It would be a huge development for rugby league in Papua New Guinea, with the country to know in 7 days, as to whether or not they will be hosting a team in the 2013 Queensland Cup.
“It’s been a long and intense six month process but we are pretty confident, we’re 80% confident of getting the nod,†PNG National Rugby League Bid chief executive officer Brad Tassell said.
It was a meeting with the QRL board in Melbourne last Tuesday, that has Tassell confident about PNG’s involvement in the competition – a meeting that drew a positive response from all other teams and members in the competition.
“It’s been positive. They now go back to re-drawing and working towards accommodating an extra team in their schedule.
“It’s an even 12-team competition at the moment, and the addition will obviously make it an uneven draw. They want to work around all areas to cover for the team.
“They’ll meet again on the June 7, before any confirmation is made, so we’re looking forward to it.â€
An inspection of Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby is likely to be a potential trip, the facility for all future PNG home games, should they get a team.
Should the PNG team enter the QLD Cup, the side will use all local talent from rugby league competitons and the Digicel Cup.
“The team will be 100% local born and bred talent selected from all rugby league competitions, including the Digicel Cup, with consideration for players that have come through the junior programmes.
“A six month scouting period will commence as soon as we get the nod, from where a squad of 40 players will be picked by November.
“This will be further trimmed to a 25-man full time squad, which will go into camp in January, and right through to the season, based out of Port Moresby,†Tassell said.
Peter O’Neill, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, has personally written to the QRL to seek the future entry of a PNG team, with the PNG government committing K1.5 million for the initial preparations and the program itself.
“The team will be run as a full professional franchise, like the Australian NRL clubs,†Tassell said.
Pleasem, can you accept our BID to enter the Qld Cup, please.
I’d imagine the QLD Cup would love to see your bid be successful, Sammy.
Hopefully for the development of rugby league in PNG, it is.
Ricky if its successful then it would be a dream come true for PNG in the NRL Bid as well.
I can imagine, Sammy.
I’d love to see the PNG team/s play in the QLD Cup. It’d help people get a greater awareness for RL in the country.