NRL expansion: Pacific Islander stars back Pasifika expansion franchise, prepared to play for new outfit
While some are convinced there isn’t enough talent to expand the NRL some of the game’s highest profile Pacific Islander would be lining up to join the Pasifika franchise if it became the 18th team.
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Parramatta skipper Junior Paulo would sign to play for a Pasifika NRL side, and can even see himself as being a head coach of the proposed expansion franchise in the future.
Earlier this week, News Corp revealed plans for the NRL to expand into a 20-team competition over the next decade.
But an 18th team, the front runner being a Pasifika outfit that takes in Papua New Guinea, could be up and running within the current broadcast cycle, which ends in 2027.
A proud man of Samoan heritage, Paulo, represented the island nation at last year’s World Cup and is contracted at the Eels until the end of season 2027.
But if the stars aligned, Paulo would not hesitate to be part of the mooted franchise.
“If the opportunity presents itself, and it makes sense, I would definitely be happy to (play for the Pasifika team),” Paulo said.
“We’ve seen in Super Rugby with the Moana Pasifika team, everyone wants to represent them.
“A Pasifika team is something we have been building towards in rugby league especially on the back of successful World Cup campaigns, and over the past few years just seeing guys being proud to represent their heritage.”
BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS
Right now, 45 per cent of NRL players identify as being Pasifika, headlined by the likes of Paulo, rising Eels centre Will Penisini, Canterbury powerhouse Viliame Kikau and North Queensland big man Jason Taumalolo.
The NRL’s brightest superstar talent, like Isaiya Katoa and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, opted to represent Tonga and Samoa, respectively, at the World Cup.
Penisini, who is of Tongan heritage, believes players like Kikau and Katoa could be compelled to be part of the new franchise.
“I think so, yeah players (from Pasifika backgrounds) would put their hands up,” Penisini said.
“It would be pretty cool to see a team that allows Pacific Islander players, whether they are from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, to come together as a team that represents them under one banner in the NRL.
“As we’ve seen so far from the Dolphins, their expansion into the NRL has been successful. If they want to add another team then it looks like it could work.
“If that team is a Pacific Island then that would be really special.”
LEAGUE IS A LANGUAGE
Paulo has backed the NRL plans to forge greater pathways in the Pacific Islands and believes the push into the region will be a success.
“Rugby league to us is like a language that everyone understands and speaks,” Paulo said
“It’s funny how an oval shaped footy is something that everyone understands.
“It’s not only in the Pacific Islands but the rugby league world itself.
“It starts off as something to keep everyone busy but seeing the opportunities it has been able to present to our people is special.
ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys told News Corp the mooted $20 million dollars in annual funding support from the government for the Pasifika team will be spent on nurturing grassroots and pathways in the region.
The NRL plans on making sure rugby league is a ‘language’ spoken at schools, by adding it to the curriculum.
“The investment the government makes is going to be into the pathways in those nations,” V’landys said.
“Physical education in schools would be rugby league. We’d never go with a Pasifika, PNG team without the pathway. It’s crucial to the success of it. But we also want our biggest Pasifika stars, who are revered as heroes in those nations, to be part of the process even regardless of who they play for.”
COACHING REPRESENTATION
While Pacific Islander players represent a growing number of players, Pasifika coaches are severely under-represented in the coaching ranks among NRL clubs.
There are currently no head coaches in the NRL of Pacific Islander heritage, while former Tongan and Australian international Jim Dymock, who is currently serving at Manly, is the only assistant coach across all 17 clubs.
Paulo wants to be part of the push to encourage more Pasifika coaches, and has his eyes set on a head coaching role too.
“There is a gap there, we are encouraging the next generation who would be transitioning into the rugby league world and would like to be a part of coaching,” Paulo said.
“For myself, being someone who has enjoyed rugby league and been part of it for so long, what better way to give back to the next generation coming through than be a coach.
“Who knows, in the years ahead I can be one of those faces in that role … if I’m successful enough.”
DON’T BE FOOLED BY DOLPHINS, NOT A REASON TO EXPAND NRL
– Fatima Kdouh and Peter Badel
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has warned the Dolphins’ blistering start has ‘artificially’ created a capacity to expand the NRL after News Corp revealed plans to grow the game to 20 teams.
It comes as Brisbane Jets director Nick Livermore, part of the Ipswich-based consortium which lost out to the Dolphins for the NRL‘s 17th licence, said an 18th team, likely to be a Pasifika franchise, would be a disaster if based in Cairns.
Hagipantelis is an advocate of expansion but has cautioned growing too quickly would dilute the talent and put a strain on junior development.
“It (Dolphins winning) has artificially created an excitement, or capacity, for expanding the game.” Hagipantelis said
“That’s why we need to be very careful about it.
“You have a look at the Dolphins to determine exactly how much of that team is actually local talent and how much is being harvested elsewhere.
“We need to take care there is sufficient talent and resources to warrant additional franchises, all of these are legitimate concerns.
“I favour expansion, it‘s good for the game. If you have the right people involved, engaged in this there is no reason why it wouldn’t work,” he said.
Other NRL CEOs and club bosses expressed similar concerns to the Tigers chairman.
Hagipantelis also believes clubs need to be given enough time to rebuild pathways after junior football was forced into a standstill due to Covid.
Three new teams would require at least 90 top-class players.
“As of today, the 12th of March, the answer would probably be no,” said when asked if there was enough talent to expand the NRL.
“Clubs are putting a lot of focus on pathways programs, and programs have returned to full competition so in time they would be able to generate sufficient talent to have another franchise.”
“(Peter) V’landys said that 2025 might be a benchmark for the 18th franchise but that might be slightly ambitious.”
EXPANSION TIME FRAME
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys told News Corp that “20 teams in an ambition for the next 10 years” but revealed an 18th franchise could be in the NRL before the end of the current broadcast deal, and as soon as 2025.
He conceded the NRL had lessons to learn from the Dolphins expansion, like ensuring the ability to build a competitive roster.
“We need to look at it (18th team) for either 2025, 2026 or 2027,” V’landys said.
“But we need to learn from the Dolphins experience first, we need to see what we have done right and what we did wrong. For the next few months, we are going to take our time looking at the Dolphins. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done. You have to have ambition, if you don’t see growth you shouldn’t be in this position.
“We can‘t be happy with the status quo.”
PACIFIC OR PERTH?
The push to expand to 20 teams is driven by an appetite by the NRL to take over the AFL as Australia’s No. 1 football code.
A Pasifika franchise, based in Cairns, is the shock frontrunner for the 18th NRL licence. Games would also be played in Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. It’s understood the North Sydney Bears would consider aligning themselves with the Pasifika bid.
But Livermore believes a Pasifika team in Cairns would not generate enough commercial support to succeed.
“The 18th team has to go to Perth,” Livermore said.
“Which company would want to support a Pasifika team based in Cairns and sponsor a team that plays games in PNG, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands?
“Logistically, that‘s a difficult exercise.
“Western Australia is the next growth market for the NRL.
“With the time zone and the state competition there, it has enough growth and there is enough market share and commercial strength, as well as a $1 billion venue (Optus Stadium) which has hosted State of Origin.
“Fox and Kayo would be able to drive more subscriptions and that will be the next growth market for fans.
“The broadcasters which fund the game would be able to justify an increase in investment by going to Perth.”
NEW ZEALAND PERSPECTIVE
If a Pasifika side is introduced, bids for expansion beyond the 18th team are likely to come from Perth, New Zealand and Brisbane’s Firehawks and Jets, both of whom lost out to the Dolphins last year.
But Warriors CEO Cameron George told News Corp a second team across the ditch would not be viable.
For George, growth in New Zealand should be in the form of supporting the Warriors to get a stronger foothold in its battle with rugby union by nurturing pathways.
“Commercially another team in New Zealand would not be the best move at this time,” he said.
“We’re going to have a full suite of teams, from under 17’s to NRL level, and that’s the first time we have done that and that’s because of the investment of our owner.
“We’ve invested from our pocket into Pacific Aotearoa Collective, which includes the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and the New Zealand Māori Rugby League.
“We’re pouring money into that to support junior rugby league. We are doing a lot of work investing in the junior league to help the growth of it. We need to grow rugby league here first before we expand.
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