont-be-a-free-for-all-nrl-confident-any-proposed-salary-cap-exemptions-will-be-fair-andrew-abdo-responds-to-png-rumours/news-story/85c0e57fd03ed7ecd91d0c2ded6f47c5

 

[Wb1234]

FFS they dont even have an expansion plan yet lol


Next month’s meeting won’t be limited to possible rule changes, with the commission set to discuss the prospects of bringing in an 18th team as early as 2026.

Papua New Guinea has emerged as the frontrunners, with the Australian government reportedly willing to financially back the bid to strengthen diplomatic ties in the region with growing fears over China’s influence in the Pacific.

The NRL has learnt plenty from the most recent expansion team, the Dolphins, which is why bringing a team like PNG in by 2026 may be premature given concerns over infrastructure, travel and the difficulties they’ll face with recruitment.

“Growth is absolutely at the forefront of the commission’s focus, and they’ve said all along that they want to invest in growth and growth in the men’s and the women’s teams, so moving from 17 to 18 is our next step,” Abdo said.
“We’re hard at work looking at when the right time is for that and how that all fits together. And obviously we’ve had a huge amount of interest, not just from our fans in PNG, but fans across Australia and New Zealand and in the Pacific.
“And that’s great for our sport to be in a situation where there’s this huge demand.
“The commission will think carefully, look at all the opportunities that lie ahead of us and then start planning for what that growth looks like.”

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/it-wont-be-a-free-for-all-nrl-confident-any-proposed-salary-cap-exemptions-will-be-fair-andrew-abdo-responds-to-png-rumours/news-story/85c0e57fd03ed7ecd91d0c2ded6f47c5

Png for 2026

looks like you lost that bet

 

[Perth Red]

Png for 2026

looks like you lost that bet

tik-tok lol,
they dont even have a plan!

'Meanwhile, Abdo said the ARL Commission would determine the next steps on the league's own expansion in coming months.

A Papua New Guinea team based out of Cairns is favoured to be the 18th NRL side, from as early as 2027.

"We haven't concluded yet on when expansion will take place," Abdo said.

"More preparation is better. You want players that have signed multi-year contracts to have the opportunity to transition to a new team.

"You also want pathways set up and high performance and a stable, strong environment with the right personnel for as long as possible."'

NRL cap exemptions for rugby raids will be fair: Abdo

NRL boss Andrew Abdo says salary-cap incentives for a raid on rival codes could be implemented without jeopardising a level playing field for all clubs.

thewest.com.au

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

PNG
Perth
NZ2 or Brisbane3

Those are the most likely admissions for a 20 team NRL. Probably in that order if the smoke signals are to be believed.

There's no evidence of the ARLC and its partners favouring Perth over NZ 2 and Brisbane 3.

 

[Perth Red]

There's no evidence of the ARLC and its partners favouring Perth over NZ 2 and Brisbane 3.

Theres no evidence they dont.

 

[Tigerlaird]

Send North Sydney Bears to Hobart I reckon

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

Theres no evidence they dont.

During breaks in the on-field action, Mediaweek caught up with Head of Nine Queensland, Kylie Blucher, and Head of Strategy WWOS, Simon Fordham.

For Fordham, making the most of this momentum looks like bringing more games to the region – and potentially another team.

Fordham: “We’re really committed to working with the NRL in growing the competition, and Queensland is a big part of that. We think there’s room for another team here in Queensland, and the Dolphins have been the perfect example.

“The more games we can get played featuring Queensland teams in Southeast Queensland, the better. The engagement in rugby league here is just next level, and the energy of the crowds has a material impact on the quality of the broadcasts that we make. It helps create atmosphere, it makes the commentary team rise, it makes the production team rise.”

The Battle of Brisbane: Behind Nine’s NRL push into Queensland

During the Broncos v Dolphins much hyped NRL clash, Mediaweek caught up with Nine's Kylie Blucher and Simon Fordham.

www.mediaweek.com.au

 

[mongoose]

During breaks in the on-field action, Mediaweek caught up with Head of Nine Queensland, Kylie Blucher, and Head of Strategy WWOS, Simon Fordham.​

​

For Fordham, making the most of this momentum looks like bringing more games to the region – and potentially another team.​

​

Fordham: “We’re really committed to working with the NRL in growing the competition, and Queensland is a big part of that. We think there’s room for another team here in Queensland, and the Dolphins have been the perfect example.​

​

“The more games we can get played featuring Queensland teams in Southeast Queensland, the better. The engagement in rugby league here is just next level, and the energy of the crowds has a material impact on the quality of the broadcasts that we make. It helps create atmosphere, it makes the commentary team rise, it makes the production team rise.”​

​

The Battle of Brisbane: Behind Nine’s NRL push into Queensland

During the Broncos v Dolphins much hyped NRL clash, Mediaweek caught up with Nine's Kylie Blucher and Simon Fordham.

www.mediaweek.com.au

you're really clinging tightly to this statement made by the WWOS guy aren't you?