PNG's back.

[flippikat]

We need 22 teams 2 conferences

* NRL announces Western Bears (team 18, 2027) & PNG (team 19, 2028) next month - and says "We're holding off a decision on team 20 for now."

* 2025-26 the NRL sees a game per year in Wellington, Christchurch & Adelaide, as well as the annual game in Perth that's gearing up for their own club.

* 2027, NRL calls for bids on team 20 - bids due by middle of the year, decision late in the year for a team debuting in 2030 or 2031.

* October 2027, the NRL surprises everyone by picking 3 expansion bids as teams 20, 21 and 22.. with a staggered entry between the early and mid 2030s.

 

[Foreign Legion]

I wonder the name of the new club? Papua Vipers?

 

[Red&BlackBear]

I wonder the name of the new club? Papua Vipers?

An Ex-Pat who is over there says some people are trying to push Scorpions/Stingers but I’m not sure on the validity of this. Vipers to me is the best choice but unsure if the clubs in the national comp would appreciate the NRL team being named after the Port Moresby team.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

This absolutely stinks. Perth and a second Kiwi side should be the next teams with PNG nowhere near it

 

[Foreign Legion]

This absolutely stinks. Perth and a second Kiwi side should be the next teams with PNG nowhere near it

Could be worse, a $600 million staduim in Port Moresby for GWS.

 

[Trifili13]

Call them 'the Albo's' after their benefactor

 

[skeepe]

Dumbest idea in the history of sports.

 

[MugaB]

Dumbest idea in the history of sports.

Yep, dumb to take 600 mil from the govt hands for just putting up with one foreign papuan side, which the QRL have been doing for a decade

 

[T to the T]

Wasn't the money going to be spent on overseas aid anyway?

* NRL announces Western Bears (team 18, 2027) & PNG (team 19, 2028) next month - and says "We're holding off a decision on team 20 for now."

* 2025-26 the NRL sees a game per year in Wellington, Christchurch & Adelaide, as well as the annual game in Perth that's gearing up for their own club.

* 2027, NRL calls for bids on team 20 - bids due by middle of the year, decision late in the year for a team debuting in 2030 or 2031.

* October 2027, the NRL surprises everyone by picking 3 expansion bids as teams 20, 21 and 22.. with a staggered entry between the early and mid 2030s.

#20/21 NZ2 or Brisbane 3. If Qld Gov't commit to upgrading Lang Park, give them #20 in time for the 2032 Olympics
#22 Adelaide

I think it's save to say then that the NRL will be future proofed for decades to come then.

 

[wittyfan]

Ipswich-Newtown Jets must be the 20th club.

 

[King hit]

Still think it’s such a f**king stupid idea that will never work

 

[flippikat]

Ipswich-Newtown Jets must be the 20th club.

No.. NZ2, likely Christchurch.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Albanese reiterates support for Papua New Guinea NRL club as talks continue with ARLC

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicates Papua New Guinea is a step closer to entering a team in the NRL.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Chief_Chujo]

$600million? From the Australian Government? For an overseas club? Sigh........

could have gone to much better things but could have bought half a submarine as well I suppose. Govts love to waste our money.

Calm down. It's out of the foreign aid budget which is nearly $5bil a year. $60mil a year is nothing to help our neighbour buy in to the greatest rugby comp in the world