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One proposal is for the far north Queensland town of Cairns to be a full-time base for a Pasifika club, but V’landys said any PNG headquarters has not been locked in.
“At this stage, we are keeping an open mind in terms of location,” he said.
“Cairns has been mentioned, but there is not a set destination.
“We have to investigate whether a PNG team could be part of a joint venture with other entities like North Sydney Bears or the Brisbane Tigers.
“Perth is another location.
“If we were to reward someone for passion and determination, you would give it to Perth, because they have been so determined to get a side in the NRL.
An 18-team competition gives the NRL an extra bargaining chip in broadcast talks.
Not only would the NRL be able to sell a ninth weekly game to Fox and Channel 9, but V’landys believes a Pasifika franchise in the NRL can be an educational weapon for Papua New Guinea.
“It’s important for our broadcast negotiations because that would give us a ninth NRL game every week to take to the broadcasters,” he said.
“That’s the one thing the AFL has always had over us.
“They always have that extra game they can leverage to get paid for, we don’t have an extra game, but we will with 18 teams.
“We have a multifaceted plan. This is not just a benefit for the NRL. We can assist people in PNG and the Pacific in many, many ways. Sport is an amazing tool in building communities and building relationships and building hope.
“There’s 17 million people in Papua New Guinea. There’s 25 million in Australia, so when you look at it it’s a very big country and basically their religion is the NRL and rugby league.
“It’s not simply just having an 18th team. We have plans to have an education and sporting syllabus in schools in PNG, Tonga and Samoa, where rugby league will be at the top of the list for their physical exercise and we can also help academically.
“A PNG team would have kids in that nation playing rugby league, participating in sport and having a pathway to success at the elite level of the NRL.”
Asked if Australian NRL stars would be concerned about the potential dangers of living in PNG, V’landys said: “I don’t believe safety is a concern.
“We will make PNG a safer place by having this relationship.
“The locals idolise rugby league players, so the NRL can help PNG thrive as a nation.”