PNG bid for NRL

[Brownie.Kougari]

sh*t sorry mate..

haha mate I wasn't having a go at you, was just funny.

Moved now anyway

 

[CHRIS SANDOW]

png Is Too Gangsta To Have An Nrl Side.

Lol.

 

[Agent Mulder]

I would have a PNG side in the Nrl before i would let Perth in.

 

[brendothejet]

I think PNG's performance at this world cup has sent a message out to some people who werent aware of their passion and love for the game.

To see Stanley Gene in tears at the effort the side put in, and indeed at his own journey shows what a world cup is about in any sport.

To the haters of international RL STFU>

 

[joshreading]

I think that Perth needs to come in before PNG due to the nature of WA at present - it is key we get our foot in HOWEVER I think all the sides that are due in the next ten years need to be given some sort of notice.

ie. Start prepare to be in the NRL by 20? - (providing you meet certain criteria) Even that would boost PNG by saying that will be in by say 2015.

 

[joshreading]

I think the NRL has a potentially great problem. Think of all the areas that want in/or are likely/possible

Central Coast
2nd SQ
PNG
Southern NZ
WA
Sunshine Coast
Adelaide

Some are more likely then others but that is still a great problem SO LONG AS we actually give them a chance. The lingering question still is - if all/or nearly all became viabilities what would we do.

We are faced with HUGE issues, do we continue to expand - to a much larger competition or create an atmosphere where the comp becomes more elite in every area and teams become unviable as they stand. (eg. By raising Salary Caps etc.)

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

I would have a PNG side in the Nrl before i would let Perth in.

:roll::roll::roll:

 

[joshreading]

You have to think ''What effect would a delay have on each area in entering the NRL and RL in general in that area?"

PNG - pretty much no problems whatsoever - esp. if given a reassurance they were coming

WA - start to put nails in the coffin of RL. RL NEEDS a professional presence in WA for the sake of the game as a whole.

The NRL constantly complains that part of the problem in the TV deal is lack of coverage in the major cities. THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

WA Reds Entry in 2012
Southern Sharks presence in Adelaide official from 2010 - 4 Sharks game in Adelaide

We have then covered australia's major capital TV markets
PNG in 2015

 

[macavity]

You have to think ''What effect would a delay have on each area in entering the NRL and RL in general in that area?"

PNG - pretty much no problems whatsoever - esp. if given a reassurance they were coming

WA - start to put nails in the coffin of RL. RL NEEDS a professional presence in WA for the sake of the game as a whole.

The NRL constantly complains that part of the problem in the TV deal is lack of coverage in the major cities. THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

WA Reds Entry in 2012
Southern Sharks presence in Adelaide official from 2010 - 4 Sharks game in Adelaide

We have then covered australia's major capital TV markets
PNG in 2015

according to Gallop its not in our interests to broadcast into Perth, let alone put a team there.

yet we dont get a fair tv deal because we dont have national coverage...

 

[El Diablo]

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-sport/png-kicks-off-bid-for-nrl-team-20090218-8aqv.html

PNG kicks off bid for NRL team
Ilya Gridneff
February 18, 2009 - 10:49AM

Papua New Guinea has kicked off their bid to enter a team into the Australian NRL competition.

Rugby league is officially PNG's national sport and the NRL is considered a sporting Nirvana.

But entering the NRL has wider implication than simply sporting success - it provides a unifying direction for millions of die-hard fans who often play all year round, barefoot, in searing heat and on rock-hard surfaces.

PNG political elite know the potential and on Tuesday Prime Minister Michael Somare gave 500,000 kina (A$250,000) of government money towards an official team to develop a NRL proposal.

Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton and Queensland coach Mal Meninga are also part of PNG's 'bid team'.

PNG's deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu said the government is now approaching private enterprise to help achieve the necessary criteria for entry into the competition.

"Imagine a PNG team in the NRL competition, imagine the opportunities, and imagine the strengthening of the PNG and Australia relationship," he said.

"To have our very own NRL team would unite the whole country," he said.

PNG rugby league president Danny Holmes told AAP an estimated third of PNG's six million population plays league.

"We can have more influence than the government, that's how important and big this is," he said.

"The implications are greater than just having a footy side in the NRL, it gives a big time goal to every kid who puts a boot on.

"We've been using league as a way for kids to learn to be part of a team and a community with a common goal, to learn life skills and confidence," he said.

Holmes admits its not going to be an easy journey to the NRL.

"The government has researched and there is corporate interest.

"The time frame is eight years but there is also talk about 2012, when Somare may retire, so we see," he said.

© 2009 AAP

 

[Perth Red]

Would be great to see it happen eventually and would add a dimension to RL that AFL could only dream about. Would also give places like Fiji a dream that one day they may be able to build to NRL status. Could give the PI RL's a real shot in the arm.

there is a stack of hurdles to overcome first and if they are really serious then lets see them in the Q'land cup from 2011 and building to NRL status.

 

[NRLMad]

But the team would really struggle to get Aussie/Kiwi players to relocate to Port Moresby which despite your assurances, is not a safe place to live.

Surely they have enough talent to fill 2-3 NRL teams without any imports.

 

[coach]

Will not happen.

There is no way a PNG team would be up to NRL standard without a big influx of Australian players. I don't see many, if any Australians heading up to what is not the safest place in the world to live and work. You only need to see what happens when the Prime Ministers XIII have played up there to know what problems can arise. No player in his right mind is going to take his family up there to live.

It has been suggested that the team could be based in Qld and play there home games out of Port Moresby. Really dumb idea. They would be a claytons PNG team. You know the home team you have when its based somewhere else.

 

[coach]

Surely they have enough talent to fill 2-3 NRL teams without any imports.

With respect you are dreaming.

They may have enough quality players to form a reasonable QLD or NSW Cup team. But we are talking about the NRL here. If a PNG teams was put in the NRL and relied totally on local players then there would be a nassacre very weekend.

 

[joshreading]

This is brought over from the international section as it is also about an NRL Bid.

NRL bid on track (from the PNG Courier)
RUGBY LEAGUE
By LESLIE OMARO

AUSTRALIAN rugby league icon and all-conquering Queensland Maroons coach Mal Meninga is confident of PNG’s bid to see a team in the NRL.
But he said for PNG’s NRL dream to come true it needed the community, family, fans, corporate and government support to make it a reality. He also emphasised that violence would not be condoned and that discipline would be very important.
“I’m privileged and honoured to work with the other board members to secure the NRL bid licence. Violence will not be tolerated because we will not condone it and discipline will be very important in having a team in the NRL,” said Meninga, who is a member of the five-member PNG NRL bid team.
Bid team chairman and Minister assisting the Prime Minister Philemon Embel was also confident about the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League (NRL) bid to enter a team in the Australian NRL competition.
Other members of the bid team are NCD Governor Powes Parkop, chairman of Gold Coast Titans NRL team Paul Broughton, former PNGRFL president and businessman Ben Sabumei and chairman of the Kramer Engineering Group Frank Kramer, who all expressed confidence that the bid would achieve its goal.
Despite the recent violence damaging the image of the code, the bid team believes everything is on track.
“Our board here will make it happen and the people of PNG want to make it happen also because they want to live a life of rugby league,” said Embel during a press conference at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby yesterday.
PNG’s dream of entering Australia’s national rugby league competition became a reality following Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare allocating K500,000 to start the bidding process in February. The National Executive Council endorsed the establishment of a “Bid Team” to put PNG in a position to enter a team in the NRL
And yesterday the PNG NRL bid team gave a positive update on the bidding process at their first press conference, saying a lot of work has already been done with the main target to secure a NRL licence.
Minister Embel said the committee will register two entities, PNG Rugby League Foundation Limited and PNG Rugby League NRL Bid Limited.
Embel said the foundation will be a non-profit organisation directed to develop league and sports in general while the other entity will be a proposed franchise company.
Embel said it will cost between K150 million to K400 million to build a state of the art stadium at the proposed site at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium.
Embel said TV rights would be a major issue but encouraged interested television companies to express their interest as there will be a double tax benefit.
Embel said it would cost the interested TV company K50 million to buy the television rights.
Also a sneak preview of a DVD showing Papua New Guinea’s passion and pride in playing rugby league in the country was shown to members of the media.
Meninga at the end of the DVD session told the media that it was truly emotional and really captures PNG’s passion for rugby league.
“The DVD is really unique and from what I observed some of you had tears forming in your eyes.
“It’s emotional and it goes to show how much this country loves their rugby league,” said Meninga.
The DVD starts off with an introduction of “800 tribes-1 heart” and begins with a small village boy getting himself painted in PNG’s famous tri colours red, black and gold.
It goes on to show a group of little children playing rugby league in the village and then a picture of Kumul and Gold Coast Titans winger David Mead standing at the Skills Park Stadium. Mead appears in several of the scenes, most notably one of him giving his view on the bid and a village boy dreaming of one day playing in the NRL like him. The DVD also features Embel and Meninga talking about the bid and encouraging the PNG community, corporate sector and government to give their support and make the PNG NRL bid successful.
“This bid is serious, it’s here to achieve the goals we have set and the game will belong to the communities, families and fans and we believe there’s passion out there,” said Paul Broughton.
PNGNRL bid general manager Bev Broughton added that a great deal work has been done so far but a lot more work was yet to be done to get the NRL licence.
“Women also have an important place to play in the PNG rugby league and the NRL bid.
“They are at the fore front in administration and I know these dedicated people will lay down the frame work,” said Bev Broughton.
Embel stressed again that the NRL bid was serious and was not another government project or agenda. “This (bid) is done on corporate philosophy, the NRL competition is a multi-million-dollar business and there are very strict criteria and deadlines we must meet.
“If Paul (Broughton) and Mal (Meninga) have accepted to help us in our bid this is no kidding stuff, we are serious about our bid to enter the NRL competition,” said Embel.
Governor Parkop added that Papua New Guineans can’t hide the fact that rugby league has become part of their temporary culture. “It’s a good tool for social and economic benefit because it motivates young people and develops them to be good citizens,” he said.

------------------------------

Hmm, it seems they are confident and advancing in their bid. What interests me is the fact that name a price for NRL TV rights - 50 Million Kina (about 22 Million AUD). If PNG TV actually provided an additional 22 Million per year (this is not totally clarified but I think that is the intention) it would certainly give a HUGE push in their case. I still think the best bet would be having them based out of Australia (maybe GC with Broughton) but playing most home games in PNG.

Having some agreement with the Titans and GC would possibly benefit everyone.

The options for NRL expansion are amazing. The hardest question still lies in WHO? There are certainly some bolters in this race.

 

[Big_Bad_Shark_Fan]

Would definetly consider PNG. Given how far Australia are ahead of every other nation in the world we have a bit of a responsibility to try and help these nations out.

I guess the dilemma with PNG will be, will they be able to afford it, particularly all the travel and as well as that will they simply be good enough? I cant see many players really wanting to go and play for a PNG team, and how many local grown talents would they have up to NRL standard? I geuss it doesnt happen overnight and youd have to be prepared to see them get worse before they get better.

 

[BrisVegas]

Hmm, it seems they are confident and advancing in their bid. What interests me is the fact that name a price for NRL TV rights - 50 Million Kina (about 22 Million AUD). If PNG TV actually provided an additional 22 Million per year (this is not totally clarified but I think that is the intention) it would certainly give a HUGE push in their case. I still think the best bet would be having them based out of Australia (maybe GC with Broughton) but playing most home games in PNG.

Having some agreement with the Titans and GC would possibly benefit everyone.

The options for NRL expansion are amazing. The hardest question still lies in WHO? There are certainly some bolters in this race.

Thanks for posting that. I tend to agree with the point about basing the team out of Australia - but believe that the Northern Territory has more to offer than another team based out of the Gold Coast. This option was touched on in Michael Searle's report last year (although the split of games could be a bit more equitable):

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,24036728-23214,00.html

....

The most surprising element of the scheme is the first international joint venture in world sport.

The Northern Cyclones or Northern Birds of Paradise would play most of their home games in Darwin with two or three each year in Port Moresby - and draw millions of dollars in funding from both governments.

"There are just under 3000 Australian companies operating in PNG and their Government has made an official inquiry into getting a club in the NRL," he said. "The Northern Territory Government is spending money attracting our games to Darwin and Alice Springs. We have an opportunity to take the Top End off the AFL."

....

 

[drake]

Only country in the world where Rugby League is the national sport.

Why the f**k not; if the Mexicans and cuzzybroos get a gifted team, why not PNG?

 

[Binga]

Tasmania has a better chance of getting an nrl team than PNG.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Possibly share games with Darwin?

The NT government are redeveloping Richardson Park to a 15,000 stadium.