Players also have to pay accomodation based on the standard rate to rent a similar apartment in Sydney. But relative to tax free dollars and the fact that you are paying to live at home anyway it doesn't change anything, it just reassures that PNG don't get a further advantage.
I think the tax free rule is honestly ****ing ludicrous. If you don't have a business case that is viable without it, I'm sorry you don't belong in the NRL. It's a joke of a competition that you have one team being propped up by two governments and in effect nearly double the salary cap. Not to mention the living standards players will face in that country and I'm not even saying it from the perspective of it being a shit hole. They have a nice little compound, but you won't be able to move anywhere should you leave that as you will eb swamped with the people of PNG.
I think the concept of a PNG team is so cool but at the same time it can't be at the expense of the integrity of your competition. NRL have just seen the shitload of cash that comes with entering that market as well as the government $$$ and will do anything to make the franchise successful there.
Not to mention this is all happening whilst the Perth Bears are going to struggle to get up and running, with next to no league support in the area, no grassroots, and no pathways. Not to mention they are far away from players and staffs families (further than PNG and NZ).
I think Perth was the right decision but to try and bring them into the comp at essentially the same time as a team that's being pumped with infinite amount of resources and salary cap dispensations to be a viable and competitive club is a joke.
Another Brisbane team and Wellington team I believe made more sense than PNG. NRL need to chill out on the expansion front for 5-10 years now. Just let the 3 that are here do there thing and then introduce down in Wellington.
