Papua New Guinea is promising to help stage the most exciting Rugby League World Cup yet after being awarded 2017 co-hosting rights with Australia and New Zealand.
In a first for the rugby league-mad nation, PNG will host three pool matches in Port Moresby after the country’s government poured $1.4 billion into establishing state-of-the-art facilities, including three brand new stadiums and several hotels.
“Our aim is to make this Rugby League World Cup the most accessible and fan-friendly ever,” said RLWC local organising committee chief Michael Brown.
In addition to the government’s investment, the PNGRL has contributed $2 million to the 14-team tournament.
“The investment that the government and capital city has put in will get 10 times more back when it comes to the promotion of our city, our country and our national sport of rugby league,” said PNG Minister for Sports, Justin Tkatchenko.
“We’ve created history here today and the stadiums will be packed at every game, probably more than here.
“We look forward to making this the best World Cup ever.”
Mr Tkatchenko dismissed security concerns, saying the successful hosting of this year’s Pacific Games proved the World Cup will be safe.
“Our police at the Pacific Games were unarmed. That shows the respect our people have for the uniform and the law,” he said.
Mr Tkatchenko said the biggest problem will be allocating tickets, with all games in PNG set to be a sellout even at the city’s newest and largest stadium that will seat 26,000 fans.
The 28-game tournament will feature two three-team pools and two four-team pools.
PNG will be in a three-team pool and play both other sides from their group as well as another from the second three-team pool.
Australia and New Zealand will head the other four-team pools, with the draw not to be done until qualifying is complete next year.
As well as co-hosting the Rugby League World Cup, PNG will stage the FIFA under-20s women’s World Cup next year in another coup for the country.
Norm
Roar Pro
Does this mean the Kiwis will actually get to play a test in New Zealand aganist the Kangaroos? Imagine the outcry if the Wobblies only played one in five Test against the All Blacks at home. I assume the final will be played in Sydney as things in the rugby league world are never equal. If the tournament is a seeded draw AUS and ENG will more than likley be playing in the Semis. wouldnt it be embrassing if it was a Kiwis vs ENG final in front of a half full ANZ stadium.
Russell
Guest
I can think of a million reasons why something is a bad idea and we shouldn't do it.... There you are thought of them all! Surely, even when we think they're wrong it should be entirely up to the PNG people to decide what they want to spend their money on and if there was a problem I don't think they're backward in coming forward to let everyone know, which is as it should be. But blaming RL for being imperialist and prejudiced for an internal decision is pretty weird and illogical stuff .
pete bloor
Guest
Are amazon really doing well? They've barely made money over the past 4-5 years. You'd have been better off chucking you're money in a bond fund
pete bloor
Guest
Actually it does unless you think PNG has infinite access to capital.
pete bloor
Guest
Come on I love it when we can convince under developed nations to spend money on "infrastructure" for first world entertainment events rather than the basic stuff that would allow them to advance economcially. Keeps them subjugated which is right where we want them...
E-Meter
Guest
Sounds great then. Who needs school or health care, when you can go to the footy in comfort.
Russell
Guest
Mango, " misleading the Government"!!!! If this is a crime no one would be living outside of a prison.......... I think it's more of a hobby or pastime ;-) But what great news that PNG will be included in the ReaL World Cup, don't you think?
Mangrove Jack
Guest
PNG Minister for sports needs to be jailed because he misleading the government
Alex L
Roar Rookie
investment [in-vest-muh nt] noun 1. the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value. 2. a particular instance or mode of investing. 3. a thing invested in, as a business, a quantity of shares of stock, etc. 4. something that is invested; sum invested. 5. the act or fact of investing or state of being invested, as with a garment. 6. a devoting, using, or giving of time, talent, emotional energy, etc., as for a purpose or to achieve something: His investment in the project included more time than he cared to remember. 7. Biology. any covering, coating, outer layer, or integument, as of an animal or vegetable.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
My point is that the changes have already happened. And new ones are occurring all the time. It matters little whether one agrees with them or not. They are there already.
Russell
Guest
Yeah but, they have a world presence , are doing very well out of it and lots of people never eat at MacDonalds but they're all over the world........ Whereas the coner shop is still stuck on the corner and however useful is not the place you go to most just when you have little choice,,,, which is why Jimmy Stewart played it in black and white and lots and lots of grey
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The corner shop and Amazon both have their place. But some act as Amazon doesn't already exist. And that, to me, is a recipe for disappointment.
Russell
Guest
I think you've been coping with this kind of thing for a while now....... The assumption is that you dont have a parochial bone in your body because you want RL to be more, bigger and better because it's the best.......... To me it's a simple choice, do you want to own the corner shop loved by Phil Gould or do you want to own Amazon?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It's all the same to me, just variations on a theme. Provincialism can only offer so much before it gets in the way. What does it matter if we are talking grounds, sponsorship, Hayne in the NFL or the World Club Series? Like I said, it's all the same to me. Good luck to PNG for at least trying to improve themselves, no matter what road they take to get there.
Russell
Guest
Sleiman, it does seem funny ( amusing) that the thread may be different but the arguments take the same turns! ;-)
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
In many areas of life, if nothing is done, the world will just move on past.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Probably need improving. Doesn't mean they can't do other things though.
E-Meter
Guest
Wonder what their schools and hospitals are like?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good on PNG, Rugby League is a religion there, great for the country. I was at the GF last weekend, I met several PNG people, they absolutely idolise anything QLD in League !!
Russell
Guest
Hello Cathar and Sleiman, What I love about the Roar is every set of postings is like a GF of opinion, And this year's Grand Final is between: The Canberra * It all End in Tears" and The Melbourne "I like the Sound of thats! " So it's solid defence against all out attack!