Papua New Guinea kicks off ANRL bid

Papua New Guinea has kicked off its bid to enter a team in the NRL competition

Rugby league is PNG's national sport and the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) is considered a sporting nirvana. But gaining entry to the NRL has wider implication than simply sporting success - it would provide unifying direction for millions of diehard fans who often play year round, barefoot, in searing heat and on rock-hard surfaces.

PNG political elite know the potential and on Tuesday Prime Minister Michael Somare gave 500,000 kina ($250,000) of government money towards a bid team to develop an NRL proposal for entry.

Gold Coast Titans chairman Paul Broughton and Queensland coach Mal Meninga are also assisting the bid team. PNG's deputy Prime Minister Puka Temu said the government is approaching private enterprise to help achieve the necessary criteria for entry into the competition.

"Imagine a PNG team in the NRL competition, imagine the opportunities, and imagine the strengthening of the PNG and Australia relationship," Mr Temu said. "To have our very own NRL team would unite the whole country." PNG rugby league president Danny Holmes said an estimated third of PNG's six million population plays league.

"We can have more influence than the government, that's how important and big this is," he said. "The implications are greater than just having a footy side in the NRL, it gives a big time goal to every kid who puts a boot on.

"We've been using league as a way for kids to learn to be part of a team and a community with a common goal, to learn life skills and confidence," he said. Mr Holmes admits it is not going to be an easy journey to the NRL.

"The government has researched and there is corporate interest," he said.
"The time frame is eight years but there is also talk about 2012, when Somare may retire, so we see." Click here for the PNG Bid website.

Source: AAP

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