Which team will get the 18th Franchise

[BAGNF05]

There isn’t enough depth for the teams we have now. There barely is for 16 teams. It’s going to be even more lopsided at 18.

Content is king. I think eventually the NRL will have premier league and a first division with potentially 30 teams and 15 games televised each weekend. Dollars talk. Obviously we’ll be in league two.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Not being made based in Cairns anymore Hal. Full PNG club

Then it definitely won’t work, unless it’s PNG players only coz no white players will go to Pom, especially with families.

 

[BalmainJnr]

This PNG deal backed by the Aus Government officially kills off any notion that rugba league (sport) is sacrosanct from politics.

 

[Halbrowne61]

Content is king. I think eventually the NRL will have premier league and a first division with potentially 30 teams and 15 games televised each weekend. Dollars talk. Obviously we’ll be in league two.

May as well just blow the whole thing up,
TV has eventually ruined the game.

 

[Halbrowne61]

This PNG deal backed by the Aus Government officially kills off any notion that rugba league (sport) is sacrosanct from politics.

I think this has occurred at a very sensitive time in regional activities. It is essential to have our northern border protected by an ally and the cost of that, at the moment, is making decisions using footy as a tool. Sad but true.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

PNG getting a team is good news for us avoiding future spoons.

 

[BAGNF05]

PNG getting a team is good news for us avoiding future spoons.

Not sure. Seen how hard those nutters run.

 

[Halbrowne61]

PNG getting a team is good news for us avoiding future spoons.

Not necessarily. They might “ do a Dolphins” and be reasonably competitive right from the start.

 

[gallagher]

Not necessarily. They might “ do a Dolphins” and be reasonably competitive right from the start.

Recruitment will be an issue, as you said. Not just players, but coaches, management, admin.
I wouldn't like to be reffing there ...

 

[BAGNF05]

Recruitment will be an issue, as you said. Not just players, but coaches, management, admin.
I wouldn't like to be reffing there ...

They’re absolutely mad for it though. Imagine how much all the kids would want to play for that side. Long term they might not need to recruit from outside.

 

[BalmainJnr]

I think this has occurred at a very sensitive time in regional activities. It is essential to have our northern border protected by an ally and the cost of that, at the moment, is making decisions using footy as a tool. Sad but true.

Without wanting to downplay the significance of sensitive regional issues. From an NRL competition integrity perspective, is it possible that the relative success of the PNG NRL side will also at some point fit with the national interest?

 

[SeanT]

They’re absolutely mad for it though. Imagine how much all the kids would want to play for that side. Long term they might not need to recruit from outside.

They would need to. Wont have the size in the forwards or skillset in the halves.

Bottom 4 every year.

 

[gallagher]

They’re absolutely mad for it though. Imagine how much all the kids would want to play for that side. Long term they might not need to recruit from outside.

Maybe, but not for along long time. They've been in the QLD cup for over a decade and only produced Olam.

 

[BAGNF05]

They would need to. Wont have the size in the forwards or skillset in the halves.

Bottom 4 every year.

I’m sure an NRL side would come with all sorts of academies and coaching improvements. At the end of the day RL comes down to ticker, and they have that in spades.

 

[Vicious]

It’s rumoured they will be based in Cairns and play their home games in Port Moresby.

 

[TillLindemann]

Think I'm the only person in Australia who thinks this is awesome news.

Long term this is going to be great for PNG, and great for our sport. For the former, it should encourage tourism and investment. For the latter, a massive new rapidly growing market of 10 million die-hard fans, something the AFL could only dream of. And the NRL doesn't even have to pay for it!

 

[BZN]

View attachment 6780

You know this is not 'pick a box' don't you gallagher 😊 .

 

[gallagher]

You know this is not 'pick a box' don't you gallagher 😊 .

I'm glad it's finally real expansion. Just plonking in another SEQLD team was getting boring

 

[BZN]

I can't see the validity of a PNG side if its not based in PNG.

You're not biased [in a good way] are you gallagher, because it looks like you may come from there.
My other guess is the West Indies 😀.

 

[BZN]

I like the idea of a Pacifica team based out of Fiji

Look how well the Pacific teams are now doing in rugby

Wow Fiji...if we are going to fly to Fiji at least a couple of times per year, can we start an Over 70's comp and I'll put my name down as the ball boy.