PNG offered ultimatum

[In-goal]

I think PNG should be over the moon at being invited into the Super Group the sponsorship would be far more attainable playing on 9 against the big 3 than it would be against Fiji on FOX.

If they get beaten so be it but let's not forget the money PNG can make out of this is more beneficial than winning a game or 2 against minnows.

 

[screeny]

Maybe the ARL can discreetly see if any of the other nations fancy a crack at the big three? They would benefit from a big stage and if they're serious long term leaguies then the sponsorship and exposure they'd get from those games would outweight the drubbings.

In any case, PNG isn't exactly light years ahead of some of the other nations, if ahead at all, on the pitch.

 

[nadera78]

Maybe the ARL can discreetly see if any of the other nations fancy a crack at the big three? They would benefit from a big stage and if they're serious long term leaguies then the sponsorship and exposure they'd get from those games would outweight the drubbings.

In any case, PNG isn't exactly light years ahead of some of the other nations, if ahead at all, on the pitch.

That's right, they're quite clearly not the fourth best nation. That's what makes it all the more ridiculous for the ARL to have acted in this way. They quite obviously have decided that, politically, France are much more important and they want them to qualify for the semi-finals.

Maybe they could have a look around to see if someone else fancies 3 heavy defeats, but they won't because time and again they have demonstarted what sort of 'leaders' they are. Either way, what with these developments, and the news that the tri-nations lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, it really doesn't fill me with any confidence for the future.

 

[fourplay]

Great to see the World Cup having such positive effects in growing the game around the world.. the ARL are a bunch of ******.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

In any case, PNG isn't exactly light years ahead of some of the other nations, if ahead at all, on the pitch.

The nail has been firmly struck on the head!

If the RLIF and ARL are so desperate to have France in the final 4 they may as well of excluded them from the pool stage.

OT: If Costigan plays Origin this year or next, will he be eligible for PNG? If he is forced to choose then he wil never don a Kumuls shirt.

 

[yosh64]

Maybe the ARL can discreetly see if any of the other nations fancy a crack at the big three? They would benefit from a big stage and if they're serious long term leaguies then the sponsorship and exposure they'd get from those games would outweight the drubbings.

See this is ok. For PNG they can use their media exposure to get cold hard cash! Assuming that teams can get sponsor on their jerseys of course. But as per previous response i still reckon that some dispensation should be offered to PNG with every effort to make them more competitive.

Have them come over and work with NRL teams football departments to improve their skills and fitness.

 

[nadera78]

OT: If Costigan plays Origin this year or next, will he be eligible for PNG? If he is forced to choose then he wil never don a Kumuls shirt.

It's not so much a case of 'if he plays origin he can't play for PNG' but the other way around, 'if he plays for the kumuls he won't be picked for origin.' If that makes sense.

 

[deluded pom?]

It's not so much a case of 'if he plays origin he can't play for PNG' but the other way around, 'if he plays for the kumuls he won't be picked for origin.' If that makes sense.

But hasn't that precedent been set with Adrian Lam or was the door bolted shut after him?

 

[AlbertRosenfeld]

But hasn't that precedent been set with Adrian Lam or was the door bolted shut after him?

Adrian Lam captained the Kumuls from 1994 on. Then he played State of Origin for Queensland 1995-97, and 1999-2000. He was captain of Queensland many of these years. He played for Sydney Roosters in 2000 and then for Kumuls in WC 2000.

So Adrian Lam established a precedent: being a Kumul was not incompatible with being a State of Origin player. Colin Love, as a qualified lawyer, understands the concept of precedent, even if the imbecile CEO Geoff Carr does not.

Adrian Lam moved to Wigan in 2001, in practice thereby disqualifying himself for State of Origin selection, in the minds of narrow minded selectors like Bob McCarthy, who regards such people as "traitors" of some kind. However after Queensland got thumped in SOO Game 1 of 2001, with the talent challenged Paul Green as half back, Wayne Bennett, in a controversial decision, brought Alfie Langer back from Warrington for Game 2 and 3 that year. Arthur Beetson pointed out, at the time, that Adrian Lam, not Alfie, was "playing the house down" in England. Yet Bennett's gamble was a masterstroke as Queensland won the series.


For nostalgia buffs, here is the 2001 Super League grand final Adrian Lam played in, only to be in the losing side, just as he had been, playing in the NRL Grand Final the year before. Bradford had 8 non-Englishmen in their team, Wigan had 5, including the incipient comic "Reg Reagan":

2001 Bradford 37 d. Wigan 4

13 October 2001
Old Trafford, Manchester
Attendance: 60,164

Referee: Stuart Cummings (Widnes)
Harry Sunderland Trophy: Michael Withers (Bradford)

Bradford
Tries: James Lowes, Michael Withers (3), Stuart Fielden, Graham Mackay
Goals: Henry Paul (5), Graham Mackay

Wigan
Tries: Adrian Lam
Goals: David Furner

Bradford: Michael Withers, Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Graham Mackay, Leon Pryce, Henry Paul, Robbie Paul, Joe Vagana, James Lowes, Brian Mcdermott, Daniel Gartner, Jamie Peacock, Mike Forshaw . Subs: Paul Deacon, Shane Rigon, Paul Anderson, Stuart Fielden

Wigan: Kris Radlinski, Brett Dallas, Gary Connolly, Steve Renouf, Brian Carney, Matthew Johns, Adrian Lam, Terry O'connor, Terry Newton, Harvey Howard, Mick Cassidy, David Furner, Andy Farrell . Subs: Paul Johnson, Chris Chester, Denis Betts, Neil Cowie

 

[mtngry]

I am curious how much money PNG could get from being in the RLWC.
Also, some people are sure that teams like teh USA, Lebanon or Samoa would beat them, what are you basing this on?

 

[The Observer]

Costigan is making his QLD debut off the bench in Origin 1. Not a surprise that he has opted for QLD. If the ARL organisers want a decent 4th team in the super pool, and PNG want out, why not swap PNG with a strong-ish team like Tonga? Tonga might like the exposure of 3 high profile tests.

If the ARL threat to PNGRFL is true, its a risky play in the context of poor Australian and PNG political relations over the last 12 months (e.g. Howard/Downer vs Somare over the Solomon Island official, the AFP issue). The RLWC could generate a lot of discontent within PNG's sports loving public as a whole, which Rugby Union could capitalise on. If the IRB pours money or a World Sevens fixture into PNG, they could encourage disenchanted clubs and players to switch codes, which would be disastrous for RL.

 

[dimitri]

Costigan is making his QLD debut off the bench in Origin 1. Not a surprise that he has opted for QLD. If the ARL organisers want a decent 4th team in the super pool, and PNG want out, why not swap PNG with a strong-ish team like Tonga? Tonga might like the exposure of 3 high profile tests.

If the ARL threat to PNGRFL is true, its a risky play in the context of poor Australian and PNG political relations over the last 12 months (e.g. Howard/Downer vs Somare over the Solomon Island official, the AFP issue). The RLWC could generate a lot of discontent within PNG's sports loving public as a whole, which Rugby Union could capitalise on. If the IRB pours money or a World Sevens fixture into PNG, they could encourage disenchanted clubs and players to switch codes, which would be disastrous for RL.

I wonder if the arl would care about this - probably not

 

[fourplay]

Players get $12 500 a game for origin.. why would they sacrifice $40 000 to play for PNG ? I think thats a reason a lot of kiwis are now turning there back on the kiwi team for origin.

$40k is a years wage for an avg person and they get that much for only 3 games of footy.

 

[roughyedspud]

Players get $12 500 a game for origin.. why would they sacrifice $40 000 to play for PNG ?

because they are papua new guinean and not australian....

also who's paying this $12,500 a game?? the ARL? OR NSWRL & QRL

 

[nadera78]

I'll look for the link again, but I read recently that the PNG union is getting a grant of £70,000 (about AUS$180,000) from the IRB this year. Bear in mind that RL is 20 times bigger (at least!) than rah-rah in PNG.

 

[dimitri]

why didn't administrators use some brains in the first place.

Instead of having a sacrificial lamb - they could have had 3 or 4 groups and a more 'normal' number of teams such as 12

 

[ali]

because they are papua new guinean and not australian....

also who's paying this $12,500 a game?? the ARL? OR NSWRL & QRL

Costigan is an Aussie of PNG heritage. Not a Papuan opting to play for Australia.

However, I wish we could have got him to commit to PNG.

I´m also glad to see decent money being paid to origin players. It´s a good way to keep our stars financially happy, without favouring any particular clubs. Half of it is put in a trust fund, which is forfeited if the player defects to Union.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

dimitri, the structure is good as it is at the moment. I just wish that only 2 from the superpool got immediate qualification to semis, and teh other 2 had to play the winners of the other pools for a spot.

 

[The Electric Horseman]

The Aussie public is well known for getting behind the underdogs. If the current structure stands it would be great to see people get behind PNG. I certainly plan to do so (when they arent playing the motherland that is).

 

[dimitri]

dimitri, the structure is good as it is at the moment. I just wish that only 2 from the superpool got immediate qualification to semis, and teh other 2 had to play the winners of the other pools for a spot.

that is also ok - I have nothing against that!