Far North MP calls out Peter V’Landys over Cairns-PNG NRL bid
The Queensland Premier has spoken on whether Cairns should be part of the PNG bid while a Far North MP has taken aim at Peter V’Landys.
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A Far North MP has called on Peter V’Landys to back a joint Cairns-PNG NRL bid, arguing the Far North is the perfect place to foster partnerships with the Pacific and potentially pave the way for a late career homecoming for a favourite son.
The ARL Commission chair has attempted to scupper Cairns’ plans to be a part of the historic rugby league franchise despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supporting the shared submission.
Just a 90-minute flight to Port Moresby, Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the tropical destination was perfectly placed to help launch the team should it enter the competition in 2028.
“If Peter was standing here right now I’d say, ‘You’ve made the wrong call’,” Mr Crawford said.
“Cairns is a significant link to all countries throughout the Pacific.
“It’s also very well suited to be the Australian base for the PNG team.
“I don’t think Port Moresby lends itself at this stage to be able to do that. There are home-and-away games and other things to consider within that.
“It’s always going to be a Port Moresby-based team but they need an Australian location.
“Even it was for five years and that allowed them to work through security issues and other challenges.”
A longstanding hotbed for NRL talent, Mr Crawford said the next rugby league superstar with Pacific Island heritage could already be playing on a suburban ground in Cairns, referencing Dolphins phenom Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, whose father is Samoan.
“If you’re an up-and-coming 17-year-old coming from a Pacific nation and you’ve got potential, to be able to come from Cairns and possibly even live with extended family and people here will break down barriers,” he said.
“Cairns has some of the most amazing families here from all over the south Pacific and Papua New Guinea who want to break into the big league.
“This is the place to grow south Pacific and PNG talent and then feed into the broader league and what a great legacy to have.”
Mr Crawford said the argument that Cairns should be considered “Cowboys country” was false.
“I don’t think that having the PNG team in Cairns will affect the Cowboys’ following,” he said.
“We’re big enough for both of them. I think they need to go back and relook at it.”
Mr Miles said he also backed Cairns’ efforts to be a part of the bid.
“I’ve supported the PNG bid on the basis that Cairns is part of it,” Mr Miles said.
“To go from zero to a full NRL team without having a base in Australia would be very difficult.
“I would urge the NRL to keep considering Cairns as a base option for the PNG NRL team.
“I think that would be a great outcome and at the end of the day that’s what we all want.”
Tabuai-Fidow will come out of contract with the Dolphins in 2027.
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