NRL Expansion: PNG bid promise lavish compound for recruits to new team

NRL players contracted to the new PNG franchise would be treated like royalty and be the safest people in the country according to Australia’s high commissioner.

Local fans celebrate a try, during the Pool C, round 3 Rugby League World Cup match between Papua New Guinea and the USA at the Oil Research National Football stadium in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea, Sunday, November 12, 2017. (AAP Image/Joe Castro) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Australia’s high commissioner to Papua New Guinea, John Feakes, has promised Australian NRL players contracted to the new PNG franchise would be treated like “royalty” and be the “safest people in the country.”

And this masthead can reveal imported players would be accommodated in a secure resort-style village most likely near Port Moresby Harbour.

The exclusive accommodation – which could offer multiple sized units or villas – will help allay fears that NRL players and their families would feel unsafe living in PNG.

With the PNG bid to be formally announced in August, Feakes, a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs, claimed PNG’s maligned international reputation was “disappointing, unfortunate and askew.”

“Like all countries, including Australia, PNG has its share of law and order problems. It has its challenges,” Feakes said.

“But I have 100 High Commission Australian staff – with 76 children – who live here.

“Families live a very happy, full life here. We’ve got no shortage of people wanting to come up here. You have to take the normal precautions, but life is pretty normal.

“There is also a big expat business community here.

“People get a very skewed view about PNG if you read what’s written about it in the media. This is my third posting here. It shows how comfortable I am living here.”

The football stadium in Port Moresby which would be the expansion team’s home venue. Picture: Joe Castro

Statistics show PNG has a high crime rate through unemployment and citizens fleeing tribal violence areas in the Highlands to relocate in Port Moresby.

Asked whether the country’s reputation irritated him, Feakes said: “I wouldn’t say it irritates me, but it’s unfortunate and disappointing.

“My kids lived here when they were small. It was their favourite place to live, they loved it.

“For anyone thinking of visiting Papua New Guinea, whenever a rugby league team comes here, the Kangaroos, the PM’s XIII, they are treated like royalty.

“They are probably the safest people in the country.

“Papua New Guinea is a country of 800 languages and 400-plus tribes and rugby league unites them. All Papua New Guineans speak rugby league.”

That includes PNG representative Alex Johnston, who is on track to overcome Ken Irvine’s mark of 212 tries and become rugby league’s great tryscorer.

Johnston, 29, has a deal with South Sydney that expires at the end of next year.

PNG Rugby League is exploring three sites near water for their player accommodation. A preliminary proposal indicates the village would boast swimming pools and recreational facilities.

It is anticipated all imported NRL and NRLW players would be accommodated in the village.

Aerial View Over Hanuabada Village. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Picture: Getty Images

“We are extremely fortunate that we are in the process of looking at a number of sites to build an appropriate resort, village-style accommodation,” said PNG NRL bid chief executive Andrew Hill.

“We are very aware of the requirements and standards that the village needs to meet to accommodate our contracted players and staff.

“We are currently conducting a business case study around which site would be the best.

“We have footy teams come here every year and we have never had any issue.

“Queensland Cup teams come here every week (to play PNG Hunters), the Kangaroos play here, Test matches and women’s games. PNG has some of the best hotels in the world.”

PNG will supply security to ensure all teams feel safe.

Visiting rugby league teams, including Australia’s Kangaroos, currently stay at the 20-floor, five-star Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby, which was the official hotel for the FIFA under 20s women’s World Cup in 2016.

The hotel offers 378 rooms and suites, state-of-the-art gymnasium, 42 metre swimming pool and is connected to a shopping mall with more than 70 shops and restaurants covering four floors.

There are plans for Marriott International to rebrand Stanley Hotel and Suites to Sheraton Port Moresby Stanley Hotel and Suites.

NRL games would be played at the PNG Football Stadium, also known as the Santos National Football Stadium.

The stadium holds 15,000 fans and was redeveloped for the 2015 Pacific Games.

It was formerly known as Lloyd Robson Oval, which hosted World Cup rugby leagues games in 1986, 1990 and 2017.

Australia’s Kangaroos played games in PNG during 1982 and 1986.

Originally published as NRL Expansion: PNG bid promise lavish compound for recruits to new team