OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

Wonder if it will influence the Bula situation?

Also, I hope he "makes the decision" to give up the captaincy. My money is on Doueihi if not just Api going forward....
 
Curly_Tiger said:
It’s not the Australian government’s $600m, it’s our $600m and it’s outrageous they can even do that

So next time you see that tax number taken out on your payslip know that you played a role in us losing Luai 😁

We’re all to blame for putting up with the government we deserve 😢
Click to expand...
Just to put it all in perspective, Australia will spend $5B on foreign aid in 2025-26, so the $60M per annum given to support NRL in PNG would be 1.2% of that budget.

Total PNG spending in the upcoming aid budget is $707M for 2025-26, so the future NRL component would be worth ~8.5% current total annual spend.

Other examples: Australia will spend $120M per year for 3 years for humanitarian aid in Myanmar and Bangladesh. Australia will spend $120M next year in aid to Fiji and $121M to Solomon Islands (including $190M over 4 years to help develop the Solomon Islands police force).

You can argue all you like about the "appropriateness" of the spending, but as a geopolitical move it's rather cheap and a fraction of our Pacific and Asian aid/support budget.
 
Mccarry said:
For all those worried about our tax money funding this…

A mate of mine returned from a PNG CEO gig last year. A couple of insider stories from him and you would understand that China has had a blank cheque book ready for PNG projects for 10 years.

I now don’t underestimate how close China got with PNG govt. Who knows if PNG would have allowed a Chinese military base but to me the risk and consequences of that out weigh this 10 year investment.

PNG government now accountable to their people like never before. Let China in and riots on the street when NRL pulls out.

It’s good business by our diplomats
Click to expand...
It's also a potential source of new players, imagine if they could actually get PNG pathways properly funded and coached? There's 12 million people over there.
 
moetk said:
Lol PNG people wouldn't give a shit if the NRL pulled out. Majority of them hated the idea that money was being spent on an NRL team rather than spend on vital infrastructure like hospitals and schools. Nothing will stop China. They offer free scholarships to 100s of PNG students every year and they're taking over most of the industries that were dominated by Aussie companies.
Click to expand...
I'll quote it again - annual aid budget to PNG is around $700M per year and the govt tipped in the extra $60M per year for the NRL team.

They aren't funnelling money away from other PNG spending?? It's not as if they cancelled a new hospital to fund the NRL side.
 
Tiger-ferret said:
Yep but what worries me is what Riccio said on nrl360. PNG have said to luia, “here’s the chance to build your team.” First on the list will be players he is close to. Coming off contract at the same time is not a coincidence.
Click to expand...
Penrith players.

But also LOTS of players are coming off contract in 2028, it's all purposefully aligned with the new teams and the new TV deal. It's not a Tigers-specific thing.
 
Let’s see what sort of coach Benji is. Follow the Galvin plan. No commitment, don’t want to be here, you are free to go at the end of the year.

Otherwise enjoy NSW cup. It is a disgrace we are paying him next year, let alone entertaining keeping him as captain.

If he is going to continue to be a spokesperson for the club, can we at least force him to wear a clown outfit? That truly represents the circus this club is.
 
jirskyr said:
I'll quote it again - annual aid budget to PNG is around $700M per year and the govt tipped in the extra $60M per year for the NRL team.

They aren't funnelling money away from other PNG spending?? It's not as if they cancelled a new hospital to fund the NRL side.
Click to expand...

Thats still $600 million that could've been better spent. NRL team wont do anything to stop China.
 
Seems to me that the Chiefs will effectively have a cap that's about 40% higher than everyone else's. No one will be able to compete with the money they'll be able to pay. It looks like the NRL is creating another Storm - giving the new team every advantage to embed its expansion.

Logically, the Chiefs should have a much reduced cap to make up for the massive advantage of being tax-free.
 
jirskyr said:
I'll quote it again - annual aid budget to PNG is around $700M per year and the govt tipped in the extra $60M per year for the NRL team.

They aren't funnelling money away from other PNG spending?? It's not as if they cancelled a new hospital to fund the NRL side.
Click to expand...
With all the money the Australian government use to give PNG it worked out around 10 billion a year and we use to give Indonesia around 700 million a year
 
1000116247.jpg

I don't begrudge the guy for taking the money and setting up his family. But the way he has positioned himself as this Wests Tigers saviour to then walk out for cash rubs me the wrong way.

The whole "batman" thing, team first, here for the long haul just leaves a bit of a sour taste. And the potential that this has to be destabilising to our season doesn't feel great.

In saying that, the benefit of Luai's signing seems to be more off field than on it with building culture. But on the field I can't think of a game last year or this year that we won solely due to Luai. Our attack has looked far less clunky when he's out and of the 2 games he has won this year we'd have still won those with Madden or Fainu. And he will be 31 by that time too.

I'm interested to see how Benji responds to this and what the club does next.
 
I blame HBG. Richo was in negotiations to have the clauses removed and with Terrell May. Now this is happened abs has the potential to blow the season up. I think the playing is strong though and know there is an opportunity this year and next to shock the NRL. This is the best for Latu as well, “Benji i will leave for my family and hand over to Latu”. Club needs to resign extend Samuela, Latu, Terrell, Taylan, Tito and give Tyrone may a top 30 spot asap
 
So all Fiji Tonga Samoa etc would have to do if they want a fully funded team in the nrl is to invite China over for talks about a Chinese naval base on the island and they will get a team with all the perks as png did
 
jirskyr said:
Penrith players.

But also LOTS of players are coming off contract in 2028, it's all purposefully aligned with the new teams and the new TV deal. It's not a Tigers-specific thing.
Click to expand...
But that money for there nrl team is OUR money , our tax paying money which could help us there’s many people in Australia who can’t afford to turn on there air con or heater , or feed themselves, SORRY charity should start her 1st
 
Its the system that that creates the angst about player movements.
If these deals were announced/ took place in a trade window/off season the impact on teams and fans would be far less damaging.I think most people are philosophical about Luai's decision until the game he plays poorly and or the team appears impacted negatively then there will be a whole different narrative/ reaction.

The NRL thrives on off field stuff as much as the on field. The test is how long fans are prepared to support a system that tests their commitment to clubs when it is "loyalty" that keeps the fan engaged and the need to feel at some point you will reap the benefits of that.
 
moetk said:
Lol PNG people wouldn't give a shit if the NRL pulled out. Majority of them hated the idea that money was being spent on an NRL team rather than spend on vital infrastructure like hospitals and schools.
Click to expand...

I’m interested in how you acquired this information ,.. are you running a polling company doing work in PNG? Actually …Have you ever spoken to anyone from PNG?

I reckon the majority of them would much prefer the NRL team …but fortunately it’s not an either/or situation
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Members online

Total: 1,263 (members: 22, guests: 1,241)
Back
Top