National Rugby League, Aust (NRL) bid positive

Papua New Guinea’s bid to enter the Australian National Rugby League competition by 2012 looks good following its inaugural meeting early this month in Brisbane. Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and chairman of the bid team committee Philemon Embel told reporters at a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday that even though there was still a lot more hard work ahead, he was confident PNG’s bid had a good chance.

“Even though there is a lot more hard work ahead for PNG before we can confidently participate and be competitive in the NRL, I’m confident that with the political will and the financial support from the PNG Government, the bid had a good chance of success,” Embel said.“I want to thank the Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for his vision and initiative in bidding for a team in the NRL and also for giving K500,000 and committing K20 million to build a stadium,” Embel said.

Jesse Joe Parker (above) and other promising stars in the Rugby League fraternity would like to see positive outcomes for this proposal come 2012

The PNG Government appointed and endorsed a committee charged with the task of preparing PNG’s bid for a franchise to play in the National Rugby League competition in Australia in the future had its inaugural meeting in Brisbane on April 3.Embel was elected chairman by the Bid Team Committee and all members of the Bid Committee were present including NCD Governor Powes Parkop, former Queensland Maroons and Australia captain Mal Meninga, Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton, Frank Kramer and Benais Sabumei.

The Committee made a number of decisions to commence the bid process and the most notable ones the bid committee came up with were:
* To set itself up as a trust entity
* To incorporate a company to commence building the financial base for the future NRL franchise
* The approval of the bid logo
* The approval of an administrative structure
* The approval of its budget
* The approval of marketing, merchandising and promotion strategies.

“The following issues were considered and discussed at length but decisions were deferred to future meetings in order to allow for further consultations and investigations,” Embel said.

These were, sponsorship and naming rights, stadium development, academy and junior development and appointment of lawyers, accountants and auditors Embel expressed satisfaction that the meeting was highly productive and informative and commended the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for the choice of the Committee membership. Embel said he was humbled by the wealth of knowledge and experience his committee members demonstrated in their first meeting.

*Draw card for the fight inside. Embel expressed gratitude to all members of the committee for their acceptance to serve on the Bid Committee on behalf of the Government and more particularly the Australian members, who are great Australians in their own right the great league legend and now Queensland coach Meninga, Broughton and Frank Kramer who is chairman and chief executive of the Kinhill Kramer Group of Companies.

After the meeting the PNG members of the Bid Committee and officials visited Rugby League Academies and institutions and NRL Teams establishments and met with rugby league administrators and officials of various leagues including the International Federation, the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League.

Embel was particularly pleased ARL and IRFL chairman Colin Love along with the chief executives of both, the ARL and the NRL Geoff Carr and David Gallop respectively were able to meet him and members of the bid team. “I couldn't’t ask for more the fact that I was able to personally inform these very important gentlemen of our bid early enough, is for me, a very significant start for PNG’s bid”. “Everyone we visited, were extremely generous and very helpful and wished PNG well in our Bid.

“They offered their support and assistance which was very encouraging.”“Overall, we have learnt volumes about this game called rugby league and why Australia is successful in being a champion rugby league nation” Embel said.

By LESLIE OMARO of the Post Courier

*** Papua New Guineans being avid followers of Rugby League in Australia, not long they will have their own team representing them. The government must make sure that all this happens as suggested in 2012. We have had enough of rhetoric and keeping people in suspense from successive governments over the years. We hope that, this proposal will hold much water if pursued vigorously.