Give PNG a Qld Cup side, and give them time to get a youth system, and a scouting system, they'd be ready in about 10 years from now. 2020 would be a good date.

I was fortunate enough to be able to discuss their bid with one of the people who put it together and from that discussion I am VERY confident they could easily compete in the NRL by the end of the decade. The bid is comprehensive and deals with all of the issues raised by people who write them off. Some of the details are as follows:

Finance:
The PNG government will buy the TV rights from the NRL for the same amount as the NRL currently receives from New Zealand TV and then on-sell it or put it on its national broadcaster. This will mean the club will more than pay its way in the NRL's eyes. Its club grant back to the club, depending on what the club grant is by then, will be LESS than they will receive from PNG.
The club already has a string of sponsors, including Coca-Cola Amatil as major sponsor and Holiday Inn, Airlines PNG, as well as local media, insurance and legal companies and a motor dealership chain. That's before they even get a team.
They will be the highest supported club in the NRL and should fill the stadium for every game.
The cost of running a club there is lower than an Australian club because things like wages and other costs are very low locally. Even local player contracts need not be high because the NRL minimum wage is a relative fortune in PNG.

Logistics:
The government will help build a new stadium on the edge of Port Moresby based loosely on the Gold Coast's 27,500 capacity Skilled Park stadium.
The stadium precinct will feature hotel accommodation in which visiting teams and auxillary people like referees and media people will stay and train during their visit.

On-field:
The club has no real intention of signing players from Australia in any great number. They believe they have the talent in PNG but just lack the development structures to bring them from under 14s and 16s level up to Toyota Cup and NRL level. And NRL structures and money would allow that to happen.
They have reintroduced the game to schools and implemented a talent identification system (as the OP's story suggests) to start the process of developing local talent.
A year or two in the Queensland Cup will aid the process but they don't want to be put in the Q Cup and just left there forever.

In return the government sees the club as the pinnacle of a social and economic policy to improve things like health and education, unite a country that is more culturally and racially diverse than most, give people from PNG opportunities to succeed in sport and bring investment to the country. The government will help fund its plans through mining royalties as that industry continues to grow in the country.

Benefits to the NRL and RL in general:
Millions of dollars per year for TV rights to PNG.
A whole new talent pool which will not dilute the standard of Australian clubs like other new clubs do.
An increased audience in a new market (one that the AFL can't boast).
New sponsors to the game.
A club that can boast a fand base of anywhere up to seven million people in a country where the bulk of the population is under 25 years of age and growing rapidly.
A professional structure to develop PNG players to professional standards which will improve the Kumuls team significantly at Test level.

Benefits to PNG:
A team that unites all the people of the country regardless of racial, cultural or tribal divides.
A catalyst to engage children in school. When RL was reintroduced school attendance went up 50% among boys.
A vehicle for health campaigns, such as the anti-AIDS campaign the Prime Minister's XIII game already promotes.
Economic benefits related to construction, on-going administration, exposure to international audiences etc as well as to the people who directly profit from player and staff wages.

The bid is well thought-out and ensures the club will be viable and sustainable. All it needs is the green light from the NRL so it can really kick-start the process, such as stadium construction and major player development work. If that happens the club should be ready by 2020 or even before.

sure PNG is poor

but is everyone poor there?

RL is the national sport, a nation of 6 - 8 million

the government will back it heavily

i think it would be a massive success

a Qld cup side is the key to determine it ...a good Qld cup side and id give them a spot

and if finances are stil an issue the NRL could advance an extra $1 - $2 million to the club for the good of the game

they have a goldmine of junior talent which we have yet to tap properly

wow great post

didnt know most of that

if the govt will pay for the TV rights like that the NRL would be stupid to say no

basically we get an NRL team for free, expansion paid for the the PNG government

They had a Qld Cup team - Port Morseby Vipers

the funny thing is AFL can put a club in western sydney, a place with little interest for the sport but we cant put a team in a country where we are number 1

if AFL was the national sport in PNG theyd have a team by now

wed be crazy to ignore them

Obviously there will be financial constraints to think about but surely the club could train and live outside of PNG as long as its home games were played there?? How many average fans turn up to training sessions or even know where their clubs training ground is? I know I turn up on a weekend see the lads play then go home, this is surely something that a PNG club could do even if travelling over a day or so before to do a bit of work with kids and the community?

PNG may be poor on the whole, but given RL is the national sport, I'm sure there will be money men who could make this work.

If the living conditions in Port Moresby are as bad as stated, then not only would you need a new stadium, but also secure accomodation for away teams and living accomadation for any players from Aus/NZ/Europe that you'd want to import.

My missus is an accountant and recently spent some time in Bangalore, India with work. India is a place with some awful poverty and she told me stories of kids begging at her car window and the dreadful conditions of some of the parts of town she passed through. Then she told me about the discussion she had with one of the executives at the office about his collection of imported vintage land rovers (over 40 cars).

Quote ="nick hkr"Obviously there will be financial constraints to think about but surely the club could train and live outside of PNG as long as its home games were played there?? How many average fans turn up to training sessions or even know where their clubs training ground is? I know I turn up on a weekend see the lads play then go home, this is surely something that a PNG club could do even if travelling over a day or so before to do a bit of work with kids and the community?'" good point www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 1116946196 this was looked at by michael searle A joint venture between PNG and northern terrirtory was suggested as well to improve the finances

Quote ="nick hkr"Obviously there will be financial constraints to think about but surely the club could train and live outside of PNG as long as its home games were played there?? How many average fans turn up to training sessions or even know where their clubs training ground is? I know I turn up on a weekend see the lads play then go home, this is surely something that a PNG club could do even if travelling over a day or so before to do a bit of work with kids and the community?'" good point www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 1116946196 this was looked at by michael searle A joint venture between PNG and northern terrirtory was suggested as well to improve the finances

Great post ECT! Good info, makes me even more confident now too.

I still have concerns about their development and ability to attract imports.

But I guess alot of expats have worked there in the mines etc, so it can be done. It's close proximity to Aus too is also a good thing.

Gold Coast had the Chargers...


I often think the exact same thing. If we continue to ignore them, who knows, maybe AFL will move in....

I just noticed their facebook page too, lets get on board, they're almost on 1000 fans! www.facebook.com/pages/PNG-NRL-B ... 64?sk=wall

I just noticed their facebook page too, lets get on board, they're almost on 1000 fans! www.facebook.com/pages/PNG-NRL-B ... 64?sk=wall

PNG survives on aid and some Mining Royalties.
If the PNG Government which is virtually insolvent was to spend aid money sponsoring an NRL team I suspect the Kiwi and Oz taxpayer may be slightly upset, its for education and basic needs.

Advertising revenue in a country that has no money and few TV's does not make a commercial viability. Who is going to buy the advertised products even if they had distribution in PNG?

Ticket sales at home would have to be lower than $5.00 for the locals to afford it. The locals average about $50 a week income.

The distances involved in the NRL are tough enough already without adding PNG.

PNG is virtually the toughest place on earth to visit unless you are connected with some local residents, the Anglos all carry conceal side-arms and the Hotels are behind armed compounds.

The "National sport" item keeps getting thrown up, so what? what are the competing sports? answer not many.
Not that long ago Headhunting was the number one hobby.

Bangalore isn't remotely comparable with PNG, though. I've never felt at all threatened walking around Bangalore at night, in spite of the poverty & begging. The IPL is second only to the NBA in terms of player wages and there's several Indian Billionaires (which I guess is your point.)

In Port Moresby, you literally have armed guards at the hotel perimeter. That said, if the security & travel issues can be resolved, I think the bid is a goer. You only have to look at the money Asian car & mobile phone companies are investing in PNG to realise that it can be a commercial success.

Any investment is nickel and dime compared to modern countries.
PNG is like Africa was 100 years ago.

Why do I say this?
My company has PNG as part of our Territory, we have never sent anyone there and can see no commercial viability in the Country when comparing the risks involved.
We are in the Transport game.
The fact there are hardly any real roads is a factor.

Lol

Really all that post deserves

yes well wait till AFL puts a team there for some of the silly people on this thread to realize how important PNG is

yeh lets ignore a nation of 7 - 8 mill whose national sport is rugby league when we expand

Once upon a time I thought you were informed but a bit silly and carried on with rubbish.
Now I realize I was wrong.
You are a Mong with no idea.
If PNG get a team in the NRL in the next 20 years it will be a miracle.

Have you ever been there, I have.

They can barely hold the Prime Ministers selection team there each year due to Crowd violence.

It is the worst place you would want to be, but you think its all good?

i would have to agree. in principle im all for it, im sure many of us get a bit trearful thinking about the glories of sport uniting a poor and troubled nation under one banner. i think we could all agree that in financial terms PNG could support a full time Pro team, the crowd potential and sponsorship potential is definately there, as others have pointed out. however, as dalto says, no first worlder from Aus, Nz or Europe is going to move there. PNG could well be ready very soon to sustain some form of pro team, with big crowds, in RL terms at least the infrastructure and desire is or soon will be there. so in this sense PNG is/soon will be ready for something. but ready for an NRL team? i doubt it. the people may want it, but sadly the country as a whole just isnt up to it, it will be a long time after the 2020 round of franchises before Living standards in PNG are of a standard to attract any halfway decent players, coaches or fitness/conditioning staff from around the world, which is expertise and skill they will need.
as much as i would love for it to happen, i just cant see it.

Many ex-pat Australians and others from western countries live there. Including the bid boss who is former Brisbane Bronco Brad Tassell.

of that i have no doubt. but how many of them actually leave there houses at night? their houses that im willing to bet have high walls, razor wire and armed guards.

I don't think the 'distance thing' should be held against them, it's much closer to NRL teams than Perth...

Your comment about ticket prices is quite a good point. I think their new stadium would have to be quite 'segrigated'. Here's an over-simplified example:

In the stadium, have 15,000 general admission type seats, $5
Another 5000, middle range, $10
Then 2-5000 "prime seats, including hospitality, seats on the halfway line, and away supporters sections (and hopefully there are some travelling fans). These seats could cost upwards of $25...

So, even if they are only selling the 15,000 x 5 each week, then they won't be too far behind some NRL clubs in terms of gate revenue...


Basically, PNG is a very different place to Aus, so we should not go there expecting to find/create a mini-Aus. It is what it is and we have to adjust to their way of life. If that involves a fence to separate the supporters from the field of play for example, then so be it. This is normal in many football stadiums in many countries.

One other thing I want to say, is that there has been talk of riots and crowd violence on here. The difference in PNG though is that these incidents are often caused by their passion for the game. If there is a pitch invasion for example, it's because they are trying to get up close to their idols, whereas in some countries you have fans trying to attack opposition players. We are lucky this is not the case in PNG. We just need to find a way to channel all this energy they have for RL into something long-term, like an NRL team. Otherwise the game there will forever stand still...

Correct.






We stand more chance of seeing a sell out Superleague grand final at Wembley between Crusaders and Harlequins than seeing a PNG side playing in the NRL out of Port Moresby.

Will Stanley play for them?

You said "no first worlder from Aus, Nz or Europe is going to move there" - well they already do. So your point is nonsense. Apart from the fact, as I stated, they don't even want to sign players from overseas in any great number, so it's irrelevant.

Have u been to cronulla?

PNG can easily support an NRL team

u are just dead wrong sorry