PNG bid for NRL

[Karl]

I suppose so. I'm just spitballing here. People want a PNG NRL team, there are issues, what are some ways that might happen that no-one else is talking about?

It would only be for home games you'd need to fly them to PNG and its a puddle jump. It's easier to fly out of Darwin for all the away games. An airline sponsor would be good At least based out of Darwin you could get quality coaches and staff to get on board, more likely to get a core of Australian players to sign up, most security issues are fixed etc.

The team and staff could fly in to games a couple days early, fly out a couple days late and work on community engagement etc

Gets the NT more exposed to League as well.

 

[docbrown]

Well it would solve the issue of getting Australian players involved - depends on the perception of how attractive Darwin is to live.

That said - say they were away for 4-5 days for "home games" and then similar for other games down the East Coast, that would be alot of time they're spending away from their families.

Players use that home game time to make up for time when they're on the road. A PNG team based in Darwin would be on the road most of the season. That would be unappealing to most players with families.

 

[Spitty]

The Darwin option does solve some issues, but unfortunately it creates more issues.

The biggest one being, media exposure. If they don't play in Darwin, the local media won't be interested in them and the PNG nor Sydney media will be hiking over to Darwin to see them. Minimal media coverage means minimal sponsors.

Plus they'd have to fly to every single game, home and away. Recovery time will be out of whack, the players and staff, let alone their families won't know where they'll be from day to day. They're abilities to do sponsor promotion, media work and community engagement would impact on their training, recovery and football time.

Plus the cost of running the club would rise, while the income of the club would be reduced. I know a potential sponsorship with an airline could help that, but that is purely a hypothetical and not a reality.

But I think any idea's that can solve the security issues, would pay off at the other end 10 fold.

 

[mikail-eagle]

it is difficult to imagine how Port Morseby could provide a lifestyle which would attract Australian based players

Knowing PNG, a brown envelop under doorway every month, starting during contract negiations will probably do the trick.

 

[Karl]

So make it 3 days away for home games and just overnight for away games. These guys have plenty of time during the week with their families.

Look at American baseball teams and how much they are on the road. Or cricketers. Or salesmen, or businessmen. Its hardly unprecedented, although it's a point. I'd rather be away a bit more and live in Darwin (which I understand is actually a great town in a beautiful region) than live in PNG.

Bottom line, it won't work if its based in PNG.

 

[Dragon_Taylor6]

Has some merit.

 

[Dragon_Taylor6]

With the grand plan for rugby league in PNG to transform society?
That being the case lets say 25 years down the track the team moves home base from Australia to Papua new Guinea.

 

[whall15]

And what, fly them North just to play matches?

Not unheard of mega-rich Russian soccer side Anzhi do it because there players don't want to live in Dagestan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Anzhi_Makhachkala

Anzhi players live and train at a training camp outside Moscow for security reasons and travel to Makhachkala for home games, flying about 1,250 miles 15 times a season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14610186.stm

 

[myanonymoususername]

I suppose so. I'm just spitballing here. People want a PNG NRL team, there are issues, what are some ways that might happen that no-one else is talking about?

It would only be for home games you'd need to fly them to PNG and its a puddle jump. It's easier to fly out of Darwin for all the away games. An airline sponsor would be good At least based out of Darwin you could get quality coaches and staff to get on board, more likely to get a core of Australian players to sign up, most security issues are fixed etc.

The team and staff could fly in to games a couple days early, fly out a couple days late and work on community engagement etc

Gets the NT more exposed to League as well.

It would actually make more sense to base them in Cairns than Darwin.

Port Moresby to Darwin is something like 9-12 hours travelling by commercial airline, and they all go via Cairns anyway. Cairns is less than 2 hours flying. Its also bigger than Darwin.

Sure they could charter flights, which would probably be about 4 hours Darwin to Port Moresby.

I think also Cairns has traditionally had more ties with PNG than Darwin - that could just be a factor of that being where the transport goes to/from.

 

[docbrown]

Not unheard of mega-rich Russian soccer side Anzhi do it because there players don't want to live in Dagestan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FC_Anzhi_Makhachkala

Anzhi players live and train at a training camp outside Moscow for security reasons and travel to Makhachkala for home games, flying about 1,250 miles 15 times a season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14610186.stm

How many of the other teams are based in Moscow though?

There won't be any other teams based in Darwin.

 

[Canard]

I hate this stuff that you Sydneyites think is a good idea.

Why don't Souffs play out of Adelaide and call themselves Southern Australia, or the Tigers play out of Perth every second weekend.

 

[Spitty]

I hate this stuff that you Sydneyites think is a good idea.

Why don't Souffs play out of Adelaide and call themselves Southern Australia, or the Tigers play out of Perth every second weekend.

Mate look back at who first suggested the Darwin idea.

Now look at his avatar and look at where he claims to come from.

Then apologise to sydneyites.

 

[bobmar28]

And what, fly them North just to play matches?

It's more east than north. I used to live in Darwin, it's 11 degrees from the equator.

 

[Karl]

It would actually make more sense to base them in Cairns than Darwin.

Port Moresby to Darwin is something like 9-12 hours travelling by commercial airline, and they all go via Cairns anyway. Cairns is less than 2 hours flying. Its also bigger than Darwin.

Sure they could charter flights, which would probably be about 4 hours Darwin to Port Moresby.

I think also Cairns has traditionally had more ties with PNG than Darwin - that could just be a factor of that being where the transport goes to/from.

I thought Cairns first, then thought "that might be seen as another Queensland team". I didn't realise that the travel from Moresby to Darwin was though Cairns, or that it was a much longer flight.

On that basis, Cairns could make more sense.

 

[docbrown]

It's more east than north. I used to live in Darwin, it's 11 degrees from the equator.

Oh you know what I mean.

I reckon Cairns would be an easier sell to players than Darwin.

 

[jasonstevenswedgie]

Knowing PNG, a brown envelop under doorway every month, starting during contract negiations will probably do the trick.

maybe a boat.

They could host an emtv kids show.

Ox and palm could supply all the meals.

Im sure the png goverenment would hand over a very large paper bag every year to have a team.

 

[mikail-eagle]

maybe a boat.

Im sure the png goverenment would hand over a very large paper bag every year to have a team.

It would probably be more like someone who knows someone who knows another person in the Government who would make the dropp off.

And maybe add free flights on Air Nuigini for parents, wives, kids, girlfriends etc.. monthly into and out of PNG. Theres actually alot of other things not all legal that could be dangled infront of players to make them move to PNG.

 

[jasonstevenswedgie]

Theres actually alot of other things not all legal that could be dangled infront of players to make them move to PNG

.

Like 5 toea scones. Damn I miss those.

Can you see any problems with safety etc for players that go there?

 

[mikail-eagle]

.

Can you see any problems with safety etc for players that go there?

Oh yeh sure..The same safety reasons that the other thousands & thousands of Aussies, Kiwis, American, Englishmen, Canadian, Chinamen, Malaysian, African, Indian,Pakistani, Dutchmen etc who currently reside in Port Moresby are all too aware off and have probably taken the risk to do so.

Its up to the players really. Don't think the PNG Bid will force anyone.

 

[Houdini]

My partner volunteers with a medical team at Port Moresby General Hospital every year. Security IS an issue. The team don't actually go out in Port Moresby because it is not safe. They also have a driver and private vehicle to drive them to/from the hospital each day.

And apparently there is a big spike in violence related injuries on SOO nights. If this is the case, they could possibly have a similar issue if the home team loses to an away side.

The travel advice listed by the Aus government states "exercise a high degree of caution"

Crime
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea because of the high levels of serious crime.

Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

Crime is random and particularly prevalent in urban areas such as Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen.

Settlement areas of towns and cities are particularly dangerous. 'Bush knives' (machetes) and firearms are often used in assaults and thefts. Carjackings, assaults (including sexual assaults), bag snatching and robberies are common. Banks and automatic teller machines are attractive targets for criminals. The crime rate tends to increase leading into the Christmas holiday period.

Local authorities have advised of a heightened risk of armed robbery and attack at well-attended shopping centres in urban areas, including Port Moresby, between October and Christmas.

Although most crime is opportunistic, there have been incidents of robbery in which expatriates have been targeted in their homes or workplaces. There have been a small number of high profile kidnappings for ransom.

Car-jacking and robbery can occur throughout Papua New Guinea at any time. Known high risk areas include the area around Parliament House in the Port Moresby suburb of Waigani, particularly outside of working hours, and along the highway between Lae and the Nadzab Airport, especially between Goroka and Kainantu. Criminals use roadblocks on roads outside of towns to stop and loot vehicles and then attack the occupants. If you intend to travel in these areas, exercise a high degree of caution and consider using a security escort.

Walking after dark is particularly dangerous in Port Moresby and other urban centres.
Travel at night, if essential, should be made by car, with doors locked and windows up. You should also consider travelling in a convoy or with a security escort.

Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary faces a number of obstacles, including limited resources, and this may affect police response times in the event of crime. Many businesses, including the High Commission, employ private security companies to help deliver a prompt response to calls for assistance.

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Papua_New_Guinea

In my opinion it would not be a sensible idea to have a team in PNG when you can't guarantee the safety of the fans