PNG's back.

[Éamonn an Chnoic]

Biden backs ‘secret weapon’ NRL expansion into Pacific

Matthew CranstonUnited States correspondent
Mar 3, 2024 – 12.42pm

Las Vegas, Nevada | The White House is backing an expansion of the National Rugby League into the Pacific as a diplomatic counter to China’s growing influence in the region.

As the NRL launches its showcase double header in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), the Biden administration confirmed it is supporting the Albanese government’s plans to invest in a new league team as a diplomatic strategy.


Peter V’landys at a White House dinner in October. Alex Ellinghausen

“The United States and Australia share a unique bond of friendship, this includes our shared passion for sports,” a senior Biden administration official told The Australian Financial Review.

“We both understand the important ways that sports can bring people of different cultures together and deepen trust between nations.”

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys has reportedly commenced preparations to welcome a Papua New Guinea team into the NRL as soon as 2027.

Mr V’landys met with US President Joe Biden at a state dinner for Anthony Albanese last year at which the three discussed the merits of the plan involving $600 million from the Australian government over the next 10 years.

“The prime minister said that this was our secret weapon for the Pacific. And the president was all ears,” Mr V’landys said.

He said he expected the US would contribute financial support, especially given America’s ambition to strengthen ties in the Pacific as China increased its assertiveness in the region.

“We are doing this for the Australian government because of the importance of Papua New Guinea for the security of Australia and I would expect the US to certainly be part of it. I don’t have any doubt about that,” Mr V’landys said.


Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy presents a rugby league jersey to Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. Alex Ellinghausen

Beijing has poured money into infrastructure projects in the Pacific, along with securing security agreements, to win influence. China constructed the stadium in the Solomon Islands at which the Pacific Games were held in December, and trained 80 Solomon Islands athletes in China.

“The Chinese or any country can go and build things, but what the Chinese haven’t got is rugby league. Our greatest advantage is we have sport,” Mr V’landys said.

State Department’s sports diplomacy
US deputy assistant secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Camille Dawson told the Financial Review that Australia’s attempts to build up the league in the Pacific was a special opportunity for regional diplomacy.

“We have seen sports diplomacy programs open doors around the world, enabling us to speak with audiences we might not otherwise be able to reach and to build relationships that are not necessarily the ones that would be part of a sort of standard diplomatic outreach,” Ms Dawson said.

Ms Dawson, who was based in China for almost a decade and describes herself as a sports enthusiast, said the State Department had a well-established sports diplomacy office where rugby league would be a good fit.

“I am not a rugby player myself, but I have attended rugby [union] sevens in both Hong Kong and Singapore,” she said.

“We do believe that sports diplomacy is an important element of broader diplomacy,” she said. “It is a means to connect people on an emotional level to find ways to connect friends and colleagues in a space that you care deeply about.”

Former Australian ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, said it was a “no-brainer” to expand rugby league into the Pacific.

“Soft diplomacy is as important if not more important than formal diplomacy in the Pacific,” Mr Hockey said.

“I walked the Kokoda trail and all the way up the trail into the highlands of Papua New Guinea there are kids wearing rugby league jerseys, and yet they’ve never watched a game in their lives. And the one thing you can be sure of is that China hasn’t got a rugby league team.”

While a previous NRL bid from PNG stalled last decade, the country was successful in entering a team in the state-based Queensland Cup in 2014, and has competed in an annual test with Australia called the Prime Minister’s 13 since 2005.

Mr V’landys said the strategy could have social impacts for local people, including preventing truancy.

“If we do it right we will put former rugby league players in schools, and as part of the syllabus, and what that does is make the kids turn up to school. And then that breaks that cycle of poverty because you want them to get an education and education is crucial to the success of any country.”

While the diplomatic and financial benefits of the government’s $600 million commitment could be enormous, there are logistical concerns.

Sydney City Roosters boss Rich Lister Nick Politis has said he wanted the game’s powerbrokers to ignore the government’s push for a team in PNG in the immediate future, and focus instead on spending money on developing players in the Pacific

Jeez, i though this was fake.

Imagine if thr US president actually names-checked NRL/Rugby League during a speech. That would be advertising you couldnt buy.

If Albo was a real Souths fan, he would demand Biden visits the 2025 NRL LV games!

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Poor old Joe forgot the conversation 3 minutes later.

 

[Vee]

No Cookies | The Cairns Post

No Cookies | The Cairns Post

www.cairnspost.com.au

Prime Minister backs bid for joint Cairns-PNG NRL team to enter competition​

Samuel Davis
March 2, 2024 - 6:00AM

Cairns’ joint NRL bid with our nearest international neighbours has been endorsed by the highest office in the country with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backing the bid, despite blowback from the league’s top boss.

The city’s involvement in Papua New Guinea’s quest had been in doubt with NRL CEO Peter V’Landys recently revealing he would prefer the Pacific nation to have its own standalone team.

But it’s understood the PM supports a shared submission – which includes a men’s and women’s team – citing the geopolitical benefits of forging stronger ties with the emerging nation through rugby league.

When contacted, the Prime Minister’s office declined to comment but a government spokesperson said the team “advances Australia’s national interests” and would strengthen the relationship between the Far North and the Commonwealth nation.

“Partnering in rugby league is a powerful way to build lasting ties between Australia and PNG, contribute to gender equality and promote positive long-term social and economic outcomes for PNG,” the spokesperson said.

“It is recognised that there is a strong bond between Cairns and PNG, based on their geographic proximity, people to people links and a shared love of rugby league.

“The government encourages the people of Cairns to put their best foot forward in making a case to the NRL for Cairns to play a role in any PNG NRL team.”

It stands in stark contrast to Mr V’Landys’ comments in Townsville last month who said he would prefer to have a team based exclusively north of the Torres Strait.

“There’s discussion as to where the team would be based and we’re starting to lean to base it in Papua New Guinea – build some infrastructure there, build housing, build everything,” Mr V’Landys said recently.

“There’s an opportunity to base them in Australia. But the more I think about it the more I think they may be better based in Papua New Guinea.”

Cairns mayor Terry James said he suspected Mr V’Landys may have been attempting to allay North Queensland Cowboys’ officials fears that the league’s 18th team would syphon resources away from the Townsville-based club.

“I think he’s trying to placate the Cowboys. That’s probably why he said it,” Mr James, who met with Premier Steven Miles to promote the city’s NRL dreams this week, said.

“We’re working with this bid to help progress this proposal. There are a few moving parts to it. We’re just one of the bids.”

Cairns mayoral hopefuls Amy Eden, Binda Warren have also backed the Cairns-PNG NRL pitch.

But fellow candidate Paul Taylor said he would need to see further detail.

“I would be very interested in seeing the full proposal before committing support to the Cairns-PNG NRL bid,” he said.

Community First contender Denis Walls said: “I would love to examine the details when I become to mayor to see if it stacks up.”

In December, Cairns Regional Council resolved to work collaboratively with NRL Bid 25 Ltd, which was established to progress an application for an NRL licence for a PNG based team.

Both PNG Prime Minister Marape and Prime Minister Albanese have publicly stated their support for PNG franchises in the NRL and NRLW.

Earlier this week, former PNG international James Segeyaro signed with FNQRL club Ivanhoes.

 

[MugaB]

Poor old Joe forgot the conversation 3 minutes later.

Love this

 

[Brian potter]

Poor old Joe forgot the conversation 3 minutes later.

And pissed his pants.

 

[Bukowski]

Aussie govt 600 millon
Us govt ???
Png govt ????

This is a blockbuster bid

 

[Wb1234]

Cairns is back in

 

[Maximus]

Watch out, wb is going to be claiming that the US govt is going to put in 300 trillion now.

 

[Canard]

Good news for PNG is that if Trump gets in, he would never go back on a Biden funding promise.

He has too much respect for Joe.

 

[Wb1234]

Vegas is a huge sucess

next nrl team is a cairns based png side backed by 3 govts

what a time to be a rugby league fan

 

[TheEroticGamer]

The biggest expansion certainty in the history of rugby league.

If the United States Government is funding it too, then, um, lol.

Start the 19th team thread guys.

 

[MugaB]

Start the 19th team thread guys.

I've been saying this for the past 6 months,
..start a new thread fellas

 

[mikail-eagle]

PNG NRL Bid Official | Port Moresby

PNG NRL Bid Official, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. 1,455 likes · 1,522 talking about this. The Official Account for the PNG NRL Bid

www.facebook.com

Papua New Guinea launches new Rugby League Academy to create stars of the future.
Thursday 22 February 2024
Another major boost for rugby league in PNG has been announced, with the launch of the NRL Bid Academy.
Building on the success of a pilot program in Port Moresby last season, the Academy will identify and nurture the best 15, 17 and 19 year-old male players, alongside the most talented females in the 18 age group. The program will also expand its geographical reach, creating development centres in Lae, Mt Hagan, Goroka, Rabaul and Port Moresby.
In total, over 700 players will become part of the program under the guidance of experienced Player Development Manager, Joe Grima. This will make it larger than any current NRL Academy.
The program will be crucial in developing the best up and coming talent in PNG and will build on the success that the Junior Kumuls are currently enjoying. This was highlighted last September with a mighty performance against the Australian Schoolboys Junior Kangaroos, with the Kumuls nearly pulling off a major upset before the Australians scored with 90 seconds remaining to win by four points.
The Academy will also create a new level of professionalism off the field through the employment of 25 coaches, trainers and managers who will work under the leadership of Joe Grima to teach all players the skills, disciplines and techniques that will be required to play at the NRL level.
PNG NRL BID Chief Executive, Andrew Hill, saw the move as another major step towards creating a player pathway system that would prepare players for the NRL:
“We have said from the early days of establishing the Bid that we would focus on getting the best systems in place in respect to pathways and coaching for our top junior players.”
“There is absolutely no doubt that there is an abundance of talent here in PNG. We saw that last season with the way our Junior Kumuls competed against their counterparts from Australia.”
“That next generation now need the best coaching and development opportunities to be able to harness their talent and prepare for the next level. We believe that the creation of this Academy, under the leadership of Joe Grima, will provide the best environment to allow that to happen.”
“It is a really exciting time to be involved in rugby league in PNG. In addition to the Academy, we have seen the great work that Tony Archer has already done with our competitions structure and match officials.”
“Creating the most professional environment, on and off the field, will help shape the development of the game for years to come. The NRL Bid appreciates and acknowledges the support of the Australian Government via the Team Up program.”

 

[mikail-eagle]

 

[MugaB]

Ive a

Ive always liked joe grima, he is a massive asset to anyone looking to apply for a bid

 

[Canard]

This is by no means certain.

And is still the worst idea in RL history.

 

[MugaB]

This is by no means certain.

And is still the worst idea in RL history.

Yeah, keep tooting that horn... its basically a done deal, its no secret now they've already started talking about the 19th and 20th teams, no matter how much shade you throw at it.. not sure why you bother posting on here, we seem to see the same posts on repeat... carnard having a sook

 

[Wb1234]

Yeah, keep tooting that horn... its basically a done deal, its no secret now they've already started talking about the 19th and 20th teams, no matter how much shade you throw at it.. not sure why you bother posting on here, we seem to see the same posts on repeat... carnard having a sook
View attachment 84760

Not just a certainty but also based in cairns

the salt metre going to be off the charts for months

 

[Brian potter]

Not just a certainty but also based in cairns

the salt metre going to be off the charts for months

Can cairns sustain an NRL team on it’s own when the government handouts run out for PNG?

 

[Canard]

Can cairns sustain an NRL team on it’s own when the government handouts run out for PNG?

There is the slight matter of a stadium.

There is only the slight matter of them being the least desirable team to play for.

I'm actually half hoping it does come off, as it's going to be a spectacular disaster that will tank the current Government and NRL administration into oblivion.