New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Wb1234]

What age groups?

was it just in Port Moresby?

PNG’s NRL junior academies to go head-to-head in nationally televised tournament - ABC Pacific

Papua New Guinea's junior NRL academies will face off in a nationally televised tournament to determine which region holds the most talent.

www.abc.net.au

First schoolboys academy last year

https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2025-03-10/junior-kumuls-development-camp-strengthens-nrl-pathways-png

Junior kunuls camp to improve pathway to nrl side

https://www.pacificaussports.gov.au/news/pngs-rugby-league-future-shines-bright-goroka

Ho here’s what’s happenings outside Port Moresby

PNG NRL Bid: Nurturing the next generation of rugby league stars

The PNG NRL Bid has outlined an ambitious plan to develop a robust youth development program.

www.postcourier.com.pg

Academy program is being held across six png centres

New academy in PNG prepares youth for country's NRL debut - ABC Pacific

The Papua New Guinea rugby league junior youth academy was only formed 18 months ago, but since then it's taken off.

www.abc.net.au

First academy expanded to include 700 kids from around 70 in year one

 

[Matiunz]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

Guess that’s nz dollars

So when the salary cap rises for the next tv deal the warriors and chch would be able to offer the highest wages to get the best talent in nz

Ponga is said to be offered 2 million pa and that’s before the salary cap rises from 2028 onwards

There’s already 17 nrl teams on their doorstep with cash to spend- why are they not flocking across now? Will NZ2 really shift the needle that much?

 

[Jonty]

There’s already 17 nrl teams on their doorstep with cash to spend- why are they not flocking across now? Will NZ2 really shift the needle that much?

Does he not mean schoolboy talent??

 

[Canard]

without the NRL team who pays for it?

which is why they need government funding from both Canberra and Port Moresby attached to the NRL team.

The Australian govt, like we/they pay for everything else.

The NRL team isn't "paying for it', it's you the Taxpayer.

And all of the above could be done got $6M a year, not $60M

 

[Matiunz]

Does he not mean schoolboy talent??

Perhaps, but if so does the salaries of the top tier players factor in?
Currently the best talent in NZ already has the option of going into Warriors systems or going to Aus to Pursue a career in the NRL (with knowledge of potential salaries) yet the vast majority remain in union systems.
No doubt NZ 2 will capture more NZ based players but will it shift the needle dramatically? Will the increase come from current union players or will it come from those currently going to Aus to pursue their careers? Probably a little from each

 

[BuffaloRules]

yet the vast majority remain in union systems.

So why is that the case ? If it’s a question of money, then surely NZ2 will help to alleviate that ?

There is still going to be 5 Super teams there compared to 2 NRL so the over whelming majority will remain with rugby ..:: but the number of pathway opportunities in the NRL space gets doubled when you go from 1 to 2 teams

 

[Wb1234]

If I’m Moffatt I’m ringing up the bears and seeing if a deal can be done

The wa govt has crapped the bed

 

[BuffaloRules]

If I’m Moffatt I’m ringing up the bears and seeing if a deal can be done

The wa govt has crapped the bed

Well … no point him ringing PVL or Abdo …. They won’t take his calls

 

[Wb1234]

There’s already 17 nrl teams on their doorstep with cash to spend- why are they not flocking across now? Will NZ2 really shift the needle that much?

I’m saying after the next tv deal the nrl will be in a position to pay an all black double what he currently makes if they so wish

Whether an nrl club would want to risk 2 million pa on one is a different matter altogether

 

[Wb1234]

Perhaps, but if so does the salaries of the top tier players factor in?
Currently the best talent in NZ already has the option of going into Warriors systems or going to Aus to Pursue a career in the NRL (with knowledge of potential salaries) yet the vast majority remain in union systems.
No doubt NZ 2 will capture more NZ based players but will it shift the needle dramatically? Will the increase come from current union players or will it come from those currently going to Aus to pursue their careers? Probably a little from each

Vast majority ?

Nrl has 30 percent of players being from nz with very little effort already

 

[Matiunz]

I’m saying after the next tv deal the nrl will be in a position to pay an all black double what he currently makes if they so wish

Whether an nrl club would want to risk 2 million pa on one is a different matter altogether

Theres already clubs in Japan and France that can do that (and in Japans case for less games played), yet majority of the top talent remains in NZ.
Sure NZ 2 will attract more talent but it will take more than just chucking money at players. Who was the last top tier NZ union player to defect to league? Can’t really think of Anyone since the 90s Yet there’s been a few NRL stars go the other way in that same period so it can’t just be about money

 

[Wb1234]

Theres already clubs in Japan and France that can do that (and in Japans case for less games played), yet majority of the top talent remains in NZ.
Sure NZ 2 will attract more talent but it will take more than just chucking money at players. Who was the last top tier NZ union player to defect to league? Can’t really think of Anyone since the 90s Yet there’s been a few NRL stars go the other way in that same period so it can’t just be about money

Not playing for the all blacks they can’t

 

[Canard]

Theres already clubs in Japan and France that can do that (and in Japans case for less games played), yet majority of the top talent remains in NZ.
Sure NZ 2 will attract more talent but it will take more than just chucking money at players. Who was the last top tier NZ union player to defect to league? Can’t really think of Anyone since the 90s Yet there’s been a few NRL stars go the other way in that same period so it can’t just be about money

Old mate assumed the only reason someone would choose another code over League is money.

He is like talking to an AFL fan.

 

[Wb1234]

Right now I’d say it’s 50 50 between nz and Perth with Perth declining every day

This weekend could determine if Perth is dead which would mean chch will be team 19

Judging by the wa premier cutting his promised funding by 85 percent the gap looks too large to bridge

 

[Canard]

Right now I’d say it’s 50 50 between nz and Perth with Perth declining every day

This weekend could determine if Perth is dead which would mean chch will be team 19

Judging by the wa premier cutting his promised funding by 85 percent the gap looks too large to bridge

There is no credible NZ bid, and the NRL haven't entertained one.

 

[Matiunz]

There is no credible NZ bid, and the NRL haven't entertained one.

There seems to be a perception that Christchurch is just sitting there ready to go whereas it’s pretty clear that the NRL weren’t too impressed with either of the Keas nor Orcas to the point of not even bothering to meet them when they were in town. Te Kaha is also often lumped in as part of this bid but is being built to replace the earthquake damaged Lancaster/Jade/AMI with zero thought of an NRL team yet some are acting like it is being built as part of the bid.
Not saying it won’t happen but it appears that any NZ2 team needs quite a bit of work done to make it a reality and (at least openly) the NRL haven’t appeared to do much- if anything- to further develop the bid.

Perth on the other hand seem to keep getting in its own way and trying its hardest to make an almost sure thing not happen.

I want both to happen and just be done with it but at this stage Perth seems a better bet of just finding a middle ground vs a ground up build of NZ 2

 

[Maximus]

There is no credible NZ bid, and the NRL haven't entertained one.

You're talking to one of the posters who thought a bid entering as 50% fan owned was realistic because the Green Bay Packers is successful.

 

[flippikat]

There seems to be a perception that Christchurch is just sitting there ready to go whereas it’s pretty clear that the NRL weren’t too impressed with either of the Keas nor Orcas to the point of not even bothering to meet them when they were in town. Te Kaha is also often lumped in as part of this bid but is being built to replace the earthquake damaged Lancaster/Jade/AMI with zero thought of an NRL team yet some are acting like it is being built as part of the bid.
Not saying it won’t happen but it appears that any NZ2 team needs quite a bit of work done to make it a reality and (at least openly) the NRL haven’t appeared to do much- if anything- to further develop the bid.

Perth on the other hand seem to keep getting in its own way and trying its hardest to make an almost sure thing not happen.

Your last paragraph sums up the dilemma - Perth (for whatever reason/s) has been difficult to deal with, from the NRLs perspective. The previous management in charge of the Perth Bears bid butted heads with NRL management, as has the WA Government recently.. and it seems the only party who's had an agreeable relationship with the NRL all along has been the Bears.

That might be different with the Christchurch bids - even though there's a need from the NRL to see the money, the working relationship seems better.. and it's clear that besides the stadium (which as you said is a general Christchurch rebuild project - not specifically for an NRL team) there's little to no scope for Government largesse, and that's been consistent all the way through.

IF - and this is two big IFs - the NRL wants a 19th team soon after PNG (even though it doesn't mean another game in itself) and the working relationship with Christchurch is really good - miles better than the Perth omnishambles - then that might get them over the line before Perth if a suitable business model can be agreed.

 

[Canard]

and it seems the only party who's had an agreeable relationship with the NRL all along has been the Bear

I mean, who wouldn't be agreeable.

The NRL announced publicly, with no due process, that they would be part of a new NRL team, with no financial obligations whatsoever.

The only way it works in Christchurch is if the Bears stump up some significant cash.

 

[flippikat]

I mean, who wouldn't be agreeable.

The NRL announced publicly, with no due process, that they would be part of a new NRL team, with no financial obligations whatsoever.

The only way it works in Christchurch is if the Bears stump up some significant cash.

The Bears or spme sugar-daddy who can meet whatever bar the NRL deems acceptable.

While the Bears may be the most straightforward & obvious money-men, any Christchurch bid has to consider the tradeoff on colors & branding.

The price of such an arrangement is they don't get to use a NZ-themed brand, and they don't get to use province-neutral colors that can appeal outside Christchurch.