Hi Tony,
I have enjoyed reading your articles, comments and thoughts over the years but in this case I must completely disagree with you. Your article is not based on a serious discussion about the success or failure of a PNG team but is a purely political rant which frankly doesn’t belong on this sports site.
You provide an un-named quote from someone at the pacific forum that said “The first PNG NRL team would also include Australian players, but a PNG identity would be ensured”

To which you then say.

“How many Australians would be included? Surely using quotas based on race, nationality or heritage is not appropriate in the NRL, or probably in any domestic sporting competition for that matter, and if it was used, based on the skill sets of the PNG-based players who represented the country this year, this new team could set a new record for wooden spoons.”

So are you suggesting that a team from PNG could only have players from PNG. Let’s stop and look at that idea. I see you are a St George Dragons fan, how many current Dragons players are from St George? What about from the Illawarra? How about how many Storm players are from Melbourne? This argument makes no sense unless you then apply it to all other teams. Of course all teams are a mixture of players from all over league playing nations and why would PNG be any different?

The statement: “Do PNG league fans really get excited watching players represent them who have no real connection to the country beyond the address of the hospital on their grandmother’s birth certificate?”
Let me ask you, do you get excited when Mikaele Ravalawa scores a try during a game? But he’s not from St George so surely you wouldn’t.

You then complain about “support” being provided – well what about the 10 million already going to NRL clubs by the federal government, or the $113 million being allocated by the NSW government to NRL, or perhaps the the Queensland government funding, How about the $50 million for a centre of excellence for the dragons from the government? All NRL teams get government funding.

Would taxpayers be upset with the funding to the Dragons or any other NRL team, I would say yes, but you haven’t written an article about that before. The Financial Times article on the 16/8/23 states that the Australian Government would put up to $25 million a year to support the PNG team, if you thinks that’s gonna bankrupt the country than you probably should have been more concerned about the $660 million money spent on not creating commuter carparks.

The idea that a PNG team wouldn’t be successful in the only country that has Rugby League as it’s National Sport seems shortsighted. The team would have the same salary cap as everyone else, so attracting players wouldn’t be any more difficult than any other team. Whether they won a grand final in the next 20 years would mean nothing, take my team, Parramatta, we haven’t won since 1986 (as everyone likes to point out), but would you suggest that therefore Parra is a waste of time and money and therefore should no longer be included in the comp. How about the Titans or the Warriors, they haven’t won a comp yet either. The Dragons haven’t won the comp since 2010, so how long do you give a team before they have to win a comp?

Frankly I’m disappointed that such a politically motivated article was allowed to be published and prefer it when you stick to actually talking about league not trying to push your political agenda on the readers of this site.

I’ve never understood the use of post contact metres stats. I remember listening to Matt Elliot on the ABC say that post contact metres where useless as all it does is give the opposition time to set the defence line. A quick play the ball is always more important then walking another 5 metres in the tackle while the defence has time to set up. Maybe if the stats looked at post contact metres with an offload it might be more useful.

Hi Up North,
As a Parra fan I agree with you. Every team suffers over Origin so why should we be any different. The Warriors were just the better team and there was no excuse for the poor showing Parra had on Saturday arvo.

Not sure the comments about how bad Moses played in 2021 Game 3 relate to actually what happened. Qld won 20-18 and it was that close thanks to a Moses deft kick through for Api to pick up and score. NSW decided for kick for goal (Latrell kicked) from halfway rather than an attacking raid in the last couple of minutes which could have easily have won it for them. In the second half Ponga knocked on but it wasn’t picked up and Ben Hunt subsequently scored which was the try that ultimately won them the game. Without that try it was a NSW win. Moses suffered a fractured back 10 mins in and played on making 16 tackles, having 2 try assists and kicking for 399m (the most of nay player on the field). I don’t think he had a bad game given the injury and I would suggest he has only got better since 2021 so not sure why there so much hate for him.

I find it amazing that people are so concerned with a change to our Constitution. Who out of everyone that has commented here has read the Constitution? To quote directly from the Overview of the constitution “The Australian Constitution was then passed as part of a British Act of Parliament in 1900…” So it wasn’t even an Australian Act but done by the British. It was created by a small group of privileged white men (who were voted in to the various state legislative bodies by a select group of white men) in 1901 yet somehow it remains completely relevant today, in 2023.
As for causing High Court cases, well currently there’s 31 cases before the high court which range from insurance claim decisions to real estate copyright infringements, as well as criminal appeals and government cases over other legislation. Can you honestly say that insurance claim decisions and real estate copyright infringements are more important than any issue that may, and lets be clear, may occur in the future because of the Voice. It seems that what the High court should be used for from my perspective.

HI Andrew, I agree Laui has been poor this seasonamd even when he played SOO last year he was MIA. Hynes is a big body that can kick and run a footy. He has to be 6.

Thanks Stuart for the article.
Interesting to read about the poor stats for Parra.
I would say though that singling them out as not the real deal seems a bit rough given the state of the comp so far this year. Looking at the table and the results so far if you take the 2 points for the bye off the Panthers, Sharks, Manly, Roosters and the Titans, Parra move up to 8th.
All the real deals have all had 3 (Bunnies, Sharks, Storm) or 4 (Panthers) losses. Of them its the Bunnies that look the best of the bunch given their draw and that they have beaten both the Sharks and Panthers.
Its such a up and down comp that I would say that calling anyone the real deal or not at this point in time is premature.

I would say the Eels and Broncos are the most likely, maybe Broncos in a couple of years as the young guys develop – if they can replace Reynolds.
As for my Eels I’m not sure the window is closed. We really lost all our games this year, not beaten but lost the games with stupid mistakes. I also have to remember that Dylan Brown is only 22 with 10 years of prime footy in front of him.
Having said that its probably Manly which really annoys me.

Soni looks the goods, so as long as he’s on a bit earlier after the stings been taken out of the game may mean all my pre-season hopes of Penrith moving back to the pack could be ruined.

Given Jack Wightons on and off year in 2022 I feel that rating him higher than Gutherson seems a bit odd. If it was based on solely 2022 then surely given the stats you quote for Gutherson, then he should be higher with not too many fullbacks in front of him. Same with Liam Martin, he is a class 2nd rower who is always consistent unlike Victor Radley who cost his team wins due to being sent off or suspended. I will be interested to see if someone like Tommy T or Ryan Paps make the top 50 given the little footy they have played over the last couple of years. Talented as they are they cant be considered a top player if they dont play. Having said that still interested to see who makes the cut.

Seems like of all the things Parra need to decide in week 2 of the trials it is not if Jake Arthur is good enough for halfback IF Moses leaves at the end of the year. Maybe questioning who fits in the outside backs if Waqa isnt fit, or who takes the other edge position, but speculating about something that might happen in 12 months seems like a waste of effort at this point of time.

I’m sure I read somewhere in the last 6 months that Gutho, RCG, Paulo, DBrown and Penisini where all leaving Parra as well, but they didn’t. So far from my own little circle of friends I’ve heard at least 10 guaranteed rumours that Moses has re-signed, is leaving to the Dolphins, has re-signed, is leaving to the dogs, has applied to Space X for the astronaut program, is leaving to the tigers, has re-signed, is leaving to take up professional knitting, has re-signed, is quitting the game altogether to become a librarian.
Lets face it only him, his manager and Parra (hopefully) have any idea what is going.

Kent, that’s the question of 2022 for Parra fans. I just hope if we do beat the cows tonight that Penrith can take care of the bunnies as we have no chance against them, but a slim chance against Penrith.

Eels losing by 18 points seems a little harsh. Although given the up and down season thats possible, or they might win by 18. Anybodys guess.

Your funny.

I actually think Penrith outplayed us last.week, no doubt about it. I just hope you are ok as you seem a little emotional about my stupid comment (i did have a major dig at my own team) whereas if I was a Penrith supporter I would be laughing off other fans green eyed posts.

Can’t say I’m upset that Souffs and Penriff will face off for a spot in the GF as I like the Sharkies but don’t think they have it in them this year, maybe next year. Of course I want another head smashing fest in that pre-lim (Yes Glory Bound and Steveng Souths never do and are picked on by the refs) but Souffs will have to look out for Spencer L coming in as the 3rd man from behind on a stationary attacker and smashing into their ribs, which frankly Jenny is worst than a split second change of position to end up with a head high.
Parra on the other hand will be clean as whistle and Moses will be knocked out in the first half and the boy wonder Jacob will not kick balls out on the full and miss tackles and will pass lovely cut out passes to the wing and kick grubbers for his mate Will.

Going to be a tense weekend at my place, for me Friday night hoping Parra can finally get to a pre-lim final again and for my wife, a sharkies fan, hoping Souffs dont come out aiming at the head again. Shouldn’t Sharkies play at Shark Park again, I mean if it was ok last week why isnt it ok this week?

As a Parra fan Im always confused about the hate from other supporters. You’ll never hear a Parra fan talk about 1986 as we understand just how long its been since we won anything. Which makes me wonder why we are hated, surely pity is more appropriate. We didnt deserve 4th spot given our up and down year and did anyone really think a full strength Panthers with Cleary having a 5 week finals preseason that Parra were going to win the game. As for Brad, Im a big fan, but I agree Tony we need to look elsewhere if we lose to the Raiders next week.

As a Parra fan thinking we will lose this weeks final, 3 in a row was great, 4 is just too much for us given our season.
But then that means we just need 3 in a row again and that’s something we can achieve.

Happy with Eels in 7th, we are so inconsistent who knows whats going on like Mike said. Might be we win this week but surely we are due a loss after 2 wins, so we play chooks or bunnies and go out in the first week again.
Or if the league gods smile on us perhaps the chooks and bunnies have a draw and we retain 5th and get to play the raiders then go out in the second week of the finals as I would expect.
The dreams of a Parra fan.

Thanks for the rankings Mike,
I agree with your comments about the use of Parras bench but feel that your comment “That saw the scoreline go from 8-0 in their favour to 8-14 against, before they rallied to win well in the end.” seems a little biased compared to 6 teams above them in your ranking.
Beside Penrith, who are consistent and scored 2 tries in each half I think you can see that the other winners were “spotty” in performance throughout their games.
Chooks started great, scored 3 tries in each half but also allowed Brisbane back in the second half to score 2 tries, so couldn’t keep up the performance throughout the game.
Melb started great as well with 4 tries in the 1st half but fell away to score only 2 tries in the second against last placed Titans.
While Souths blew the 14th placed Warriors out of the water with 6 tries in the first half they could only manage 2 in the second.
Cronulla scored 3 tries in the 1st half and then only 1 in the second while allowing the Dragons to score 2 in the second half. Very spotty performance.
The Cowboys were slow in the first half and then had 3 late tries to get the win in the second half. They seem to be hot and cold, either winning by a lot or only in the last minute (see Manly / Tigers games).
While Parra scored 3 tries in the first half to Manly’s 2, then went on to score 4 tries in the second half in the 55th, 61st, 68th and 71st minutes. That seems pretty consistent to me.
Like I said I agree that that use of the bench is a bit of mystery but I don’t think Parra are the only team where their level of intensity drops when the starting forwards go off.
The performances over the weekend where the Bunnies beat the Warriors and the Storm beat the Titans and Cronulla sneaking past an inept Dragons hardly shows that they where better performances than Parra beating Manly after taking care of the Panthers last week ( for a second time this year, a feet no other team has managed this year).

Hmmmm, not sure Jake Arthur is the best option but what else is there. Hopefully DBrown, Mahoney and Gutho can keep the the team focused, or perhaps its JA’s time to shine? Actually I’d just settle for him kicking ok and defending ok. We have such a structured game that maybe we can get away with it…….maybe.

You forgot to mention that the defender, in this case Reynolds, deliberately moves into the blockers run path and takes a dive to milk a penalty. Happens everytime but its just the blocker play that needs to stop? I think you need to consider the defenders actions in your argument as well. If you watch Reynolds he steps into Makas path and for a first grade footballer barely hits the runner and falls over. Want to stop the blocker than stop the divers as well.

As a Parra supporter can I just nominate the whole team for every other week?