NRL NRL Expansion

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Will be a very long time before any new kiwi teams will be competitive.
Warriors are struggling to keep up after nearly 30 years in the comp and struggling to recruit Aussie players.
Even clubs like the Gold Coast with pokies and all the benefits took 3 cracks to get established.

Mostly agree,
But any team entering the NRL is going to struggle to be competitive. Look at Redcliffe, 2 seasons and no finals and judging by their roster I doubt they’ll make it next season.

Warriors struggling is just the cycle of the competition, which is probably what the NRL wants. Someone needs to come last. The Warriors have made 2 grand finals and a few more preliminary finals since their establishment. Not great but not horrible.

Titans still haven’t been in the GF. They’ve been in the NRL for 20 years
Cronulla took a million years to win theirs.

Other than Melbourne, who hasn’t struggled in the last 20 years at some stage.
20 years ago could you imagine the mighty Brisbane Broncos sinking to there lows? Hell I wouldn’t have.

If the PNG, Perth and Christchurch team entered at the same time in 2027. Who would be the most competitive in 5-10 years? I’d bet Christchurch everyday.

 

[Teets]

Warriors acting like they ever really gave a shit about the state of the local game until very recently is a laugh.

 

[WA Warrior]

Warriors acting like they ever really gave a shit about the state of the local game until very recently is a laugh.

Totally. They should’ve been onto this 20 years ago.
Imagine the nursery, would probably have another Kiwi team already.

 

[snake77]

Yes they do raise some good points. It also needs to be taken into account another team based in NZ means competition for players and sponsorship money. Brisbane two have multiple premierships and are the biggest club financially didn't want a team in their backyard either.

George asking why Moffett didn't invest in NZ in 2001? With what money?
The NRL were still stuck with the broadcast deal from the end of the Super League War. The financial situation of the sport was totally different back then.

The capital needed to start an NRL side is hard enough to find in NZ now. The competition is growing so in 10-15 years the capital needed would likely be even harder to raise.

I see the point about having a strong local competition. That might be easier to get going with two local NRL teams. The NRL has been talking about investing in NZ. We don't know what that involves. It might be a case of investing in a few of the local club competitions first before getting a national competition.

The NRL seems intent on expansion. They will be wanting to get to an even number of teams. Then there has been talk of moving to 20 teams pretty quickly. So we might get a second team soon. The NRL may not want to expand again in 10-15 years.

 

[snake77]

We are seeing the benefit of a second side at the moment. The second A League and the rivalry with the Phoenix.

How good would that be in the NRL?

A second side is going to have challenges similar to the Warriors. They can also learn from some of the Warriors past mistakes.

The competition for playing talent and sponsorship will always be competitive. It is not just the Warriors but also the Super Rugby sides.

I'm not sure if you can build a perfect situation for a second side. Kind of like the fight sports where they try and get cute with match making to build to the big fight and someone loses. If there is a suitable bid with financing and a business plan it is probably better to approve it and work on anything else needed at the same time.

 

[Noitall]

An NRL bid consortium is ready to break into two international player markets where no rugby league club has gone in the game’s 116-year history – Hawaii and the Caribbean.

In an unprecedented move, the Christchurch-based Southern Orcas will start a development program early next year which will span across Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Solomon Island, Vanuatu, French Polynesia and expand to Hawaii and the Caribbean.

“The number of players that would be suited to our game would be phenomenal,” said Orcas’ managing director, Andrew Chalmers.

“The Caribbean have absolutely fantastic athletes and Hawaii is a huge catchment area of athletes that would be suited to our sport – they just haven’t been exposed to it. It would help with the internationalisation of rugby league.”

The initiative will form part of the club’s expanded sports education pathways and be included in the Orcas’ bid for NRL inclusion.

“The Hawaiian breeding ground is untapped when it comes to rugby league – the athletes there are big and powerful and would be ideal for the NRL. This could be a historic move by the Orcas,” said former Australian NFL player Colin Scotts, who won a scholarship to play American football at the University of Hawaii during the early 1980s.

The Orcas remain a key candidate for inclusion in the NRL’s proposed 20-team competition and targeting players from Hawaii and the Caribbean could prove enormously productive, according to Chalmers.

“The Caribbean has absolutely fantastic athletes. When you think about the opportunities in and around the Caribbean, they are all running ten seconds (over 100 metres), and they’re the bad ones,” Chalmers said. “It’s about teaching them to play our sport.

“When you think of Caribbean athletes, you think about sprinting, NFL and basketball but this would be a great opportunity to integrate their DNA into our sport.

“It’s not just the Caribbean but through the Pacific Islands and then extend to Hawaii and the Caribbean. The success of Hawaiian athletes is phenomenal but they haven’t been exposed to rugby league.

“This is a great opportunity to expose these young men and women to the opportunities that exist in a great sport such as rugby league. It would create a new benchmark in terms of rugby league.”

“We would use a sports education program to develop those athletes through the Orcas sports academy. You’d be identifying all those key athletes at aged 14 and 15 into a focused sports education program, all built around rugby league.

“Our thinking is to offer a sports education model to attract them to rugby league. We need to develop the pathways domestically and internationally.”

Elite players would be developed and identified at ages 14 and 15 before being relocated to a high performance program in New Zealand aged 16.

The Orcas plan to launch their pathway and development academy in February next year.

“The target ages would be 14 or 15 – that’s your key development age,” Chalmers said.

“We would develop them in their countries and islands – they would need their families and support – and then the next level of development would be relocation to New Zealand and into a high performance system.

“That’s when you can start to build all the armoury needed for playing a collision sport like rugby league.

“We want to broaden the pathways. There are a number of phenomenal athletes that haven’t been able to access pathways to reach their potential in rugby league. We will put pathways into the islands.”

The Orcas hope to be the NRL’s 20th side behind the Western Bears and PNG, who will formally be announced on Thursday.

 

[Wrighty]

Ridiculous. I hope Vlandy's insults them to their face,

 

[WA Warrior]

Ridiculous. I hope Vlandy's insults them to their face,

I’m with you Wrighty.
There’s no league comp in Hawaii are they going to be scouting Gridiron games?
America already has a comp, are they going to Scout there?
This is pie in the sky thinking.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Sounds like they must have Richard Fale on board

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Sorry I don’t know how to copy and paste off my phone from the Daily Telegraph.
Story on DT of Cameron George and Mark Robinson saying the CHCH team is a mistake.
The timing is not right, they want the NRL to invest in NZ to get the local comp up to QLD comp standard which could take 5-10 years etc etc
CHCH teams must be spewing with the Warriors coming out and openly saying the NRL shouldn’t proceed at this time.

Thats the timeline I thought would be more realistic

 

[Akkerz]

Chalmers & Lowe - would you buy a used car of either of these two? Bloody dreamers. Always looking for another quick way to cash in

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Warriors acting like they ever really gave a shit about the state of the local game until very recently is a laugh.

But its not the clubs job to develop the national game here, the burden would have folded the club. Theres both national and local bodies for that

 

[Teets]

But its not the clubs job to develop the national game here, the burden would have folded the club. Theres both national and local bodies for that

Waiting on NZRL with it's shoestring budget and local bodies who outside the ARL are just volunteers to do it by themselves isn't going to get the game where the Warriors want it to be.

As George said the Warriors are the shop window here. Imagine NZR trying to promote the ole kick n clap without access to the ABs.

Wether it's their remit or not, if they want the game to be stronger then they need to play their part in that alongside the NZRL. Especially if your stated goal is to be a development club, the stronger your local game is then the better your end product local talent stands to be.

To give them some credit the Wahs have started turning a corner on this.

Things that probably cost them a bag of chips like slapping the logo on the ARLs SJ/DB cup comps I can confirm genuinely attracted a few kids to the sport down here to try and play in it. Outside the free merch, these various satellite academies around the country which have pulled more kids to the game would cost fuck all.

Surely between them and the NZRL they can do some promo videos for junior club footy like the Aussie kids get with their NRL stars. Panthers literally promote junior footy and link to their local clubs via their website.

 

[Teets]

This is pie in the sky thinking.

Sounds like they've been reading the recruitment thread and got the bug.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

PNG has reportedly signed off on tax exemptions. For NRL players.

I didn’t realise that Australia tax was 45% over 190k. That’s way higher than NZ at 38% over 180k.

So you offer a player a million.
$810000 x 0.45 =$364,500 extra in hand, plus whatever the tax is for the first 190k. (Assuming they get a full tax exemption) Even half that…..

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

PNG has reportedly signed off on tax exemptions. For NRL players.

I didn’t realise that Australia tax was 45% over 190k. That’s way higher than NZ at 38% over 180k.

So you offer a player a million.
$810000 x 0.45 =$364,500 extra in hand, plus whatever the tax is for the first 190k. (Assuming they get a full tax exemption) Even half that…..

Big financial incentives!

Could make it very tempting for experienced, older players thinking post career and wanting big paydays.

 

[Noitall]

PNG deal is a bargain, but a NRL match may only be an 80-minute Band-Aid for a troubled country

Oliver Nobetau

Lowy Institute Foundation for Development Cooperation Pacific Fellow

It’s been a hectic week for the Pacific: Australia and Nauru inked a landmark treaty, Tonga’s Prime resigned, and the Australia-PNG Bilateral Security Agreement finally began. And that was just on Monday.
Now, in what is certain to be hailed as the biggest sports diplomacy engagement in the Pacific, Papua New Guinea will get its own rugby league team. Prime Ministers James Marape and Anthony Albanese have maintained an unwavering optimism about the impact of this deal for so long that it’s started to look pretentious.

Despite the benefits advocated for by government officials, uncertainty remains as to the purpose, or solution, served by a rugby league franchise; and whether this is a priority for the neighbours on either side of the Coral Sea.
While Papua New Guineans love their rugby league, they’re not prone to jumping on bandwagons. From a PNG perspective, the day after the announcement will be just like any other. Benefits will be seen, realistically, when the team makes its debut in 2028. This gives us four years to unpack the elements of the deal and assess its overall benefit.

For Australia, the biggest upside is a reported security clause embedded within the deal, confirmed by numerous government sources. For the measly annual price of $60 million over the next decade, Australia will have succeeded in averting a China-PNG policing partnership. This is equivalent to less than 0.02 per cent of Australia’s 2024 defence budget – talk about return on investment. On the downside, there has been domestic criticism of the $600 million commitment against the backdrop of Australia’s own housing and cost of living crises.

For PNG, the gains aren’t clear cut.
Papua New Guinean rugby league fans
Papua New Guinean rugby league fansCREDIT: NRL IMAGERY

Socially, Marape has high hopes that the sport can promote unity amidst the civil unrest and tribal warfare that has put the country in the headlines this year. It’s difficult for this argument to hold weight when the basis for tribal violence has nothing to do with whether or not they have a team in the NRL. The underlying causes of these conflicts are yet to be addressed. And a rugby league match is likely to be only an 80-minute Band-Aid distraction for these ongoing tensions.
The likelihood of violence is heightened during local league matches and the broadcasting of the State of Origin. For residents in Port Moresby, the reality is that it’s common to be encouraged by peers to “go home early” and “enjoy the game at home” on these Wednesday evenings so as not to find yourself in a dangerous situation.


Economically, there are still a lot of grey areas on how lucrative the deal will be. As reported by the ABC, NRL bosses Andrew Abdo and Peter V’landys view this as “a potential cash cow”. PNG would see a boost in tourism numbers with spectators flying in for home games, and revenue generated from ticket sales, merchandise and so on. However, it isn’t a stretch to imagine these economic benefits will be limited to the handful of people directly involved in this league circle.
Last week, the PNG parliament passed its budget for 2025, including a new law to grant income tax exemptions to those involved in the franchise. Local newspapers have criticised the move – while PNG’s middle-income earners pay between 35 per cent and 40 per cent in tax, marquee players could save up to $550,000 per year.
Anthony Albanese, Justin Olam and Peter V’landys.
Anthony Albanese, Justin Olam and Peter V’landys.CREDIT: GETTY

Politically, this won’t have much effect on government stability. The dynamics and decision-making of votes do not hinge on league teams, or even geopolitics at that. The next national elections are in 2027, leaving plenty of time for other political issues to go right (or wrong) for the government. Surprisingly, this deal is one of the few things that can get bipartisan support in the PNG parliament, with PNG’s Opposition leader Douglas Tomuriesa advocating the importance of the deal. This praise comes amid efforts to oust Marape through several attempts at votes of no confidence this year.
The challenge of longevity for the franchise will be dependent on its management. In the initial stages, it is envisaged that there will be a board of experts, enabling knowledge transfer and a gradual transition to a composition of local stakeholders.

The other major challenge is security. Considering this, it makes sense to include a security clause for greater partnership with the Australian Federal Police and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. Doing so will help protect the investment in the franchise.
We don’t have all the answers yet. Scrutiny is set to continue for the sport loved by both Australians and Papua New Guineans. The next decade will determine whether the franchise fulfils its potential and brings major benefits – or becomes an underwhelming 50th birthday present to Australia’s former colony.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Finally.

ARLC and Federal Government confirm historic Pacific Rugby League Partnership​

In a landmark, world first sports diplomacy deal, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has confirmed an agreement with the Australian Government to fund a 10-year Pacific Rugby League Partnership.

The Pacific Pacific Rugby League Partnership will support investment into grassroots, pathways and elite rugby league across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. It will also support the introduction of a PNG-based NRL side as part of a future expanded NRL Telstra Premiership.

ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM said the deal was a watershed moment for rugby league and the Pacific region.

“This is an historic step for Rugby League, Australia, PNG and the entire Pacific,” Mr V’landys said.

“Rugby league is the number one sport in the Pacific. This new Club will solidify Rugby league’s role as the unifying language of our region."

V’landys said the funding would be directed into programs that would transform lives and communities across the Pacific.

“Roughly half the funding in this historic agreement with the Federal Government will go to grassroots football and community programs in PNG. It will also flow across the Pacific, including to Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

“The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will help improve school retention, foster national cohesion, and provide opportunities for young people to be their best selves. We know when rugby league is on the curriculum, kids go to school – and that changes lives.

“Rugby league isn’t just sport, it’s a social force for good – a way to improve lives and build stronger communities.

“The new PNG team provides the NRL with a new 10 million+ audience many who will go from being causal fans into engaged fans.

“Just as importantly the pathways investments will provide many new and exciting players to the game.

“I thank Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Pat Conroy and their respective governments for having the vision to understand rugby league’s unique capacity to bind and build communities.”

 

[BigUCE]

So for us to get to PNG, it’s a 9 hour plane trip taking into consideration that we have to stopover in Aussie first which is absolutely ridiculous, with the NRL confirming they will play home games in PNG.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

So for us to get to PNG, it’s a 9 hour plane trip taking into consideration that we have to stopover in Aussie first which is absolutely ridiculous, with the NRL confirming they will play home games in PNG.

You’d hope they’d allow us at least a 7 day+ turnaround both sides of the game. Knowing the NRL. Nah.