NRL chief Dave Smith says the huge number of elite players with Pacific island backgrounds can help grow rugby league in the region.
Smith announced the code’s new Pacific Strategy plan on Wednesday alongside Jarryd Hayne and Sonny Bill Williams and said the high-profile pair have helped increase popularity of the game into an area that historically has been a predominantly rugby stronghold.
Dual code superstar Williams, who was part of the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and helped the Sydney Roosters win the NRL premiership last year, is a huge name in Samoa, the birthplace of his father.
Hayne represented Fiji in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and credits his time with the team as the catalyst for changing his life away the field and becoming one of the game’s best players.
Williams, who is recovering from a broken thumb, will fly to Samoa this weekend to kick-start the program while Hayne is due to fly to Fiji later this year once Parramatta finish their season.
“We’ve been thinking for a while how we might develop the game,” Smith said.
“Nearly 40 per cent of our players are from the islands so I think it’s important to recognise that and the development potential there is important for the game.
“I think it’s very possible that we could see a team from the islands in the World Cup final in 2017.”
Papua New Guinea – the only country in the world that has rugby league as its national sport – had a team in the Queensland Cup competition this year where they have more than held the their own.
Smith said it was too soon to talk about a team from the Pacific having a team in the NRL but believes the game has a chance to help introduce football clinics and education programs for children in addition to fostering better community links with local governments and businesses.
“PNG has been going for about a year now and has been incredibly successful,” he said.
“It was about the time being right and having so many players who want to give something back.
“We’ll be working in tandem with respective governments and making sure as the community benefits come through everybody plays their part,” he said.
“The opportunity for us as a game to make people’s lives better in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and PNG is phenomenal and the rich flow of players coming into the game means it is worth the investment.”
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
PNG Hunters playing Wynnum manly today out on the Bayside and there would have to be 5-6,000 there. Live on QLD channel 9, with the Wynnum chant from the packed chookpen, you can't get better grassroots footy. let's hope a Fiji side in the NSWRL has the same affect because it really has rejuvenated the Q Cup. To think the Q Cup is being watched by more people on TV than at any time in the game's history is a real plus not talked enough about.
Rick Karaitiana
Guest
But Sydney Fans don't want Melbourne or Perth in the competition, it could mean some Sydney Teams going to the wall! and why promote the game in the Islands, the majority come into the League via NZ
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
If anyone needs further proof of how rugby league is growing in Fiji,here are a few snippets from the Times. 20 teams in North rugby league http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=270072 Rugby league receives financial boost http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=246385 Support for rugby league from the Outrigger on the lagoon.Stayed there Sep 13 when the NRL semis were on ,and saw the interest from their staff first hand.And yes they support school ru. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=273897 Television coverage to boost rugby league http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=239181
Damian Farrell
Guest
Don't forget Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and other Pacific Island Nations when you progress developing the game in the Pacific. That would be true grassroots development as the four Pacific Island nations mention in the strategy have already varying degrees of foundations established. As Eden points out: show us the details of the strategy; some CEO's and players get such a huge wrap from RL fans for doing such simplistic and obvious things. By the way, if Albert Einstein as a kid said or did something pretty stupid, would his sarcastic mates say to him "Nice one Einstein !" ?
Tigranes
Guest
Steve I know some of the French top 14 clubs are going to operate academies in Fiji to attract talent This will hurt the Fijian national side in the near future...they aren't too crash hit at 15 rugby these days, if their best end up playing for France
In Brief
Guest
Let's wait for the detail.
In Brief
Guest
Let's wait for the detail.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I see it that it should be other players who are loyal who should be spreading the gospel. You have Hayne, what about Radradra or Tuquiri or Waqa.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
I think Lote's Dad is a former Fiji union international?
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Sonny Bill is an athlete who promotes kids in sport full stop. While in French union SBW still visited junior league clubs such as Marseille RL, to promote kids playing footy.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Newcastle have 5 million in the bank, how's that being broke? They are also entering an agreement with Wests Newcastle leagues which is a very rich club. Titans have fans but they will not turn up playing the way they do. Cronulla have just entered a 500 million development and money starting to come in. Bit of research goes a long way.
Crug in the cave
Roar Rookie
I was in Fiji in late February and by chance caught the same flight home home with Petero. To see the way he was flocked to by Fijians was amazing, also by Australian tourists for photos and autographs. He dealt with it all with gracious humility, not knocking back a single request. Even though one Aussie bloke would not leave home alone and had obviously imbibed to many Fiji Bitters, Petero kept smiling and chatting, breaking away to the loo for a break from him. On a side note the Fijian bloke he was with I'm assuming it was his dad was monstrously huge and a lovely bloke too. I believe that the NRL has a responsibility to assist with making the Pacific Island nations thrive and succeed, internationally and in their domestic leagues. It will only help the game on every level.
fiver
Guest
the Raiders have fans, they are just tired of the crap being dealt out by the club over the last few years. The freezing cold night games don't help either, but it was only in 2012 they virtually sold out their final against the Sharks with 24k turning up.
Numbers Man
Guest
This makes a lot of sense the numbers of Polynesians / islanders in the NRL is high and by 2020 this racial group will represent the majority of players. Take a look at the under 18 - 21s etc from the clubs sides. Parramatta has about 60% in their junior sides. I think that by 2030 onwards we can see whole side being of that racial group. Thats good for the game as the contribution of these player really makes the NRL an exciting game to watch.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The first step for growing the game in the Pacific Island nations is to make their international teams exactly that. Not the throwaways from Australia. Two classic examples Hayne played for Australia in the last RLWC and for Fiji in the one before that. Civitocena was the same but in the opposite direction. Of course if this came in to vogue that they can only play for one country (like football and rugby) it would either mean they don't play for their Island nation or they don't play Origin. It won't happen. To have SBW as part of a group to promote league in Samoa is a joke of the first order. Hello, he leaves league for union shortly! When the people of Samoa ask next year "Where's Sonny Bill? they'll be told he's playing for the Chiefs and All Blacks.
Ken
Guest
I support international RL, and have no problem with these initiatives, but it's wishful thinking to paint the Pacific Islands as some huge frontier that's going to push the game forward. The old, if obviously false, refrain that RL is only played in 2 states of Australia can nonetheless be used as a comparison, the countries we are talking about (combined) have roughly the population of Sydney but with far less wealth and distributed around thousands of kms of islands. By all means, let's get in there and get involved, the players there are obviously genetically matched to our game. Give the people pathways and an opportunity to enjoy our game - just don't paint it as some golden opportunity for growth.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
jg Cronulla broke? Please fill me in with the details I am all "ears" Obviously assets and decent income within the next 3years are meaningless.
jg
Guest
Well said. Newcastle = broke. Canberra = no fans. Titans = no fans. Tigers = half broke. Cronulla = broke. The NRL has a lot of work to fix up half its clubs.
Marco
Guest
Good to see the NRL looking to the pacific. Just don't forget about the clubs ; Eg: titans, Canberra, weststigers, Newcastle, cronulla. If they take their eye off the plight of the current teams then expansion measures are debatable.
Eden
Guest
Does anyone have a copy of what is actually in the strategy?