PNG's back.

[Babyface O'reilly]

I also have my doubts about the viability of a PNG side but that’s something we can’t control so I’m looking towards the positives and that is, politically at least, rugby league is the most important footy code in the country/region. What that translates to for the game going forwards I don’t know but it’s gotta be a positive, yeh?

 

[Perth Red]

Going to be a fascinating social experiment. Can you run a top tier professional sports club in a largely dysfunctional country playing in a developed nations competition. They say if you throw enough money at something it will make it work. Going to be interesting to see if that's the case.

 

[Perth Red]

I also have my doubts about the viability of a PNG side but that’s something we can’t control so I’m looking towards the positives and that is, politically at least, rugby league is the most important footy code in the country/region. What that translates to for the game going forwards I don’t know but it’s gotta be a positive, yeh?

In the same way about what excites me most about getting a WA club is the impact it will have on grassroots here I hope this NRL club in PNG will have that same knock on impact for PNG and RL kids there.
Stanley Gene was one of the nicest most humble guys Ive met and if there is increasing opportunities for guys like him to get out of poverty then that can only be a good thing. Hopefully not only will we see PNG players in their NRL team but right across the NRL and even more in the English prof clubs. Imagine a time when there could be over 150 PNG players in Prof RL!

 

[Matt_CBY]

Sounds like a cap Trump fans would wear lol

This post explains so much.

 

[Titanic]

Ok so the inevitable regarding the Great Wall of PNG has been confirmed and the debate will really heat up now. Here are ten considerations:

1. Can they recruit quality players/staff or only beaten-up hacks?
2. Can they develop local players in sufficient numbers and of competitive quality?
3. How will any local players in the squad feel about living outside the "foreigners'" compound?
4. What will the other clubs say about "levelling the playing field" if this franchise starts to win games?
5. Surely the draw will allow for the squad to play 3 consecutive "away" games at a time to reduce travel wear and tear, although it won't reduce costs.
6. What will they be called? It can't be the Kumuls, I'm not sold on the Hunters and already the Papuan bloc are traipsing out Motuan (the predominant language group of the Papuan region) names but my preference is the Port Moresby Vipers.
7. What should their colours be? Certainly not blue nor red, black & gold. For those who don't know, the colours of the National Capital District, which is the official name for Port Moresby and covers 240 km², are black and gold.
8. How will they beat the incestuous "wantok" system?
9. How long before other regional centres (Lae, Goroka, Mt. Hagen, Rabaul) demand a fixture to be played locally, with all the complications that would bring?
10. What if at the end of the initial contract the franchise is deemed unsustainable?

 

[AlwaysGreen]

That is debatable….

This team is +10 years of potential PR wins. Even if the club never wins, and no juniors come through and in year 11 we are asking for more government cash, the team can still be a major success for the NRL.

RL will cement an image as a force for social good throughout Australia and probably in foreign markets too.a

The NRL is not a benevolent society. It is a business. The feel good stuff might make you feel warm and fuzzy inside but if it doesn't provide growth for the NRL they might as well send Christmas hampers to the homeless instead.

 

[Perth Red]

Ok so the inevitable regarding the Great Wall of PNG has been confirmed and the debate will really heat up now. Here are ten considerations:

1. Can they recruit quality players/staff or only beaten-up hacks?
2. Can they develop local players in sufficient numbers and of competitive quality?
3. How will any local players in the squad feel about living outside the "foreigners'" compound?
4. What will the other clubs say about "levelling the playing field" if this franchise starts to win games?
5. Surely the draw will allow for the squad to play 3 consecutive "away" games at a time to reduce travel wear and tear, although it won't reduce costs.
6. What will they be called? It can't be the Kumuls, I'm not sold on the Hunters and already the Papuan bloc are traipsing out Motuan (the predominant language group of the Papuan region) names but my preference is the Port Moresby Vipers.
7. What should their colours be? Certainly not blue nor red, black & gold. For those who don't know, the colours of the National Capital District, which is the official name for Port Moresby and covers 240 km², are black and gold.
8. How will they beat the incestuous "wantok" system?
9. How long before other regional centres (Lae, Goroka, Mt. Hagen, Rabaul) demand a fixture to be played locally, with all the complications that would bring?
10. What if at the end of the initial contract the franchise is deemed unsustainable?

1. Realistically they are looking at a 20-25% salary increase on what another club could offer a player (no player here is paying full tax amounts if they have a decent accountant). Is that enough to attract top players to move to PNG? That will depend on the quality of what they set up for them and the experiences the pioneers have. If its a sht show then good luck recruiting, if its a good experience then it could be enough.

2. Eventually probably to furnish 50-60% of the team. Warriors have a whole nation to develop from but that hasn't gone so swimmingly. Though ONg has teh advantage of pure numbers on $'s being spend in pathways.

3. No confirmation if that will be the case, probably not I'd suggest for team harmony.

4. They'll moan, already started, but Vlandys will remind them of the $3.5mill bribe they got.

5. Maybe, though Warriors havent had any help and I doubt WA will either.

6. TBC

7. I'm hoping predominantly bright yellow.

8. Good luck with that, being run by Australians might help.

9. They dont have the facilities so its a non argument

10. Easts are waiting in the wings

 

[Matt_CBY]

Ok so the inevitable regarding the Great Wall of PNG has been confirmed and the debate will really heat up now. Here are ten considerations:

1. Can they recruit quality players/staff or only beaten-up hacks?
2. Can they develop local players in sufficient numbers and of competitive quality?
3. How will any local players in the squad feel about living outside the "foreigners'" compound?
4. What will the other clubs say about "levelling the playing field" if this franchise starts to win games?
5. Surely the draw will allow for the squad to play 3 consecutive "away" games at a time to reduce travel wear and tear, although it won't reduce costs.
6. What will they be called? It can't be the Kumuls, I'm not sold on the Hunters and already the Papuan bloc are traipsing out Motuan (the predominant language group of the Papuan region) names but my preference is the Port Moresby Vipers.
7. What should their colours be? Certainly not blue nor red, black & gold. For those who don't know, the colours of the National Capital District, which is the official name for Port Moresby and covers 240 km², are black and gold.
8. How will they beat the incestuous "wantok" system?
9. How long before other regional centres (Lae, Goroka, Mt. Hagen, Rabaul) demand a fixture to be played locally, with all the complications that would bring?
10. What if at the end of the initial contract the franchise is deemed unsustainable?

Can’t be the Port Moresby Vipers? They are a different entity and are also bidding to join the NSW Cup competition.

I think you’ll find there’ll be some community engagement around the name & colours.

As for the colours, I’d go with Black and Yellow. Both national colours without including the red and stepping on the Kumuls branding. Also an obvious colour combination we don’t have in the NRL as yet.