Genius diplomacy or a bonfire of taxpayers’ money? Sceptics query PNG’s NRL franchise deal
The blue-sky optimism surrounding the historic announcement of an NRL franchise in Papua New Guinea is fading as key players struggle to keep abreast of the devilish detail.
The devil, as they say, is in the details — but what if those who should be across the details aren’t entirely across those details at all?
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton appeared on Sydney businessman Mark Bouris’ Straight Talk podcast and was asked about the federal government tipping $600m into a Papua New Guinea franchise that will enter the NRL premiership in 2028.
“It’s a lot of bucks,” Dutton said. “I understand the Prime Minister’s motivation for it. But there’s a lot of scepticism, especially from the (North Queensland) Cowboys about what happens if players are based in Cairns or if they’re flying in and out of North Queensland. The women’s side of the Cowboys have a fair following in Cairns.”
Dutton either misspoke or missed the media conference in Sydney in December when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape announced the team would live and play out of Port Moresby. The notion of basing the franchise in Cairns was abandoned months ago. Players, coaches, officials and their families will live in a compound – a “forbidden city” of sorts – to keep them safe in one of the world’s most dangerous cities.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys also misspoke at the same media conference.
Both prime ministers had earlier talked about a fundamental get-out clause from the 10-year deal: if PNG strikes a security deal with another country, not only will funding be withdrawn, but the franchise licence will be revoked.
After they had left the room, V’landys stood at Albanese’s lectern, jokingly asked, “How many public holidays do you want?”, then told reporters no such get-out clause existed.
It was all very strange and confusing. Albanese’s media team quickly ended the presser.
V’landys walked back his claim in yet another media opportunity later that morning, yet confusion about the finer points of the deal still exists among the clubs – although they’re more than happy to gobble up their slice of PNG’s $60m licence fee.
Albanese has spruiked to more than a few people since the announcement that this will be the “greatest example of soft diplomacy Australia has ever seen”. In theory, an NRL team based in Port Moresby could have a transformative influence on the city and country while securing Australia’s foothold in the region. About half the money will be invested in grassroots and schools programs.
Rugby league can be an agent of change. What’s not to love about that?
The alternative view is the whole thing could be a money bonfire for all concerned. While the deal has bipartisan support in both countries, there’s plenty of devil in the detail for the NRL that has been overlooked.
According to government sources familiar with the intricacies of the deal, the licence cannot be rebranded or recycled, nor can it simply be propped up with NRL money should PNG do a deal with China and Australia pulls out.
The sanctity of the NRL premiership and its broadcast deal is essentially in the hands of two federal governments. This argument is countered with claims that neither would be so silly to sabotage the deal. We’ll see.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has oversight of how the money is spent as well as sponsorship and funding from other sources.
In other words, China.
Under the agreement, the NRL can’t ask for more funding over the next 10 years, nor can it seek additional money when it ends in 2035. (The deal starts now, not from 2028 when the team enters the premiership).
All of which puts enormous pressure on the PNG franchise and the NRL itself to ensure the game’s most ambitious project works.
Can they pull it off?
The franchise is headed by former Canterbury boss Andrew Hill, who along with half the NRL has been linked to the vacant chief executive role at St George Illawarra. He’s adamant he’s going nowhere and wants to finish what he’s started.
While others speculate about potential coaches and players, Hill is more concerned about building a high-performance centre and the forbidden city compound. The clock is ticking.
The Marape government has tipped in $185m of funding over the next four years, although significant private investment is expected because of the tax benefits in supporting a “national interest project”.
For years we’ve been hearing ab
out how much money from the minerals and resources sector could flow into a PNG franchise. We’re about to find out.
Dutton is right: there is widespread scepticism, from even the most optimistic of rugby league people, this can work.
PNG is a rugby league-obsessed country. In regional areas, tribes have aligned themselves to an NRL club.
When Australian exhibition teams play there, they’re often warned about handing over jerseys or boots after matches and training sessions because it can start a riot.
Former NRL referees boss Tony Archer joined the franchise last year and one of his first tasks was to set up a judiciary system. Until then, players in the local competition had been getting away with horrific head-high tackles with impunity. Combating CTE hasn’t really been a priority.
NRL clubs are pushing against PNG players being allowed to sign tax-free contracts, but that’s a selfish attitude. If any franchise needs incentives to secure players, it’s this one. In the absence of a draft, what else is there to offer?
Then there’s just the big picture. While the federal government wants to get a strong security foothold in the Pacific, rugby league should want to do the same.
In decades to come, the game could have teams playing out of PNG, Fiji, Tonga, as well as a second and possibly third team in New Zealand. As one NRL coach said to me this week, “Why not do it now while the federal government is prepared to pay for it?”
Sayers it ain’t so
At a federal Senate inquiry in 2023 into the PwC tax scandal, former chief executive – and then Carlton president – Luke Sayers was under heavy attack from Labor’s Deborah Lee, who was having the time of her life ripping into corporate heavyweights about how they go about their business.
“Any of your colleagues from the … is it the Collingwood Football Club that you’re associated with?” O’Neill asked Sayers.
“I’ll try not to respond to that,” Sayers replied.
Seems to be a familiar theme after the Blues preso quit despite the AFL finding his X social media account had been “compromised” and that’s why a mysterious but “unauthorised” dick pic had made its way into the world.
The AFL’s agility in shutting down this scandal has been something to behold.
Last Friday afternoon, synchronised media statements from the AFL, Carlton, and Sayers confirmed an integrity unit investigation was in place. It only took 10 days to do so.
Late Tuesday afternoon, another round of synchronised statements announced the integrity unit had found Sayers “did not breach AFL rules” based on the “available evidence”.
One line in the statement-a-thon stood out and it came from Sayers himself: “I am aware of speculation that the naming of another person in the post explains why it happened. It does not, and that narrative is wrong.”
Sayers’ mates have been floating all sorts of theories about how the image of a penis – we still haven’t established whose it is – was posted.
Heavily sanctioning Sayers was always going to be difficult for the AFL given how close he is to several AFL heavy hitters. He was once touted as a possible replacement for chairman Richard Goyder.
The negotiated outcome that allows Sayers to escape any semblance of scrutiny confirms that the AFL is the boys’ club it so vehemently denies it is.
Nine drops the ball
Earlier this week, I wrote about the growing tension between Australian Open players and host broadcaster Channel 9.
Right on cue, American Ben Shelton explained after his epic quarter-final victory against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego how the broadcasters and on-court interviewers had been “disrespectful” towards the players.
Seriously, what is Nine doing? Picking fights with the world’s best players, at a home grand slam, doesn’t make sense.
We’re sure Amanda Laing, the network’s incoming managing director of the streaming and broadcast division, is watching all this with interest.
Volume turned down
Fallen NRL star Jarryd Hayne wants to write a book and documentary about his troubled life and career. The only problem is he can’t find a publisher or broadcaster prepared to take it on.
After three trials and two rape convictions, Hayne, 36, was released from jail in June last year after spending two years behind bars. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his convictions on the basis that a judge erred in not allowing the complainant to be further cross-examined during the last trial.
The two-time Dally M winner will play in the Nines Premier League competition on the Gold Coast this weekend.
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