18th Team

[Paul]

Right now SOS is playing really well but if his form goes downhill....... what is the name of that halfback from England who used to play for Canberra? He is a really serious player!

George Williams. Top shelf halfback but SOS is doing fine. Other areas we should be investing in.

 

[midlands hobo]

Why #3? I thought it's doing quite well. I know up until WW2, it was really big in France but the Nazis didn't like it because it was seen as a working class game, i.e. friendly to the Soviet Union, and the game never recovered until now where it's growing almost as fast as the riots.

Shambolic decision making. Inability to gain sponsorship. In the last few years the superleague has been sponsored by mushy peas and big soup! Hardly high profile. The amateur game is declining like a rock teams and leagues folding. The growth is in the women's game.

They failed to promote the world cup to the extent they didn't even sell out the final.

 

[midlands hobo]

George Williams. Top shelf halfback but SOS is doing fine. Other areas we should be investing in.

Glad you could think of him all I could think was Bateman who is not a half and in many opinions over here not that good.

 

[Red]

Glad you could think of him all I could think was Bateman who is not a half and in many opinions over here not that good.

Bateman hated living in Canberra but was a superstar backrower. Maybe best in the competition. The guy was dynamite!

 

[Equaliser]

Bateman hated living in Canberra but was a superstar backrower. Maybe best in the competition. The guy was dynamite!

I remember a game where he shredded the Donkey's. Ran straight over the top of hapless Darius Boyd to score. Anyway, would have been a brilliant recruit but is now plying his trade with the Tigers. Also the halfback, Williams, very good halfback but SOS is doing fine at present. I'm not sold on Katoa just yet. Skillful but slow.

 

[Chris]

Look like this might be it. Not a bad move.

The who, when and where of NRL expansion​

The road to 18 teams
- NRL will expand to 18 teams most likely before 2027
- PNG and/or Pasifika team is the front-runner
- The Bears have put their hand up to be part of any bid provided they keep their name, colours and play two games at North Sydney Oval
- PNG Bid 2025 team are ramping up their push for inclusion after touring NRL clubs.
- The PNG bid could link with the Bears, Cairns or Brisbane Firehawks.
The road to 20 teams
- Some have called for three extra teams
- The NRL will explore this option but it is a while away
- A second New Zealand team (combined with Pasikia if they aren’t the 18th team) will be the leading bid
- Another team in Melbourne or a return to Western Australia looms as the next option
- Teams would be split into conferences

PNG or Perth would be better than so-called "Pacifika". Maybe in the future, Fiji, Tonga and etc can have their own teams. A shared team probably won't please anyone.

 

[Jetty]

First look into PNG’s expansion bid to become 18th team​

The race to become the NRL’s 18th franchise is heating up and one bid team has taken a big step towards winning the battle.​

PNG has ramped up its bid to become the NRL’s latest franchise with a strong contingent from its bid team touring NRL club facilities and engaging in discussions with the federal government. Sandis Tsaka (PNG Rugby League chairman), Stanley Hondina (chief executive) and ex-Bulldogs boss Andrew Hill (strategic adviser to PNG’s 2025 bid team) toured Penrith and were guests of the Sea Eagles for their clash against Parramatta on Thursday night. PNG is considered a frontrunner to at the very least headline a Pasifika team when the NRL expands its competition to 18 teams.

 

[Equaliser]

First look into PNG’s expansion bid to become 18th team​

The race to become the NRL’s 18th franchise is heating up and one bid team has taken a big step towards winning the battle.​

PNG has ramped up its bid to become the NRL’s latest franchise with a strong contingent from its bid team touring NRL club facilities and engaging in discussions with the federal government. Sandis Tsaka (PNG Rugby League chairman), Stanley Hondina (chief executive) and ex-Bulldogs boss Andrew Hill (strategic adviser to PNG’s 2025 bid team) toured Penrith and were guests of the Sea Eagles for their clash against Parramatta on Thursday night. PNG is considered a frontrunner to at the very least headline a Pasifika team when the NRL expands its competition to 18 teams.

PNG getting a lot of support. Probably a good move. Create a pathway for PNG players. The only problem I see is no one who isn't from PNG will want to live there.

 

[Josh]

PNG hunters

PNG for sure!

 

[McHunt]

The easiest way to answer this question is to go where there's home-grown talent and foster the grass roots. Fuck Western Australia. Who wants to fly all the way over there to play in front of a bunch of expat East Coasters? At least with the Dolphins they were able to pick through the local Broncos juniors.

 

[Equaliser]

The easiest way to answer this question is to go where there's home-grown talent and foster the grass roots. Fuck Western Australia. Who wants to fly all the way over there to play in front of a bunch of expat East Coasters? At least with the Dolphins they were able to pick through the local Broncos juniors.

Broncos juniors? They are Brisbane / SE QLD juniors. We will be taking our share from now.

Tough question. PNG obviously has grassroots talent in spades but Perth has money and a different time zone for TV.

 

[McHunt]

Broncos juniors? They are Brisbane / SE QLD juniors.

Same thing.