NRL’s PNG expansion team will be one of Peter V’landys’ bravest calls as the game’s boss

When looking at Peter V’landys’ legacy as NRL boss, Project Apollo, Las Vegas, the six-again rule and the Dolphins stand out. But the PNG expansion will go down as his bravest decision, writes DAVID RICCIO.

Project Apollo, when Peter V’landys led the return mission of the game through the Covid-19 pandemic, will always be the ARL chairman’s crowning glory.

That’s not to say, the NRL’s unprecedented US odyssey to Las Vegas or the expansion to Redcliffe of The Dolphins, don’t belong in the pantheon of V’landys’ administration achievements either.

The six-again rule would also push for a vote.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett labelled V’Landys’ actions in fast-tracking the NRL’s return before any other collision sport in the world on May 28, 2020 as “irresponsible”.

V’landys just laughed.

“If people can see you’re determined, they come along for the ride,’’ the rugby league boss said at the time.

Buckle-up, the arrival of an NRL team in Papua New Guinea will go down as one of his bravest calls.

Peter V'landys will be remembered for his Papua New Guinea call. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

The decision to go where past and present rugby league administrators have previously been nervous to send a trial match, by adding a top-flight NRL team from PNG, is peak V’landys.

“Brave? Yes, it’s a courageous call,’’ one club CEO said.

“But put it this way, he (V’landys) would cop even greater heat if he chose to walk away from $600 million over the next decade and the opportunity to set-up a team in a country where rugby league is a religion.

“Find me a sporting administrator in Australia who would do that and they wouldn’t be in their job.’’

The NRL’s expansion to Redcliffe for the Dolphins has been a success. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The announcement of a new franchise in PNG is layered with intrigue and it must be said, not a lot of information.

We don’t have a team name, a coach, colours, a board, a training base or even a mascot.

They are burning questions that will be answered in time, a drip-fed strategy of which we haven’t seen before a new team announced, which has led to the scepticism from some fans.

So let’s deal with what we do know.

PNG is the only country in the world where rugby league is the national sport.

The game was introduced in the late 1940s by Australian soldiers stationed in PNG during and after the Second World War.

It’s become the heartbeat of the country ever since.

Papua New Guinea have been competing in the World Cup since 1985. Picture: NRL Photos

The national team the Kumuls have been competing in the World Cup since 1985.

At an international level, while the Kumuls have never beaten Australia, they have a 50 per cent strike rate against England with five wins in 10-games and have won seven of 10 matches against Tonga.

Seven PNG internationals who played in the recent Pacific Championships are currently playing in the English Super League.

Papua New Guinea fans showing their support for the game. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby is considered better than Leichhardt Oval, Sharks Stadium or Four Pines Park, with a capacity of around 15,000.

It has airconditioned dressing rooms.

Let’s not kid ourselves that parts of PNG are of third world nature, where crime is part of every day.

However, what the NRL is banking on is that they are about to invest heavily into a country with a rugby league nursery greater than the Panthers, Sharks or Dragons.

Last October, the Junior Kumuls toughed-out a 22-all draw against the best schoolboys from Australia, the majority of which are contracted to NRL clubs.

That was without the level of training, development, coaching and pathways tutelage that the best kids in PNG are about to receive.

Hold on, it will be bumpy, but one hell of a ride.