Agreed. PNG won't ever be able to support an NRL team and neither will the island nations. It's a shame but that's the way it is. The best thing would be for NRL clubs to open up RL academies and scouting networks in these places. The Jamaica RL are trying to set up a similar thing at the moment. What these nations would benefit from would be regular home international fixtures.

I agree with Bazza. Everytime I hear about a match in PNG there's reports of violence and crowd trouble and I'm recollecting reports going back to the eighties.

That time of year again? Surely this story only rears its head after the grand final?

The way you have described it reminds me alot of Brazil. These factors have prevented them from becoming a strong footballing nation right?





Dont compare PNG to the Pacific island nations, they have a population of over 6.7 million, probably more than all the pacific nations combined.



This can be done, but like I said, they should have had a team or two in the Q Cup years ago....

PNG gonvernment putting $20 milion in to build new stadium



Loads of australian mining companies in PNG as sponsors for the national sport



Sellouts each week



NRL TV grants

Quote Eastbourne Warrior="Eastbourne Warrior"Probably in Port Moresby www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... -ryot.html That article combined with the NRL tv deal should cover the finances too. All RL needs now is teams in Samoa, Tonga, Ireland and Scotland and in 5 to 10 years time we might have some sort of international game.'" i like the idea of a Pacific Islands NRL side sharing games between tonga, samoa, fiji and the cooki ilsnaders we can easily over take union in thee countries with a concerted effort

Quote Eastbourne Warrior="Eastbourne Warrior"Probably in Port Moresby www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... -ryot.html That article combined with the NRL tv deal should cover the finances too. All RL needs now is teams in Samoa, Tonga, Ireland and Scotland and in 5 to 10 years time we might have some sort of international game.'" i like the idea of a Pacific Islands NRL side sharing games between tonga, samoa, fiji and the cooki ilsnaders we can easily over take union in thee countries with a concerted effort

I know what the population is. Despite that, it has a far lower HDI than any of the island nations, or indeed Brazil. PNG is a third world country. No foreign players or coaches in their right mind would ever live there. The idea of an NRL team based there is a complete pipe dream. It's more realistic in the island nations and even then that's a complete fantasy.

To be fair, there are scouts and informants there already. If a kid shows massive potential, they normally end up in Oz or NZ anyway, with a flight, a job/school and accommodation sorted for them.

i agree 100%

I'm interested in Gallop's shift in comments from looking at 2013 for expansion to maybe not rushing into it and mentioning 2015 as another possible date.



This will give more teams a chance to bid for the next expansion spots, but must be frustrating for clubs who were led to believe 2013 would be the go as long as two years ago, like Perth and Central Coast. They're practically sitting there set up waiting for a nod already.

there was one way back



PNG wont get in now it will be perth and brisbane now





but 2020 they can be an excellent chance

LOL RL is the national sport of PNG



of course it can support an nrl team



if cronulla can support an NRL PNG can easy lol