PNG may host 2017WC matches

[flamin]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...league-world-cup-matches-20141011-114qy9.html

Rabaul: Papua New Guinea's rugby league mad public are set to be rewarded, with the code's governing body seriously thinking about adding the Pacific nation as a host in the 2017 rugby league World Cup.
While Australia and New Zealand will co-host the event, PNG has emerged as a genuine destination for at least one pool game.
Four pools will make up the 2017 tournament. Australia and New Zealand will be based in front of their home crowds, and negotiations are taking place to have PNG as a third host.
Fiji and Western Australia are also being considered. However, officials are leaning towards PNG, where rugby league is a national sport.

 

[pcpp]

Fiji and Western Australia are also being considered.

Wow, good to hear that Western Australia will also be considered... Australia, NZ and Western Australia as hosts :?

Great news for the game in PNG but it does dilute the whole purposes of the bidding process - I guess the only real point of contention was whether we were going to hold the tournament in the Southern or Northern hemispheres.

 

[pcpp]

And just realised one other major issue - PNG aren't even automatic qualifiers in the tournament - and are no certainties to qualify either.

There are only two qualifying spots in the Asia Pacific region to be filled by PNG, Tonga and the Cook Islands. On their day each team I'd imagine would be able to beat each other - Tonga and the Cooks are certainly no slouches judging by their 2013 World Cup performances.

 

[deal.with.it]

^ exactly!
But I'm sure Scotland v Tonga would go close to selling out in PNG

 

[pHyR3]

And just realised one other major issue - PNG aren't even automatic qualifiers in the tournament - and are no certainties to qualify either.

There are only two qualifying spots in the Asia Pacific region to be filled by PNG, Tonga and the Cook Islands. On their day each team I'd imagine would be able to beat each other - Tonga and the Cooks are certainly no slouches judging by their 2013 World Cup performances.

cook islands are far inferior to the kumuls, not even a competition.

cook islands were in the worst pool of the RLWC 2013.

 

[Rodney]

The Cooks are unlikely, but they do have a tonne of potential heritage players.
In 2009 PNG won the Pacific cup against the Cooks, Tonga came fourth and Samoa failed to Qualify.
While PNG are consistently improving its impossible to say with certainty that Tonga and the Cooks won't come out and have a couple of blinders during qualifying.

That said give them a game anyway, maybe even two. Get the government behind it and get the stadiums packed regardless of who's playing. It'll be great

 

[docbrown]

The Cooks are unlikely, but they do have a tonne of potential heritage players.

That's probably the biggest unknown factor but you'd have to think the odds are that it's going to be PNG & Tonga.

Even if PNG fail to qualify, the pool game crowd will still be packed to the rafters especially if the sides involved have NRL players.

I agree, PNG should host 2 games.

 

[mikail-eagle]

Most Togan & Cook Islander heritage players only make themselves available for the actual world cup tournament itself after missing out on Aust or NZ selection.

Will be interesting to see the sides they have in qualifying.

 

[pHyR3]

whats their biggest stadium? anything under 18-20k shouldnt really be considered. Maybe 15k if it's a bit of a no name nation playing that would probably draw 10k or less here.

 

[Billythekid]

whats their biggest stadium? anything under 18-20k shouldnt really be considered. Maybe 15k if it's a bit of a no name nation playing that would probably draw 10k or less here.

Will every game played in Australia be able to draw 18-20K?

 

[cumberlandsashes81]

whats their biggest stadium? anything under 18-20k shouldnt really be considered. Maybe 15k if it's a bit of a no name nation playing that would probably draw 10k or less here.

They are upgrading Hubert Murray Stadium for the 2015 Pacific Games so they will be well in use by 2017... Hubert Murray Stadium will hold 18,000...

http://www.portmoresby2015.com/hubert-murray-stadium.html