2024 NRL General Discussion Thread

[Santa]

I wonder spending 600 million to fund and NRL team in another country will actually go down with the voters.

$60m a year is really that much compared to the total amount of foreign aid we provide globally (>$4 billion each year - most of which already goes to PNG).

Foreign aid budget

th[align="right"], td[align="right"] { text-align:right !important; } th[align="center"], td[align="center"] { text-align:center !important; } Budget Review 2022–23 Index Dr Angela Clare Australia’s foreign aid program in 2022–23 amounts to an es

www.aph.gov.au

So Australia comes in and says, hey here is $600 million for a league team (probably 200 million to Vlandys' personal account, another 350 million for 'other expenses')

So then let's say another country comes in and as like, ok no probs here is $6 billion - do whatever you like with it. How much weight is this NRL team really going to carry?

It's all about building "soft power". Sport unites, and this will hopefully keep the bond strong. You like our sport > you like our culture > you like our values > you like us = no security pacts with China lol

Rugby brings Australia, Papua New Guinea closer together amid China concerns

In a soft-power move that is becoming a staple in the Australia-PNG relationship, Canberra will extend funding of PNG’s professional rugby team in the Queensland cup.

www.scmp.com

 

[Sproj]

$60m a year is really that much compared to the total amount of foreign aid we provide globally (>$4 billion each year - most of which already goes to PNG).

Foreign aid budget

th[align="right"], td[align="right"] { text-align:right !important; } th[align="center"], td[align="center"] { text-align:center !important; } Budget Review 2022–23 Index Dr Angela Clare Australia’s foreign aid program in 2022–23 amounts to an es

www.aph.gov.au

It's all about building "soft power". Sport unites, and this will hopefully keep the bond strong. You like our sport > you like our culture > you like our values > you like us = no security pacts with China lol

Rugby brings Australia, Papua New Guinea closer together amid China concerns

In a soft-power move that is becoming a staple in the Australia-PNG relationship, Canberra will extend funding of PNG’s professional rugby team in the Queensland cup.

www.scmp.com

That's all well and good but here...have $6 billion dollars and all we ask for in return is an open mind and perhaps an airport.

 

[Santa]

That's all well and good but here...have $6 billion dollars and all we ask for in return is an open mind and perhaps an airport.

That's the whole point of soft power. I.e. connections beyond "hard power" like military threats or bribes. It's why places like Taiwan still has global friends no matter how small it is compared to China.

You are right that someone could try and bribe there way in (and they already do in some cases), but I guess that doesn't mean you give up either. Soft power is more long lasting - and most importantly much cheaper.

Countries also aren't too stupid (most of the time), would PNG want a long term relationship with a country which shares its values, and who they think they share a bond with, or sell itself to a country they know they cant trust...

Also hopefully the billion dollars in aid and support we've provided PNG every year helps.

 

[Sproj]

That's the whole point of soft power. I.e. connections beyond "hard power" like military threats or bribes. It's why places like Taiwan still has global friends no matter how small it is compared to China.

You are right that someone could try and bribe there way in (and they already do in some cases), but I guess that doesn't mean you give up either. Soft power is more long lasting - and most importantly much cheaper.

Countries also aren't too stupid (most of the time), would PNG want a long term relationship with a country which shares its values, and who they think they share a bond with, or sell itself to a country they know they cant trust...

Also hopefully the billion dollars in aid and support we've provided PNG every year helps.

Of course and I understand how soft power works but you’ve got Australia going up against a country that has written the book on how it works and how to do it.

In terms of Taiwan, you also have other factors at play like allowing the US to have a very strategic location on a certain country’s door step and of course the very specialised product it produces.

And to be frank, Australia isn’t the US, is the US going to back up what Australia is trying to do here? Maybe but if a big country comes in and says hey look we know Australia has given you a lot of aid and a football team, but hey here’s a blank piece of paper, tell us what you want…and then double it.

All I’m saying is, an NRL team is not going to have the power Australia thinks it will, especially when you’ve got a grubby chairman involved who will be licking his lips at what he can get out of it himself.

 

[Santa]

Of course and I understand how soft power works but you’ve got Australia going up against a country that has written the book on how it works and how to do it.

In terms of Taiwan, you also have other factors at play like allowing the US to have a very strategic location on a certain country’s door step and of course the very specialised product it produces.

And to be frank, Australia isn’t the US, is the US going to back up what Australia is trying to do here? Maybe but if a big country comes in and says hey look we know Australia has given you a lot of aid and a football team, but hey here’s a blank piece of paper, tell us what you want…and then double it.

All I’m saying is, an NRL team is not going to have the power Australia thinks it will, especially when you’ve got a grubby chairman involved who will be licking his lips at what he can get out of it himself.

Yea look, it's not perfect and there are a lot of factors involved. My assumptions would be that this is only a small (and cheap) part of a broader long term strategy to foster better connections between us, PNG, and the broader pacific. Who knows how successful it will be.

I don't know the details of the sepnding, but you would hope that the bulk of it goes directly towards infrastructure and community projects and not directly (or via) the NRL. So even if the team ends up failing, you helped a lot of people along the way.

 

[Foordy]

The above posts are exhibit one for why politics should stay the **** away from sport.

Also the second reason I'm against PNG getting the nod

 

[Sproj]

Yea look, it's not perfect and there are a lot of factors involved. My assumptions would be that this is only a small (and cheap) part of a broader long term strategy to foster better connections between us, PNG, and the broader pacific. Who knows how successful it will be.

I don't know the details of the sepnding, but you would hope that the bulk of it goes directly towards infrastructure and community projects and not directly (or via) the NRL. So even if the team ends up failing, you helped a lot of people along the way.

Well definitely would have helped one chairman along the way, that's for sure.

 

[Santa]

Calling it now, they'll be more successful than the Titans

A whole country behind 1 team will be epic to see.

 

[Santa]

Half of the money to go to Pacific pathways!?

‘Deal is done’: Decision on $600m NRL expansion set to be confirmed

‘Deal is done’: Decision on $600m NRL expansion set to be confirmed

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Fernando]

Half of the money to go to Pacific pathways!?

‘Deal is done’: Decision on $600m NRL expansion set to be confirmed

‘Deal is done’: Decision on $600m NRL expansion set to be confirmed

www.foxsports.com.au

I assume specifically for RL? The government already spends tens of millions funding Fiji in Super Rugby

 

[Santa]

I assume specifically for RL? The government already spends tens of millions funding Fiji in Super Rugby

I just thought it was more PNG focused, not all of the Pacific.

 

[Brocko]

This cracked me up good.

 

[Foordy]

This cracked me up good.

View attachment 28117

That click bait got me.

I read the Story and it pretty much turned out that Hunt bought a house off a club sponsor for market value.

The sponsor reportedly bought the property for $1.9 million and sold it for $2.7 million to Hunt making an $800k profit I the process.

 

[Big Del]

The above posts are exhibit one for why politics should stay the **** away from sport.

Also the second reason I'm against PNG getting the nod

It could all be null and void after the next election if the parties in power change .

 

[Foordy]

The shortlist for the Eels gig is reportedly:

Michael Cheika, Jason Ryles, Josh Hannay, Trent Barrett, Michael Maguire,

 

[Cavalo]

I know we all joke about brown paper bags from Uncle Nick and incompetence of the NSWRL, but JWH only getting a fine...that is some next level incompetence or blatant corruption. I don't care if he's a '"good bloke" or in his last season, if you recklessly shoulder someone in the head and you have about the worst record in the game, then you have to cop some weeks in the stands.
He's been a great player, but he's also a thug who endangers other players regularly and I do not understand the consistent lenience by the MRC.
People may say he has had a few decent suspensions, but deservedly so. As I said in the game thread. If 2021 Flegler or Pangai Jr does that hit it's a send off and six weeks.

 

[Sproj]

I know we all joke about brown paper bags from Uncle Nick and incompetence of the NSWRL, but JWH only getting a fine...that is some next level incompetence or blatant corruption. I don't care if he's a '"good bloke" or in his last season, if you recklessly shoulder someone in the head and you have about the worst record in the game, then you have to cop some weeks in the stands.
He's been a great player, but also a thug who endangers other players regularly and I do not understand the consistent lenience. People may say he has had a few decent suspensions, but deservedly so. As I said I the game thread. If 2021 Flegler or Pangai Jr does that hit it's a send off and six weeks.

Unbelievable.

 

[Waynesaurus]

PNG expansion bid hits $170m roadblock as NRL clubs’ demands revealed

PNG expansion bid hits $170m roadblock as NRL clubs’ demands revealed

www.foxsports.com.au