This bid is about the feel good factor, and giving back. It will work for several reasons
1 Government funding $15-$20 million making it viable option & diplomacy in the region. It’s been talked about for years and so it makes absolute sense.
2 Fan base - population of 7 million people. The obvious statement is to say is that the country is poor this could be said for many countries in the world. There are people who run businesses and that are successful. These people will support the team and so the people who don’t have that luxury.
3 Alignment with another strong brand if they join with North Sydney Bears in a combined bid, this would be a crate, outcome because it allows us to do 1,2 above & bring back a key market in the Sydney area. We don’t want a team to be based out of North Sydney permanently 12 games per year. We want a team to represent Nth Sydney. it’s highly unlikely that the people of North, Sydney and surrounds will reject a PNG association.
4 Juniors and players - PJ will bring in a huge market of new untapped potential that will either fill their NRL team, other NRL teams or super league teams. Looking at talent that we have in the RL from the PNG region alone, suggests that we with the NRL talent within the next 10 to 15 years.
5 International rugby league - currently we have three teams talk to realistically England, Australia and New Zealand fairly competitive. However the next level is slowly coming higher in PNG, Samoa Tonga, Fiji. a team in the NRL will probably have at least 50-60% PNG based players and we good thing for the international team adding this to the other teams and other representation you’re talking to 30+ NRL standard players were playing every week
6 Access to funding other than PNG funding - by aligning with North Sydney, they’re opening up one of the biggest commercial markets in Australia. The Bears company have $10-$12 million in cash alone. Thousands of companies exist in the Nth Sydney area, including my company. I wouldn’t underestimate their ability to get sponsorship on the feel good factor. by alining with the North Sydney Bears, they will be one of the largest and most financially backed clubs in the NRL. Natural competitors would be the roosters and the sea Eagles that would be sold out in minutes for their four games per year
There's pros and cons with the bid. Honestly, there's far more important media markets to be conquered than PNG. Perth, Adelaide, New Zealand and Melbourne are far richer and more valuable.
However, we're also not entirely privy to the deals that the Australian and PNG governments are offering. If there's a long term deed of agreement in place with a financial penalty for either government breaking the deal then it's more than just a mere promise.
I've been in PNG before for several months. I know how poor and dangerous it can be. But when you go to even the remote villages, there's pretty much only one form of entertainment and it's rugby league. It's just that nobody is going there to support the best players long term like we do with Australian prospects.
