Off Season 2024/25

[Manu Vatuvei]

Sifakula re-signs, and also apparently changed his surname to "Vaimauga"

 

[Beavers Headgear]

PNG 2028 confirmed

ARLC and Federal Government confirm historic Pacific Rugby League Partnership​

AuthorNRL Media ReleaseTimestampThu 12 Dec 2024, 10:31 am

In a landmark, world first sports diplomacy deal, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has confirmed an agreement with the Australian Government to fund a 10-year Pacific Rugby League Partnership.
The Pacific Pacific Rugby League Partnership will support investment into grassroots, pathways and elite rugby league across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. It will also support the introduction of a PNG-based NRL side as part of a future expanded NRL Telstra Premiership.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the deal was a watershed moment for rugby league and the Pacific region.
“This is an historic step for Rugby League, Australia, PNG and the entire Pacific,” Mr V’landys said.
“Rugby league is the number one sport in the Pacific. This new Club will solidify Rugby league’s role as the unifying language of our region."
V’landys said the funding would be directed into programs that would transform lives and communities across the Pacific.
“Roughly half the funding in this historic agreement with the Federal Government will go to grassroots football and community programs in PNG. It will also flow across the Pacific, including to Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
“The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will help improve school retention, foster national cohesion, and provide opportunities for young people to be their best selves. We know when rugby league is on the curriculum, kids go to school – and that changes lives.
“Rugby league isn’t just sport, it’s a social force for good – a way to improve lives and build stronger communities.
“The new PNG team provides the NRL with a new 10 million+ audience many who will go from being causal fans into engaged fans.
“Just as importantly the pathways investments will provide many new and exciting players to the game.
“I thank Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Pat Conroy and their respective governments for having the vision to understand rugby league’s unique capacity to bind and build communities.”

 

[Philip_Smith007]

PNG 2028 confirmed

ARLC and Federal Government confirm historic Pacific Rugby League Partnership​

AuthorNRL Media ReleaseTimestampThu 12 Dec 2024, 10:31 am

In a landmark, world first sports diplomacy deal, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has confirmed an agreement with the Australian Government to fund a 10-year Pacific Rugby League Partnership.
The Pacific Pacific Rugby League Partnership will support investment into grassroots, pathways and elite rugby league across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. It will also support the introduction of a PNG-based NRL side as part of a future expanded NRL Telstra Premiership.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the deal was a watershed moment for rugby league and the Pacific region.
“This is an historic step for Rugby League, Australia, PNG and the entire Pacific,” Mr V’landys said.
“Rugby league is the number one sport in the Pacific. This new Club will solidify Rugby league’s role as the unifying language of our region."
V’landys said the funding would be directed into programs that would transform lives and communities across the Pacific.
“Roughly half the funding in this historic agreement with the Federal Government will go to grassroots football and community programs in PNG. It will also flow across the Pacific, including to Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
“The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will help improve school retention, foster national cohesion, and provide opportunities for young people to be their best selves. We know when rugby league is on the curriculum, kids go to school – and that changes lives.
“Rugby league isn’t just sport, it’s a social force for good – a way to improve lives and build stronger communities.
“The new PNG team provides the NRL with a new 10 million+ audience many who will go from being causal fans into engaged fans.
“Just as importantly the pathways investments will provide many new and exciting players to the game.
“I thank Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Pat Conroy and their respective governments for having the vision to understand rugby league’s unique capacity to bind and build communities.”

NRL Draft to follow as no one is going to want to go there who has a family.
It's hard enough to get them to live in NZ.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

NRL Draft to follow as not one is going to want to go there who has a family.
It's hard enough to get them to live in NZ.

That’d probably actually work out ok for us!

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

NRL Draft to follow as no one is going to want to go there who has a family.
It's hard enough to get them to live in NZ.

The tax breaks could be a big attraction for many players though.

For someone on say, 800k AUD pa, that's about 340k AUD in local tax they skip, plus up to 40k AUD in resident tax (after offsets) as well.

I'm sure they all have creative accountants that minimise their tax commitments anyway, but that aside, it's essentially a doubling of their in-hand income.

And in return, live/train in a secure compound, while still playing in Australia every other week. TBH I'd do it. Maybe not move the family there, but could relocate them to Cairns while I'm doing it.

Double income for 2-3 years... worth it IMO.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

The tax breaks could be a big attraction for many players though.

For someone on say, 800k AUD pa, that's about 340k AUD in local tax they skip, plus up to 40k AUD in resident tax (after offsets) as well.

I'm sure they all have creative accountants that minimise their tax commitments anyway, but that aside, it's essentially a doubling of their in-hand income.

And in return, live/train in a secure compound, while still playing in Australia every other week. TBH I'd do it. Maybe not move the family there, but could relocate them to Cairns while I'm doing it.

Double income for 2-3 years... worth it IMO.

It's PNG though and the money just won't be enough for some families to make that type of move.
This PNG venture is not going to go well, and they will pull the plug on it.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

It's PNG though and the money just won't be enough for some families to make that type of move.
This PNG venture is not going to go well, and they will pull the plug on it.

I'd absolutely piss myself laughing if they signed AFB and he dragged his missus there

 

[Meth]

Sifakula re-signs, and also apparently changed his surname to "Vaimauga"

Yeah, that threw me

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

It's PNG though and the money just won't be enough for some families to make that type of move.
This PNG venture is not going to go well, and they will pull the plug on it.

Oh yea I’d be surprised if many families made the move. I think the question is more how many players would be willing to leave families behind for the extra money.

Ardie did that for his recent Japanese gig and while that was only one season, there’s ways to ease the burden for NRL players over longer terms.

Most teams have 4-5 long turnarounds and 2-3 back-to-back away game stints during the season. Add in the bye rounds, and there’s already quite a few opportunities for players to catch up with families during the year.

Not suggesting it'd be easy, but it wouldn't be unbearable either.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Ezra Mam fined $850 and can’t have a licence for 6 months, a licence he never had !

Absolutely outrageous considering the outcome for the people on the other end of him

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Ezra Mam fined $850 and can’t have a licence for 6 months, a licence he never had !

Absolutely outrageous considering the outcome for the people on the other end of him

Truely pathetic. Queensland wonders why they are having so many criminal issues. Nothing to deter him or others doing this, $850 would be a couple of hours work.
Bigger fines for being caught on your phone ($1209 in qld)
NRL now needs to step in and suspend him for 6-8 weeks.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Truely pathetic. Queensland wonders why they are having so many criminal issues. Nothing to deter him or others doing this, $850 would be a couple of hours work.
Bigger fines for being caught on your phone ($1209 in qld)
NRL now needs to step in and suspend him for 6-8 weeks.

Shit that puts it into perspective. And its literally 14 mins work on his 800k contract.

Really hard to understand this one. The parents of the little girl who was injured must be filthy.

 

[JJ]

Ezra Mam fined $850 and can’t have a licence for 6 months, a licence he never had !

Absolutely outrageous considering the outcome for the people on the other end of him

Would’ve got name suppression and no conviction here…