18th club, whose next?

[Iamback]

I believe they’ve already started pumping money in to the pathways in PNG itself. They will need to start integrating their best juniors in to the Australian comps sooner rather than later though.

All those comps except Flegg are only short so shouldn’t be impossible to get a couple teams up and running for a start.

Correct. They are spending $5m on the juniors as of now

 

[Iamback]

they need to start funding pathways next year … it’s going to be a bit half-assed though…but you gotta start somewhere

I think longer term they will be great. Both tests and NRL level but early on will be a hard slog for them

 

[Iamback]

They need to start junior teams in the QLD &/or NSW systems as quickly as possible, like next year quickly. Only 3 years left if they really are in 2028.

Options are:
U16 - Cyril Connell Cup (QRL) - 7 weeks + finals.
U17 - Harold Matts (NSWRL) - 9 weeks + finals.
U18 - Mal Meninga Cup (QRL) - 11 weeks + finals.
U19 - SG Ball (NSWRL) - 9 weeks + finals.
U21 - Jersey Flegg (NSWRL) - 26 weeks + finals.

Hunters should have teams Cyril Connell & Mal Meninga as of next year. Flegg side should be an aim in the next year or 2 as well as the only long running comp of the lot.

PM Vipers were looking at the possibility of joining NSW Cup a year or 2 back, wonder if they’d be interested in running a side in SG Ball or Flegg as a trial run.

All of this would need some of that government $ of course but might as well start it rolling if/when they make the announcement.

Townsville don't even run those sides, are they allowed to have teams? If not then Jersey Flegg is the one for sure

 

[jim_57]

Townsville don't even run those sides, are they allowed to have teams? If not then Jersey Flegg is the one for sure

Townsville Blackhawks run Cyril Connell & Mal Meninga Cup teams, same as all the other QCup teams except PNG. Wide Bay Bulls run in both as well but not QCup.

I don’t see why PNG Hunters couldn’t run teams in both, not sure if they’ve ever applied. Would only be 4-5 games in PNG for each.

Assuming the NRL team isn’t going to be the Hunters they could set up a Flegg team under the NRL team’s umbrella once that is decided, maybe 2026 or 2027.

 

[final say]

A good test for PNG is to give their Q cup team some extra spend. If they can attract players and dominate Q cup then it's a good test run on an NRL team.