Former Fiji Bati and Australian Kangaroo Petero Civoniceva met with the Prime Minister of Fiji today, Hon. Voreqe Bainimarama, in a show of solidarity for Fiji’s NSW Cup bid.
“We are very close to achieving our aim which is to have a Fijian team based in Fiji play in the competition here in NSW,” Mr Civoniceva said.
NRL ambassador Civoniceva is only weeks away from officially announcing Fiji will field a side in the NSW Cup competition for the 2017 season.
The Fijian Head of Government thanked Civoniceva for his efforts in trying to promote rugby league in Fiji and highlighted the positive outcomes it would have on rugby league players based in Fiji.
This is on the back of the Australian rugby union this week accepting a Fijian team in next year’s National Rugby Championship with an aim to field a Fijian side in the Super Rugby competition in five years’ time.
The NRC team, which will be funded by World Rugby, has been hailed as a major positive for rugby union in Fiji. Rugby union is already considerably popular in the nation, however providing an NRC team will give another pathway for up and coming Fijian juniors. This comes on the back of the Fijian rugby sevens side winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Papua New Guinea has a team in the Queensland Rugby League Intrust Super Cup competition formed in 2013. The Papua New Guinea Hunters (Papua New Guinea Hunters) have had a successful start to their Queensland Cup life, blooding a number of PNG representatives in the hope of one day having a team entered into the NRL competition.
What do you think Roarers? Has the NRC got the jump on rugby league in Fiji, or will we be seeing a greater influx of Fijian players in the NRL in a few seasons’ time?
Mangrove Jack
Guest
Bottom line...PNG has got huge corporate and government support to be flying around Aus and also the Hunters pay the travel and accommodation of all visiting teams to PNG...that is saying something...can Fiji match something like that? who and where will the money come from for Fiji to do something like that?...I just don't see it....sorry
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The top premier rugby clubs should've been merged together into an actual tier 3 competition like the NRC 20 odd years ago, but nobody had the political clout and organisational nous to do it.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
It (NRC)is not liked by the Premier clubs of both Brisbane and Sydney,who are talking about running their own comp. They maintain grassroots is being neglected It costs a lot to run from a travel perspective. Other than that I can't comment, but it needs crowds to offset these costs.
In Brief
Guest
As Crosscoder noted this isn't a able code wars - this is about providing opportunities for people from a relatively poor country to earn a living in Australia playing professional sport. But for the record, the NRC is a new comp, but not a 'mickey mouse' comp. It represents the third tier in Australian rugby behind international and super rugby. It is also a genuine national competition with teams from Canberra, Perth and Melbourne, as well as NSW and QLD country. It is a competition which has huge potential for growth.
Mike from tari
Guest
Most of the hunters games are in Brisbane so that's a 3 hour trip, not sure how long from Nandi to Sydney but don't think it's more than 2 hours.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Just hoping to get you to post something postive.... Dont think I have seen one yet from you... Brighten up, it aint all bad. Also I have been on this website for years.. I just updated everything!!! But yeah unashamedly a rookie.
bearfax
Guest
Valid point there Mangrove. I guess this is one situation where Australia should consider covering most of the costs for a while. If we want these island states to progress with their game, they need to have our support financially as well as offering opportunity. We benefit in the long run because of the influx of many talented players who could well change the nature of the game...and doesnt it need a boost
Mangrove Jack
Guest
Fiji is very small economy, tourism based compared to PNG. PNG can support the Hunters and maybe a NRL team in the future. I doubt if Fiji has the economic stamina to sustain such team playing in an far away country. Note PNG is an Hour flight from Queensland hence the sense of it all. I do not see Fiji surviving in the NSW cup comp for too long if gets the green light.
correct sometimes
Guest
who makes you the moderator of the tab - Vincent the Rookie?
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
:)
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Take Thy Negativity Elsewhere! Thou art welcome on the league tab if you cant be positive. Every comment you make is negative. either cheer up or see a shrink or say nothing.
Correct sometimes
Guest
If they are any good they won't be playing for this team
BrainsTrust
Guest
It seems a waste of money to get PNG and Fiji to pay for teams to travel when they have enough players to play locally. NRL should be putting money into PNG and Fiji, not the other way around. IF you want to increase standards then implement full time professionalism in the local league
The Barry
Roar Guru
Maybe they can be bigJ's next lists...he's gone quiet after a promising start.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
The top 5 Fijian good sorts, top 5 Fijian good legs and the top 5 fijian good pecs will be regular Joey drools, only way to stop that rubbish is to stay away from channel 9
Mike from tari
Guest
Initially the PNG Government funded the Hunters, they are also helped by increasing sponsorship, the players don't get paid a lot of money, they are accommodated & fed, the club pays for the costs of bringing the visiting teams to Pom & paying for themselves for away games so it is a very expensive exercise, if Fiji put a team into the NSW Cup they will have to outlay a lot of money & therefore will need their Governments assistance, it will be interesting to see what the ARLC will do money wise when the Under 20's Comp is finished next year.
karlos
Guest
As long as I don't have to listen to Andrew Johns drooling about how massive their legs are or how strong they are evry five minutes I will be happy. NRC is a mickey mouse comp compared to NSW Cup, so if the Fijians want a good schooling the NSW Cup will be the way to go.
bearfax
Guest
Great news. bring it on.
jamesb
Guest
They have been pushing for a Fijian team in the NSW Cup in the last couple of years. Hopefully, they come into the NSW Cup next year. It'd be a great pathway towards the NRL for promising Fijian players. The more Fijian players play in the NRL, the more stronger their national will become.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
It will be a good move as long as the money is put into it to make it a decent long term investment. I was hoping that the top was the NRL if I am honest..