balmain boy
Well-known member
They're paying for Peace in the Pacific.
Which team will get the 18th Franchise
- Thread starter tiger_one
- Start date
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
The issue I have is there is no player depth 18 teams. There’s no depth for 17 teams, there wasn’t even the depth for 16 teams. Ideally it would be a 14 team comp. But the NRL want to go the other way. Ultimately expanding to 20 teams circa 1998. You think the comp is lopsided now.
Nonotmeagain
Well-known member
It's money I don't get every week. Let the Pacific look after itself as I didn't express a willingness to give money to form a football team somewhere. If China wanted the Pacific or us we wouldn't get any help from Fiji or PNG etc.
Buttface
Well-known member
Yeah the Govt were gunna throw money at them to stop them from going to China anyway, this is just a glossy way to justify it.
There is a political and a 18th team thread for this to though, and in the interest of this thread, I reckon we should sign a gun lock.
??? That’s the only way you achieve parity . Most players will forgo the money for opportunities , work/life balance , and quality of life . Which are things the new png aide will not have . Not to mention the extreme heat . Tropical weather is the absolute worst . Especially to train in .
And not mention that team , will rarely have competitive balance so the likelihood of winning premierships will be diminished , purely based on the transient nature of the club anyway .
The titans suffer from this , and any GC team has suffered from this in any codes .
Only it will be much worse in a spot where that will be a recruitment strategy .
twentyforty
Well-known member
More than half the 30 would fall into that category too.
I don’t know exactly the tax treatment of the PNG players. They may declare PNG residency which could mean they fall under the PNG tax regime? I think they have a top rate of 42% while in Oz it’s 45%, which kinda dilutes Albo’s generosity somewhat, if tax paid to PNG can be used as an offset in Oz then he’s talking about 3%. I’m not sure how it might work, but it did sound like the new team had a cap increase of $5m.
Jolls
Well-known member
I doubt that these are new $ for PNG (although it may be). It is more likely to be a reshuffling of the $ already allocated for international engagement. There are projects run all over the Pacific by different Government Departments in an effort to curb the encroachment of China into the region. The Chinese offer the world to the locals and haul them over the coals to get a toe in and then rape the place for everything it is worth.
One example, in the Solomon Islands, China offered to construct a factory to process timber in exchange for access to pristine rainforest timber of X number of years with talk of employment for locals, income to the country etc. etc. What was delivered was a floating slum built in Chine, towed across the oceans and moored just off Guadalcanal where they do initial processing of the timber that is cut across the islands. The timber is then loaded onto ships that continue the porcessing on route back to China. The workers: chinese nationals living on the slum barge. Minimal effect on the economy of the Sollies, but plenty of free polution and raped lands.
Having said that some of the mining operations in PNG/Bougainville aren't much better; however, more local employment and $ into the PNG economy. I guess, in short, the $ were going to be spent anyway and many of the PNG locals would have had no idea as it is part of a Defence Cooperation Program or some sort of trade deal. In this way Australia is elevated in the eyes of the PNG people.
The $ were never going to be availlable for Australian Taxpayers no matter how outraged you may feel. While not great for the NRL punter or players ; the politicians and the NRL grown ups will be over the moon. On the political front it goes some way to wash away the locals feeling that we "walked out" in 1976 and for the NRL grown ups - simply $ in their pockets.
One example, in the Solomon Islands, China offered to construct a factory to process timber in exchange for access to pristine rainforest timber of X number of years with talk of employment for locals, income to the country etc. etc. What was delivered was a floating slum built in Chine, towed across the oceans and moored just off Guadalcanal where they do initial processing of the timber that is cut across the islands. The timber is then loaded onto ships that continue the porcessing on route back to China. The workers: chinese nationals living on the slum barge. Minimal effect on the economy of the Sollies, but plenty of free polution and raped lands.
Having said that some of the mining operations in PNG/Bougainville aren't much better; however, more local employment and $ into the PNG economy. I guess, in short, the $ were going to be spent anyway and many of the PNG locals would have had no idea as it is part of a Defence Cooperation Program or some sort of trade deal. In this way Australia is elevated in the eyes of the PNG people.
The $ were never going to be availlable for Australian Taxpayers no matter how outraged you may feel. While not great for the NRL punter or players ; the politicians and the NRL grown ups will be over the moon. On the political front it goes some way to wash away the locals feeling that we "walked out" in 1976 and for the NRL grown ups - simply $ in their pockets.
TillLindemann
Well-known member
But this potentially opens up a massive new pool of players in the longer term. PNG's population is close to that of NSW and Queensland combined, there's a huge reservoir of youth who play the game there. The issue has always been no money, no infrastructure, no talent scouts, no pathways. I'm not saying this will happen overnight, but if there's money starting to be invested now, I think in 10-15 years you will see loads of Papuans playing professionally.
No way any top 20 player will go to PNG. Unless there single and 35.
Money isn't everything. The PNG will fold in 5-10 years. Or even before if there is a change of leadership. As a taxpayer I don't want to pay for them to join
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
Just not for the local Aussie. The bargain. Bank rate on hold. Someone has to pay for this business in the PNG. And if it is about China. Then what we really are doing is paying for arsenal in a pretend war guised as the NRL. I guess my question is - do most of you get it - that this is not about football?
Last edited:
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
We didn't start the fire. Apologies guys for double posting. Im getting better but...
weststigers
Well-known member
The PNG Prime Minister made a good point. Aussie companies go over there for business and are free from PNG tax obligations. Don't ask me the details, but that's what he said.
In saying that, our government should not be involved in that capacity.
I don't agree that they will fold. The country has 10.5 million and they are 100% rugby league fans. There is no other country that has league as their national sport.
That is going to be a big supporter base.
PNG might be poor overall, but there are rich people and middle class people even in poor countries. Don't underestimate them.
The issue for them will be administrative and/or corruption if any.
I even think they will get players, particularly from Pacific nations or PNG heritage players. These guys could get looked after very well while playing and be treated like kings after football.
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
"I don't want to pay for them to join
The PNG Prime Minister made a good point. Aussie companies go over there for business and are free from PNG tax obligations.
He also made another great point in fact. To slow down murder rates. Listen. If that's true bring it on. We can sacrifice, Nadine, (oops - Naden) Sullivan, and maybe a few others. If this is what it takes for less murder. Im all in.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
It’s part of our defence budget !
gallagher
Well-known member
Can you count on the 10mill population to financially support the club though?
Port Moresby is only 250k pop and cut off by rail and road to the rest of the country.
weststigers
Well-known member
Does Australia count on the fans turning up to games or is the money generated from TV rights?
Odessa
Well-known member
Australia Tax payers Already give over $10 billion a year to PNG every year and over $700 million to Indonesia
weststigers
Well-known member
It's about 650 million to PNG in aid mate
gallagher
Well-known member
So why bring up the population?
69-05-41
Well-known member
Worst thing about any new team in the NRL is that we are usually the first to lose to them. We will probably give away home games to play PNG at our spiritual home ground in Bougainville.
