Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Buttface said:
I’m not clicking on that rubbish as I am sceptical giant mastheads have brain cells.
But, Good. It’s a ridiculous, unsustainable decision. To allow a team into the pinnacle competition that requires so much assistance is detrimental to long term success.
And how/why are the Oz tax payers paying for this nonsense? Are we paying for the warriors too? No doubt Melb are cheating some tax $ somehow but at least they’re Ozy.
Oh that’s right it was an Albo Gov decision, so he could hide a $600m dollar bribe to the latest local PNG politician in power, not to take a $599m bribe from China.
I like the way they did it with the Dolphins, current strong second tier club promoted in to the big league with a little help, local political bribes only, (keeps the $ in the land of Oz).
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Not sure much or any of the supposed 600 has been handed over.
 
Bus 2 Terrigal said:
So what your saying is that Balmain panicked and kicked possession away despite being given six again 🤣🤣🤣

And they blame Wests for being losers 🤷‍♂️
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As a matter of fact Balmain did meet the criteria and could have stayed in the comp as a stand alone team.
I don’t hide the fact I am a lifelong Balmain supporter and was horrified at the time when they decided to save Wests (although I always had a soft spot for them) and enter a merger.
Apparently those in charge believed they would struggle financially on their own and the NRL were offering big bickies (at the time) to any clubs who merged.
25 years has passed since then and, although i will always love my memories, have accepted we are now WestsTigers and have the same level of anger when we are dudded and joy when we win.
Would I have preferred both Balmain and Wests could have remained as they were?
Honest answer is yes… but realistically the possibility is, if they had, both might be gone…. forever.
Enjoy the WestsTigers… they ain’t perfect but they’re our team.
 
Spartan117 said:
Sadly

Not a Rumour or signing suggestion in sight here in this thread.....
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Yep plenty other stuff in hear to replace the non event of actual signings , we either can’t sign anyone of worth or club just won’t give its fans a little hope ( More signings to come ) problem is Richo said weeks and weeks ago there were players coming but still nothing
 
Nonotmeagain said:
Don't get too excited over the PNG side the Australian taxpayers are funding ( why I have no freaking idea) - it won't last long.

Man who won $600m from Albanese government for PNG rugby league embroiled in corruption scandal​

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Did you read it though?

It's not related to the NRL bid, it's related to his personal business dealings. Wapu Sonk was involved in the NRL bid, but separately to he runs PNG's largest petrol company and it is alleged he used that position to personally profit and/or do deals with Chinese companies.

The evidence, which relates to his business dealings not the NRL bid, includes confidential documents and corporate records and links Sonk’s company to suspect dealings with a massive Chinese government firm and a plot to funnel contracts to a company Sonk owns in Australia.
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Unfortunately, and this is something the NRL and Aussie Govt already knows it has to deal with long-term, corruption is rife in PNG and you are going to have to deal with people who may have shady background.
 
Buttface said:
I’m not clicking on that rubbish as I am sceptical giant mastheads have brain cells.
But, Good. It’s a ridiculous, unsustainable decision. To allow a team into the pinnacle competition that requires so much assistance is detrimental to long term success.
And how/why are the Oz tax payers paying for this nonsense? Are we paying for the warriors too? No doubt Melb are cheating some tax $ somehow but at least they’re Ozy.
Oh that’s right it was an Albo Gov decision, so he could hide a $600m dollar bribe to the latest local PNG politician in power, not to take a $599m bribe from China.
I like the way they did it with the Dolphins, current strong second tier club promoted in to the big league with a little help, local political bribes only, (keeps the $ in the land of Oz).
Click to expand...
What if it works though, what if from the NRL's perspective they can tap the League-mad PNG market for youth talent and eventually business?

And for the government, as you said, it's an investment in support of our region, as well as soft power influence. You mock competition with China but that's a real thing, does anyone want the Chinese building sub bases or other such stations off our coast line?

It has to be put into perspective. It's $600M over 10 years, i.e. $60M per year. Our annual Pacific Development budget is $1.5B so the league-specific investment is just 4% of that budget.

By some comparisons - in 2024-25 the govt gave Timor $100M to upgrade their airport and Fiji were given $72M to upgrade their bridges and resurface roads. In fact the most recent budget gave PNG $620M for maintenance of their ports, which is the entire decade outlay for rugby league.

Also by way of comparison, the WA Govt alone has committed $10M a year for 7 years to support the Perth Bears, plus $200M to upgrade HBF Stadium where the Bears will play.
 
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