Which team will get the 18th Franchise

Think it’s time a team is set up in Perth and Adelaide/Darwin to create a truly national comp. Would also allow the league to create conferences like the NFL as the current draw is unfair and crap. The extra TV dollars and corporate support would fund both franchises. The issue is the decline in grassroots footy which needs to be addressed. An extra 50-70 professional opportunities might help young players to remain in the sport.
I think the next team does go to PNG based in Cairns. But if the goal is to hit 20 teams, Perth definitely deserves its own team, and either Adelaide or Darwin to get the last team. Think Tasmania is too small to get a team and another NZ team I don’t think would work either. Can’t go SEQLD again as @gallagher said doesn’t help the talent pool. After this PNG team goes ahead (if it does) another QLD team can’t come in we have to expand outside the east coast.
 
I also think the NRL will add another Kiwi team too.
For me I don’t see the point. I understand why some Kiwis would be behind it to have a South Island team so the Warriors can have the North Island and be a rivalry of sorts, but considering that Rugby Union is such a massive influence over there, I don’t think it’ll work as much as they hope it would. I just see it as NRL wanting to make another Victoria team, but they won’t considering it’s AFL heartland and know it won’t work. It has more potential than another Victoria team don’t get me wrong, but to make the competition National like it says in the name, another NZ team doesn’t make that work.
 
I kind of have a soft spot for the Bears and would like to see them return to first grade in some way. But I just don’t see how.
 
I think the next team does go to PNG based in Cairns. But if the goal is to hit 20 teams, Perth definitely deserves its own team, and either Adelaide or Darwin to get the last team. Think Tasmania is too small to get a team and another NZ team I don’t think would work either. Can’t go SEQLD again as @gallagher said doesn’t help the talent pool. After this PNG team goes ahead (if it does) another QLD team can’t come in we have to expand outside the east coast.
Yeah .....Darwin could be a goer ......what's the population of Darwin ??
 
Yeah .....Darwin could be a goer ......what's the population of Darwin ??
Really not a lot Darwin would be slim pickings let alone the Northern Territory in general, but the key was to expand outside the east coast. Adelaide would be miles ahead to be back in the NRL ahead of Darwin. I say Perth and Adelaide should be getting a team after this PNG team comes in.
 
Really not a lot Darwin would be slim pickings let alone the Northern Territory in general, but the key was to expand outside the east coast. Adelaide would be miles ahead to be back in the NRL ahead of Darwin. I say Perth and Adelaide should be getting a team after this PNG team comes in.
Two red flags for me in regards to PNG.
firstly It's only financially viable due to Albo throwing our money around. No one in PNG is putting their money into it. that money could disappear over night.
The other is it being based outside of PNG. If it can't be based in that country then it can't really be called PNG.
Based in Cairns, employing people from Cairns, owned and funded by Australia and having maybe 1 or 2 PNG players. Are we really gonna think it's a png club?
 
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Two red flags for me in regards to PNG.
firstly It's only financially viable due to Albo throwing our money around. No one in PNG is putting their money into it. that money could disappear over night.
The other is it being based outside of PNG. If it can't be based in that country then it can't really be called PNG.
Based in Cairns, employing people from Cairns, owned and funded by Australia and having maybe 1 or 2 PNG players. Are we really gonna think it's a png club?
It’s a weird one mate. You do have some points though. I agree it’s gonna be hard to call it a PNG club if it isn’t based in PNG, but they know not many Aussies will want to make the move to PNG to help make the club a success.

The only reason PNG is getting the go ahead over the others is because of funding as you said by the government, and because PNG is the only country in the world that calls Rugby League their national sport.

That’s why I’ve been against this PNG based in Cairns club, I don’t deny their love and passion for the game, but the standards are a lot different. And if they actually had it based in PNG with their players, it’ll take ages for the PNG club to match the Aussie based clubs in performance, training etc and the club will be bottom 4 each year for a while.

That’s another reason why I wanted Perth to become the next team in the NRL. I believe they’re long overdue. The Super League war didn’t help the teams outside the east coast. I do think Perth will be the team after this PNG Cairns club is going ahead (unless it somehow fails to get in) but Perth should be the team coming in next not the PNG.
 
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It’s a weird one mate. You do have some points though. I agree it’s gonna be hard to call it a PNG club if it isn’t based in PNG, but they know not many Aussies will want to make the move to PNG to help make the club a success.

The only reason PNG is getting the go ahead over the others is because of funding as you said by the government, and because PNG is the only country in the world that calls Rugby League their national sport.

That’s why I’ve been against this PNG based in Cairns club, I don’t deny their love and passion for the game, but the standards are a lot different. And if they actually had it based in PNG with their players, it’ll take ages for the PNG club to match the Aussie based clubs in performance, training etc and the club will be bottom 4 each year for a while.

That’s another reason why I wanted Perth to become the next team in the NRL. I believe they’re long overdue. The Super League war didn’t help the teams outside the east coast. I do think Perth will be the team after this PNG Cairns club is going ahead (unless it somehow fails to get in) but Perth should be the team coming in next not the PNG.
Well I do think that if Albo is having any second thoughts, the riots this week give him the perfect opportunity to change tack and say sorry but it’s now a no.
Will save the Govt money as well as saving face. And let’s face it, there should be other things we can do to support PNG v China infiltration.
 
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Well I do think that if Albo is having any second thoughts, the riots this week give him the perfect opportunity to change tack and say sorry but it’s now a no.
Will save the Govt money as well as saving face. And let’s face it, there should be other things we can do to support PNG v China infiltration.
While I agree there are other things that can be done, I think it’s probably too far ahead to back out now. I could be wrong though but I still think despite the riots, they’ll get the go ahead.
 
While I agree there are other things that can be done, I think it’s probably too far ahead to back out now. I could be wrong though but I still think despite the riots, they’ll get the go ahead.
I don't think it's too late to back out. Nothing concrete has even been put forward.
 
You’re right nothing has been set in stone yet, but i just don’t think they will that’s all. If they do I understand why though.
I think the longer they look at it the less likely it will happen.
 
Why don’t the government just fund coaching clinics/ programs
Gala days grassroots programs
Get the grass roots flourishing and their time would come
 
Most likely they won’t be. If they wanted to do it properly, it’ll take longer than 2026 at the earliest to bring them in. They’ll want Aussies in the first grade team as well and they’ll struggle to do that being based in PNG. My guess is Cairns if they’re the side to come in.
I. Agree... I doubt they'd be based PNG, and if so it's not really a PNG team is it?

Would the people of Cairns and surrounds take to them?

This.needs.to be done right but it seems like a few too many hurdles to achieve that
 
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