While the Auckland Nines was a great way to start the season, Penrith’s match against the Papua New Guinea Hunters was just as important for the game of rugby league.
On Saturday night, a young Penrith side took on the Hunters at the newly opened National Sports Stadium in Port Moresby, coming away with an eight-point win.
It was a sell-out crowd for the occasion, with some quality football played by both sides.
For Penrith, it was a great opportunity for their young players, led by Jamie Soward, to get a hit-out before the season starts. More than that though, it was good for a rugby league-mad community to see their side take on an NRL team.
We keep talking about the expansion of our game, without really conducting any market research. While it will be a long time before Papua New Guinea compete in the national league, taking a game there to gauge support and sentiment is a good step.
The Prime Minister’s XIII is another game that takes place in Papua New Guinea each year.
This game is what rugby league should be about: giving a quality product to the people who want it and appreciate it most.
The Panthers did a lap of the crowd afterwards, and there were joy and appreciation on the faces of people who got photos with the players, most of whom are yet to play in the NRL.
While the Nines replicated these themes over the weekend, the game in Papua New Guinea was just that little bit more special.
There was no controversy, no star players, no biff; just the game played for the enjoyment of the players and the crowd. It was simple but positive.
I hope the Panthers continue to take games to Papua New Guinea, and that first-grade games are played there in the future. Because this country have shown they will embrace the game just as much as New Zealand has with the Nines.
Johnno
Guest
Hunters have signed a long term sponsor deal with SP , so that is good. And playing in Port Moresby will increase revenue and reduce travel costs. They have also done a deal with Brisbane Broncos to use there triaining facillities for Brisbane games, which is another coup.
Mikail-Eagle
Guest
I was at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby and watched the Hunters vs Panthers game live. Was a great game and the atmosphere was electric. A few NRL Teams should bring their games up to PNG.
The Gurgler
Roar Guru
I'm a big Hunters fan based in SEQ and have even written a piece on them here in the lead up to last year's finals. I've been to 7 games around different Brisbane venues and the png fans wouĺd sometimes be at least half of the crowd and at Davies park about 90%. Agree the game against penrith was a big step and pity I couldn't find a live stream as the twitter updates made it sound great. The next step for Png is to link up with an NRL club for at least one NRL game a year. During origin in 2015 the Hunters actually got a bigger crowd than all NRL games, so would be an ideal time. And a good news story aside from origin and terrible half arsed Nrl rounds.. This will no doubt become another debate over png and their inclusion into the nrl and whilst I'll love it if it did happen, I just can't see it ever happening with the current nrl set up. Sad but true. For now all I can do is urge people to find a game nearby and take a look live. They are always entertaining and a great atmosphere. And who knows if the crowds start to match the port moresby crowds elsewhere, the buzz will be hard to ignore.
coco
Guest
I have been to all Qcup games in Pt Moresby, both were sold out within hours 15000 tickets. The Hunters are guaranteed a sold out stadium EVERY game they play in Pt Moresby in 2016. That is where the money is, the majority of the population and there is not much to do as a family on weekends. In their away games, PNGeans living in other parts of Queensland drive hours to watch them play, my sister lives in Chinchilla, she, her aussie hubby and their kids drive 4hours to Brisbane for the weekend just to watch the Hunters. PNG University students studying in Brisbane hired a minibus and drove from Brisbane to Rockhampton (8hours one way) to watch a Hunters game, they arrived 10minutes before kickoff and drove back to Brisbane after the game. I would rather watch the Hunters than a NRL game. Having said that if NRL had one game in Pt Moresby, I would pay up to K500 for a ticket from a scalper, there would be pandemonium. You have no idea how much we love the game... at ALL levels not just NRL.
Rodney Olsen
Guest
Every game that has been played at the new ground has sold out since the new stadium was built, I think they are up to game 7 so far, the hunters will average better crowds this year than a heap of a league, nrl and super rugby union sides and a few afl teams.
Jack Aubrey
Roar Guru
It is great for the game to have a QLD cup side in PNG. They have some talented players coming through and they finished a point shy of the minor premiership last year and went to the preliminary final so they are a competitive side. They have good support with Rugby League being the national sport, I can't give you an average crowd but I know 15 000 have turned up to games, many more than some first grade matches here. I think they are working hard to make the side sustainable and financially viable because the sport is so important to them and their culture. The NRL needs to look after them because they do provide talent, James Segeyaro is a case in point.
lao hu
Guest
What's your take on the PNG side in the QLD Cup comp? What kind of crowds are they drawing and is the franchise financially sustainable and competitive on the feild?