Kumuls to Crack the NRL
Interesting article on the Daily Telegraph site about the Kumuls making a play for the NRL.
The PNG Government is behind this bid in a big way:
PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has also pledged $10 million to help build a new stadium in Port Moresby and a further $250,000 to assist the PNG bid team, headed by Gold Coast chairman and veteran league official Paul Broughton.
It’s true to say that there are plenty of competing bids from within Australia – Central Coast, Central Queensland and a second Brisbane side, not to mention outposts such as Adelaide and Perth. Also not to mention a second NZ team but more on that later.
The usual mantra WIIFM applies.
As far as the NRL is concerned, the answer could well be “plenty”:
PNG Minister for Sport Philemon Embel wrote to Gallop saying: “The passion of six million PNG people for rugby league is undisputed. Unlike the Australian-based possible expansion teams, a PNG team will increase revenue to the clubs.
“The New Zealand Warriors increase revenue to the NRL by at least $10 million a year. PNG would do the same.”
This last point is something that our retard … oops, retro friends across the ditch forget when they call for the Warriors to be kicked out of “their” National League.
It’s not just a case of ditching the Warriors (boom boom) but losing ANOTHER team – the Warriors pay their way along with another team. Or should that be we pay, largely through Sky.
I can’t see the Kumuls flying soon but it certainly would add another dimension to the NRL plus yet another weak team that the Warriors can lose to.
Not that many sleeps to go until the real rugby season starts.