New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Gobsmacked]

does NZ have any type of bear?

Anyway I’d have a second NZ team in as the next expansion team. ASAP.

They don't have bear currently and aren't expecting any bears either

 

[ThornlieBear]

What has Origin eligibility got to do with NZ 2 bid?

 

[Gobsmacked]

What has Origin eligibility got to do with NZ 2 bid?

If someone likes Kalyn Ponga can represent the Kiwis and improve their performance and follow, it bodes well for a second NZ team and the growth of the game in NZ

 

[ThornlieBear]

If someone likes Kalyn Ponga can represent the Kiwis and improve their performance and follow, it bodes well for a second NZ team and the growth of the game in NZ

How so?

 

[Gobsmacked]

How so?

Surely you can understand that a successful kiwis team captures the imagination of the NZ public.

 

[flippikat]

What has Origin eligibility got to do with NZ 2 bid?

"This is the expansion sub-forum - where everything is made-up, and the subject lines don't matter.
That's right, they don't matter, like the latest Def Leppard album..."

(With apologies to Drew Carey).

 

[Matiunz]

Obviously colours match. Serious question, would a Christchurch based team accept a linkage to the Bears?

Would be a hard sell for nz to accept a hand me down Aus team than an Aus location.
Don’t think the locals would be too keen but if it’s the only way they’d realistically get one? Maybe a more palatable scenario

 

[Dark Corner]

There is the BLOT outdoor show on YouTube. He is a funny bastard.

I just checked him out and he like a the scouser Billy Moore

 

[flippikat]

Would be a hard sell for nz to accept a hand me down Aus team than an Aus location.
Don’t think the locals would be too keen but if it’s the only way they’d realistically get one? Maybe a more palatable scenario

When the last two expansion teams have been in SE-Queensland, the mere fact the NRL might put a team in NZ or WA (true expansion, not consolidating existing NRL heartland) is a minor miracle.

Of course that's setting aside the obvious Government money gravy-train that's PNG, which wouldn't even be considered without the vast subsidies.

 

[Canard]

When the last two expansion teams have been in SE-Queensland, the mere fact the NRL might put a team in NZ or WA (true expansion, not consolidating existing NRL heartland) is a minor miracle.

Of course that's setting aside the obvious Government money gravy-train that's PNG, which wouldn't even be considered without the vast subsidies.

That's the crazy thing, this sub and the NRL media have just gone bananas about how everyone wants to expand and how keen bidders are.

And yet, here we are in mid 2025 and the only confirmed expansion is due to a massive Govt handout. And will be a noose around the NRL neck for decades.

 

[T-Boon]

I just checked him out and he like a the scouser Billy Moore

He is a character.
I like those stealth camping youtubers.

 

[flippikat]

That's the crazy thing, this sub and the NRL media have just gone bananas about how everyone wants to expand and how keen bidders are.

And yet, here we are in mid 2025 and the only confirmed expansion is due to a massive Govt handout. And will be a noose around the NRL neck for decades.

As soon as the Government subsidy for PNG runs out or gets axed, the NRL has a real dilemma.

Do they keep drawing on their reserves to keep the club going "where-is, as-is"?

Do they relocate the team & it's identity to a "safer" locality? (Cairns? Darwin?)

Do they take the licence back, start an NRL-owned team somewhere else that the NRL identify as strategic & sell that team after a few years?

OR do they simply close the PNG team and sell their spot to the highest bidder, regardless of location & team identity?

 

[BuffaloRules]

And will be a noose around the NRL neck for decades.

I don’t see that … if it’s not pulling its own weight then the NRL will cut bait pretty quick …

pulling its own weight can include providing players ( similar to NZ although numbers will obviously be different for a considerable time)

 

[Wb1234]

I don’t see that … if it’s not pulling its own weight then the NRL will cut bait pretty quick …

pulling its own weight can include providing players ( similar to NZ although numbers will obviously be different for a considerable time)

PNG will be a financially stable club

Indeed I think they will be a very strong club

And in terms of juniors they can basically provide hundreds of nrl players which will benefit all clubs

Test matches are going to provide additional income

The people that hate the idea of a png team probably don’t think tests against png are fashionable

 

[BuffaloRules]

PNG will be a financially stable club

Indeed I think they will be a very strong club

And in terms of juniors they can basically provide hundreds of nrl players which will benefit all clubs

Test matches are going to provide additional income

The people that hate the idea of a png team probably don’t think tests against png are fashionable

All of that may be the case … ..we can’t say definitively that today ….but at least they will have some time to demonstrate so …

 

[Wb1234]

All of that may be the case … ..we can’t say definitively that today ….but at least they will have some time to demonstrate so …

If png can’t develop a strong nrl club with 600 to 850 million going into the game (yeh some is Samoa Tonga etc) then nobody else stands a chance of succeeding

Afl has gone with plodders like the suns western Sydney and Tasmania and you don’t see their fans deathriding it

Heck the afl give all those expansions clubs an extra 10 million pa in funding and priority draft picks and has been for over a decade but we have some nrl fans saying png will be a long term failure once the money runs out

Port Moresby will be such a success that a png regional team could be discussed down the track

 

[BuffaloRules]

If png can’t develop a strong nrl club with 600 to 850 million going into the game (yeh some is Samoa Tonga etc) then nobody else stands a chance of succeeding

Afl has gone with plodders like the suns western Sydney and Tasmania and you don’t see their fans deathriding it

Heck the afl give all those expansions clubs an extra 10 million pa in funding and priority draft picks and has been for over a decade but we have some nrl fans saying png will be a long term failure once the money runs out

Port Moresby will be such a success that a png regional team could be discussed down the track

a lot are death riding it … but if I can say respectfully…you seem extremely bullish about it….

I think it’s a pretty big question mark as we sit here three years before they play a game …it’s going to be a bit of a slog one way or the other …I would like to see it work out …if it works it could be a real shot in the arm for the game as a whole … but I’m a little sceptical to say the least ..

 

[Wb1234]

a lot are death riding it … but if I can say respectfully…you seem extremely bullish about it….

I think it’s a pretty big question mark as we sit here three years before they play a game …it’s going to be a bit of a slog one way or the other …I would like to see it work out …if it works it could be a real shot in the arm for the game as a whole … but I’m a little sceptical to say the least ..

PNG hunters are an established qrl side

That’s proof of concept already

Then the govt money turbo charges it

You’ve got nine or so png players in England and that’s with an undeveloped junior pipeline

Strong nrl clubs in png and nz will provide the basis for stronger test teams

The Union World Cup generates revenues of 500 million pounds pa every four years plus hundreds of millions each year in tests

League makes peanuts in comparison

That’s where people are ignoring

The nrl is on track to deliver Australia nz tonga samoa fiji and png as very strong test nations

It’s the basis for a World Cup which can make money in the future

And why are most people death riding it ?

Why are most rugby league fans so unsupportive of the games expansion whilst fans of other codes back their expansion to the hilt even when it’s clear it’s failing

 

[Gobsmacked]

PNG hunters are an established qrl side

That’s proof of concept already

Then the govt money turbo charges it

You’ve got nine or so png players in England and that’s with an undeveloped junior pipeline

Strong nrl clubs in png and nz will provide the basis for stronger test teams

The Union World Cup generates revenues of 500 million pounds pa every four years plus hundreds of millions each year in tests

League makes peanuts in comparison

That’s where people are ignoring

The nrl is on track to deliver Australia nz tonga samoa fiji and png as very strong test nations

It’s the basis for a World Cup which can make money in the future

And why are most people death riding it ?

Why are most rugby league fans so unsupportive of the games expansion whilst fans of other codes back their expansion to the hilt even when it’s clear it’s failing

There's 7 people in PNG that make 6 foot and that goes down to 2 when the Hunters fly to QLD.
It doesn't matter how much money you throw at the joint mate. They're generally around 5 foot.
You can have a couple of players in your squad that are smaller players but unless you've got an average of 6 foot and 100kg minimum your going to struggle.

That's why after a decade in the Qcup, we aren't getting a flood of players through the Hunters ..

That's the sad reality mate.

Unless magically having an NRL team completely alters the gene pool of a nation, They're going to struggle.

Once the government contract is up, the NRL either pulls the pin or the government props them up again- which is the most likely scenario. A perpetually propped up NRL team at the bottom of the ladder.

 

[Wb1234]

There's 7 people in PNG that make 6 foot and that goes down to 2 when the Hunters fly to QLD.
It doesn't matter how much money you throw at the joint mate. They're generally around 5 foot.
You can have a couple of players in your squad that are smaller players but unless you've got an average of 6 foot and 100kg minimum your going to struggle.

That's why after a decade in the Qcup, we aren't getting a flood of players through the Hunters ..

That's the sad reality mate.

Unless magically having an NRL team completely alters the gene pool of a nation, They're going to struggle.

Once the government contract is up, the NRL either pulls the pin or the government props them up again- which is the most likely scenario. A perpetually propped up NRL team at the bottom of the ladder.

Their schoolboy side just drew with Australia

The kunuls have defeated great Britain in tests

They won the pacific bowl comp against sides full of nrl players who were taller

It’s a bs argument