Origin legends inspire Cairns leaders to get behind joint NRL bid
The queen of Far North rugby league has given a Cairns-PNG NRL bid her royal blessing as the city’s leaders finally push back against ARL Commission chair Peter V’Landys.
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The queen of Far North rugby league has given a Cairns-PNG NRL bid her royal blessing as the city’s leaders finally push back against ARL Commission chair Peter V’Landys.
The influential powerbroker has repeatedly rubbished the footy heartland’s dreams of playing a role in Papua New Guinea’s push to establish a team in the Pacific, arguing it would hurt the Cowboys.
But a State of Origin bloodbath behind enemy lines featuring three tries from Far North prodigy Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has inspired the game’s northern matriarch, Pat Bailey and Sports Minister Michael Healy, to call out efforts to sideline Cairns.
Under the current proposal, it’s understood the PNG team would maintain a strong connection to Cairns with administrators and staff set to be based both in the Far North and Port Moresby.
Ms Bailey, who nurtured the code’s growth across six decades becoming one of the region’s most revered sporting voices in the process, said the community was hungry for more league.
“This is really important for us,” the former Cairns and District Rugby League secretary said.
“We need an NRL club based here. We’ve been left out of a fair bit recently and I just don’t want Cairns to miss out all together.
“At the moment, everything goes to Townsville.
“It would be great (for Cairns).
“You would fill the grandstands when they came here and sponsors wouldn’t be hard to find either.
“PNG has so much to offer and we can be a part of this.”
As the Maroons marched to victory in Sydney on Wednesday night, Mr Healy watched on proudly from the grandstands and made sure NRL CEO Andrew Abdo was well aware of his feelings on a future franchise.
“I don’t agree with Mr V’Landys’ view that Cairns isn’t the appropriate place,” Mr Healy said.
“I think Cairns is strategically the only place that’s really available.
“Cairns stands ready to play its part. I advocate for a team to be based here in the short-term and I can’t think of a better place to do it.
“At the end of the day, I believe, along with many others in the city, that we are strategically well placed, we have the appropriate infrastructure and I don’t think we’d be doing the right thing if we didn’t put our best foot forward.”
Mr Healy said he resisted the urge to wrap Mr V’Landys in a Gordon Tallis-like rag doll tackle after bagging Cairns’ joint bid at Magic Round last month.
“No, we won’t be basing any new team in Cairns,” Mr V’Landys said last month. “If you want it to work, you don’t base it in Australia. How are the people of PNG going to engage with their team when it’s based in Cairns?”
Despite choosing not to summon his inner Raging Bull, the passionate Maroons supporter said he still took exception to the outspoken rugby league maestro’s remarks.
“I don’t think stepping forward during an interview is the appropriate thing to do,” Mr Healy said.
“I was disappointed that the media … didn’t ask (me about it) so I could have addressed it then.
“The key in this whole program is to ensure that everyone knows Cairns is keen to play its role.
“I don’t think it’s Peter V’Landys’ decision alone. That’s why I’ll be writing to the Prime Minister and relevant ministers making sure that they’re aware we’re very keen to play our role.”
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Originally published as Origin legends inspire Cairns leaders to get behind joint NRL bid
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