“PNG, in 2025, will become the 18th franchise.”

[Burgs]

Not great news for WA aspirations, but probably a given once Albo set his sights on another legacy maker.

NRL 18th team expansion nears announcement as PNG Hunters lead ‘one-horse race’

https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-lea...ace-c-12251303

[shasta]

I guess you could say I'm not a RL hater
But I don't see much benefit to another WA experiment. Unless there's a very rich WA benefactor who doesn't already have a team. Or one who wants two.
However, I think pushing a PNG team has more to do with regional politics than legacy. Particularly defence politics.

[jargan83]

Won't happen.

Port Moresby is one of the biggest Murder hotspots on the planet. No way will they convince millionaire footy players to relocate there and the FIFO model I read today is just as ridiculous.

If it does happen PVL is a bigger moron than I have him credit for.

[shasta]

IIRC the proposal was to base them in Qld, maybe colocated with the PNG Hunters.

In any event, while PNG has a very high crime rate, it's not even close by murder rate. Top 20 are all in the Americas except Capetown. So you might get bashed & robbed but probably survive to tell the tale. No biggie

[The InnFORCEr]

Bloody mungos.

Base them in Cairns would be my guess.

[brokendown gunfighter]

I guess you could say I'm not a RL hater
But I don't see much benefit to another WA experiment. Unless there's a very rich WA benefactor who doesn't already have a team. Or one who wants two.
However, I think pushing a PNG team has more to do with regional politics than legacy. Particularly defence politics.

yep,sure to keep China at bay,lol

[shasta]

yep,sure to keep China at bay,lol

Well maybe from PNG - for a while anyway.

[jargan83]

China promises to build Ports, Hospitals etc.

We promise to give them an ill conceived footy side.

[jargan83]

Papua New Guinea NRL bid boss Andrew Hill has denied the side is set to become the next team granted a licence, despite reports suggesting an announcement is imminent.

After the Dolphins' inaugural season as the 17th NRL side, preparations have ramped up for the NRL to become an 18-team competition.

PNG's inclusion is supported by the Australian government with the consortium for the bid from the government of PNG.

On Thursday, it was reported that PNG would enter the competition in 2025, however Hill was quick to quash that claim.

"I thought I was going to have a fairly quiet day today," he told 4BC's Wide World of Sports Radio.
"Look, there's nothing new, but there's no secret that our bid is supported by the Australian government. And of course ... our consortium is actually from the government of PNG. So to have two prime ministers and two governments supporting the bid is a pretty unique situation and I think to take that opportunity with two hands to see what we can do for, the people of PNG and the game is an enormous opportunity.

"But no, I'm not sure why today (Thursday) was the day that everyone decided to talk about the PNG 18th team bid."

Throughout the bidding process, the suggestion some clubs could merge has persisted with the North Sydney Bears consistently discussed as an option.

https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/news-20...2-99d052f175fe

[shasta]

China promises to build Ports, Hospitals etc.

Yeah and all with no price to pay. Generous buggers.

[brokendown gunfighter]

Yeah and all with no price to pay. Generous buggers.

lots of brown paper bags being exchanged

[jargan83]

Yeah and all with no price to pay. Generous buggers.

Well aware of the pitfalls involved with singing up with China's belt and road rubbish - see Sri Lanka.

It's not like Australia is a light of virtue in the South Pacific though.

[shasta]

Well aware of the pitfalls involved with singing up with China's belt and road rubbish - see Sri Lanka.

The belt and road thing has some benefits. Mostly to Chinese businesses. In many places the interest of the locals are just trampled. Like in Laos & Cambodia & many African countries. And once they're in the brown paper bags disappear PDQ.

[blueandblack]

lots of brown paper bags being exchanged

No paper bags needed. Just an allowance to build a port somewhere. You know, so they can bring the materials in for the hospitals, etc. Totally not a naval base at all...

[brokendown gunfighter]

No paper bags needed. Just an allowance to build a port somewhere. You know, so they can bring the materials in for the hospitals, etc. Totally not a naval base at all...

sorry,B&B,silly me