Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Evening. Welcome on into Sports Thought. Great to have y'all
on board seven on a Thursday evening, twelve December twenty
twenty four. I am Darcy Waltergrave. Tonight we're talking rugby league,
raby leg rugby leg I beat You thought I was
going to tee off on FIFA for collapsing in front
of Saudi Arabia all for the glory of money. You
(00:39):
know what, it just can't be bothered. Whatever you condeemed,
you'll be judged eventually for this, I'm sure. As for
a New Zealand football acquiescing, have you ever heard such
tripe in your entire life? Wow? Enough already we're going
to talk about rugby league. Ugby league. Rugby league looks
like South Island's possibility of having a franchise in the
(01:02):
NRLs getting thinner and grimmer and paler by the day.
Although maybe not, Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe
now that the NRL have taken government money and gone
off to that hotbed of rugby league Papua and New
Guinea to build a fence between them and China, maybe
they might actually think about maybe giving some money to
the people of the South Island to up a rugby
(01:24):
league team. We're going to take your thoughts on that
later in the peace Cameron George is going to join
us shortly. He's the CEO of the Warriors as we
discuss Papua New Guinea and Steve Price, former Skipper of
the Wires, joined us discussed life and league in Papua
New Guinea.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
But before any of that, let's do this today and
in spot today, and you see on the former battle
Will Young is as at towing the party line as
he is collecting runs.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
The player of the series and the astonishing Indian White
watchers keme to not upset the boat as Caine steadied
the ship.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
The nature of test cricket is the balance of the
side can change a lot condition home tests, away tests.
And you know, having one of New Zealand's absolute greats
and Caine coming back was always going to be a headache.
So I was prepared to be back on the drinks
and that's what transpired.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
This is a politics, So what I'd say to you
is I wouldn't expect this from our leaders. P ANDNG
Prime Minister James Marape has been his life on Port
and Moresby being safe as it comes. When the in
our expansion team gets up and going.
Speaker 6 (02:30):
I bet my life on this. I bet my life
on this, and it's in my own national interest in
max of P ANDZ safer. I have dot this and
I have children who will live in P ANDZ forever.
He's a three year window I have through twenty twenty eight,
and we want to make it safe for our players.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
That's commitment. Crusader's coach Rob Penney has said his team's
fall from the top this year wasn't it all bad
for what it exposed within the franchise.
Speaker 7 (02:56):
Coming in from the outside expectation that X Y Z
would be done and done seamlessly, and part way through
the program as pressure points grew, was obvious that not
at the world class level we.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Would expect them to be and breakers big. The Sena
Sam and Ninga is bringing a Poots to the gym.
You will need a ball master to take on the
reigning champion jet jumpers and tonight's game on the shore.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
They're an aggressive team.
Speaker 8 (03:21):
They bring a lot of physicality.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
They don't less. You get into sets they really like
to muck things up and they're a discipline team on offense,
they run a lot of plays.
Speaker 9 (03:28):
They're a well coached team.
Speaker 8 (03:29):
We're gonna be ready for a dog vote.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Wolf and that sport. Today, well are going to talk
rugby league, rugby league, rugby league now with Papa New
Guinea and it's a welcome to CEO of the Warriors,
Cameron George. I Cam, how are you?
Speaker 8 (03:46):
Oh, well, thanks yourself.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Yeah, no, I'm very very happy coming out to the
holiday season. Looking forward to that for sure. A big
but not unexpected news coming out of the NRL today,
PAPU and New Guinea have been given a franchise or
a club or a position in the NRL. This was projected,
We knew this was going to happen, but now it's
been Robert Stamp the seal of approof there. I suppose
(04:07):
your initial reaction to expansion up into PAPU and New
Guinea Camera.
Speaker 10 (04:12):
Yeah, well, it's an interesting one, clearly. You know, there's
three parts to it. Is the game itself and how
popular it is up there in p and G. And
you know they're very ambitious and I got great plans
and then you know naturally there's a financial backing from
both the Australian federal government and the P and G government,
(04:33):
which is you know, it doesn't normally happen when you
when you expand, so we haven't seen that before. So
it's a it's a huge, huge win for the game
of rugby league and one that I'm sure there'll be
a lot of work to happen between now and twenty
eight to get it right. But you know, really confident
that the the NRELA ticking all the right boxes to
(04:55):
make sure you know, it's a success in time.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Does it make you feel uncomfortable? There's a great big
political element to this camera.
Speaker 10 (05:03):
Look, I think it's you know, it's all part of
the package now sport.
Speaker 8 (05:07):
You know, there's a there's a lot to it.
Speaker 10 (05:09):
It's just not on the field, it's off the field.
You know, the Australian government have obviously got their reasons
and you know, if rugby league can be a really
big winner out of that, you know that that's that's
a great thing. So to get that government support is
certainly going to help develop the pathways and the structures
around their team in three years time. So, as I said,
(05:33):
there's a lot of work to go under the bridge,
but you know, the government support goes a long way
to helping establish critical pathways and opportunities for all rugby
league people.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Primarily, what do you think has to be sorted before
they hit the ground and we see the first game
over there, anything you're aware of that they should probably
look at first camera.
Speaker 10 (05:52):
Not really, but I just think it's the infrastructure around
the sport, over their pathways and development is huge in
any space, so you know, wherever the NRL teams reside,
it's critical to invest in that. And you know, I
understand they're pretty well starting from I wouldn't say scratch,
but you know they've got a lot of work to
do and that money will be well spent to create
(06:14):
that and what that does is uld only.
Speaker 8 (06:16):
Underpin NRL, which is very important.
Speaker 10 (06:19):
So I think that there's definitely a lot of work
to be done between now and twenty twenty eight. And
you know, but I'm sure the NRL have done all
of their analysis to make sure that they can happen.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Camon George. It's quite inn away trip. Well, they expect
it's not that much further than going playing for the Cowboys,
So no issues there for you blocks.
Speaker 10 (06:39):
Yeah, look, that's all that stuff around the structure of
the competition. You know, are they going to look at
two conferences with all the travel you talk about the
introduction of further teams, what does that do to the
travel for the competition as well? So I think the
announcement today, look, we didn't even see a logo, colors, name,
or anything like that. So there's a lot of work
(07:00):
to happen. And I think with the NRL they'll look
at all things around competition structures. So it might ever
mean that there are two conferences and it reduces the travel.
I'm not one hundred percent sure, but as I said,
all that work will be undertaken.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Now and totally it can be over important Moresby. You
hear stories are around the safety of the place and
whether it's a place that people actually want to go
and visit. I don't know the truth behind any of
that camera because I've never been there. But do you
have any hesitations or any worries about sending your team
over to Papua?
Speaker 10 (07:34):
And you get like you, I haven't been there, know
a lot of people from there, and I know a
lot of people that have been there. And you know,
I think the NRL and the government both Australia and
P and G are certainly going to have a setup
that just provides a professional environment and you know, I'm
sure teams will be fine going there, and that's something
(07:55):
that you know, the NRL would have been short as
part of the deal. So yeah, looking forward to all
those opportunities in the future to discuss them and see
where it lands.
Speaker 8 (08:03):
And I'm sure be okay, of.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Course, more players need to be spread around eighteen teams
hopefully going up to twenty. How does that make the
play market for everybody consumed because you've got more teams
less players. What do you think about that?
Speaker 10 (08:18):
Yeah, wellok that's an interesting question because again that analysis
would have been done. I understand, you know, P and
G are really focused on promoting from within. Hence why
the development of pathways is critical and the investment in that,
and likewise any other region that's looking at it, you
absolutely need it and you need it in your own backyard.
And we're investing heavily in that. And you know, I've
(08:40):
been sort of challenging the NRL to put more money
into New Zealand to create better systems and competitions so
we can grow the game over here and look the
players and then we'll start to filter through. But you
as it stands now, you know there are a lot
of players out there. You know, with three years, notice,
it's going to get tighter and tighter in terms of
(09:01):
the elite NRL players.
Speaker 8 (09:04):
So that's why a lot.
Speaker 10 (09:05):
Of clubs, with this discussion that's been going on, have
been going and you know, signing up players, so probably
longer than what they would have particularly in critical positions.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
What does this do for the possibility of a South
Island franchise because there are still two spots available, does
this kibosh theme do you think because it's still an
opportunity in the South Island?
Speaker 10 (09:25):
Yeah, I don't think it takes it off the table
for sure. I think it just shows everyone the appetite
the NRL have got to expand and grow the game.
But I mean, you know, there's that announcement today shows
you the level of funding that you've got to put
into regions to make sure you've got the best possible
development and pathways and they're structures that last a lifetime
(09:47):
and you've got to put money into that very early
on and let it mature and then that underpins NRL
teams and that's what happens, and that's what's happening right
around the NRL, and I think there's a great opportunity
on the South Island. It's just the timing of that,
you know. For me personally, I feel like we need
to invest a lot more time.
Speaker 8 (10:08):
And money and resource.
Speaker 10 (10:09):
Into New Zealand to help New Zealand Rugby League and
all the regions to get better competitions and so on.
So if we can do that, the timing of a
second NRL team in New Zealand, I'm sure it'll be
on the agenda for a long long time. But until
we do that, you know, timing for me is an issue.
We've got a long planet, long term rather than short term.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
So in essence, the structure the depth of New Zealand
Rugby League needs to be in a better position before
it can justify a second team in that You're not
just like wanting to be the only NRL team in
New Zealand date you, Cameron.
Speaker 8 (10:44):
No, not at all.
Speaker 10 (10:45):
I've always said from the outset, and only as recently
as last week and the interview, there's a great opportunity
here But my whole point is, you know, we're flying
five to six teams over to Australia or opposing teams
over to New Zealand every week so we can play
in the elite, in the elite competitions and be NR
already and developed. What I'd love to see is look
(11:06):
at New Zealand as another state of Australia from a
funding aspect, and get the local domestic competitions up to
the level equal to New South Wales or Q Cup,
so we don't have to send teams to Australia. They
all can play local that can retain great talent in
this country, and they can all play rugby league right
across the country and then have a pathway into the NRL.
Speaker 8 (11:27):
So you know we can't keep them all, absolutely not.
Speaker 10 (11:30):
And the second team in New Zealand is a great opportunity,
but it's the timing of that says putting it in
tomorrow and not having anything underneath it, because that would
mean you've got ten teams going over every week and
back every week to play each other, and you know
that's not cost effective and it's not doing the game
any good.
Speaker 8 (11:49):
Here. I want to help.
Speaker 10 (11:52):
Promote the game here and have everyone aspire to play
rugby league in this country in great competitions, play for
the teams that are based here, and we're the key,
we jumper.
Speaker 8 (12:01):
That's the ultimate dream here.
Speaker 10 (12:02):
But we need NRL to put a lot of money
and time and effort into that with us and then ZRL.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It's always been one of my arguments, Cameron, I'm glad
you backed that One't the Warriors can't play everybody. Oh
we're losing all the talent. Why didn't the Warriors pick him?
Why didn't the Warriors pick him? Why did they release him?
Because it's simply not possible. We can only do what
you're doing. On there came before we say goodbye. How's
preseason going? Those guys getting thrashed up sand Hills, are they?
Speaker 10 (12:27):
Yeah, they've had a really good preseason. Touch Wood, you
know where he's really happy. The young kids are really
going well. They've got a lot of experience last year
through a number of injuries as we saw, and they've
bounced back into this preseason really positive, really strong, and
really focused and now we're just seeing, you know, a
drip feeding. The representative players are coming back in at
(12:48):
a different time lines and you know, they're adding value
to the training sessions. And really happy with both the
experienced players how they've come back and their mindset, but
very excited about the young kids that are stepping into
their first or second or third preseason hungry as and
you know, been training really hard. So let's hope they
(13:09):
get the Christmas, have a good break, come back and
be ready to rock and roll.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
And not eat too much. And on that we'll let
you go, Cam George, thanks so much for that. Can't
come soon enough, quite frankly, up the wires.
Speaker 10 (13:20):
Merry Christmas, Thanks mate, Thanks to everyone.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
The right call is your call on eight eighty Sports
Talk call on your home of Sports News Talk zid BE.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Twenty past sevens very interesting came and George CEO of
one He's Little Warriors joining us to have a yarn
about the expansion sign sit down for a few years now,
three years now and then there'll be an NRL side
over in Port Moresby. It's fascinating, isn't it. We all
(13:58):
knew it was going to happen. It was definitely forecast,
it was flagged. This is no secret. Well also know
that the government have teamed up with the NRL to
curry favor with the government of Papua New Guinea who
they have now I I'd say a coalition, but they've
(14:20):
joined forces together to help each other out, the Papua
New Guinea government and the Australian government. And we kind
of know, why don't we something to do with what's
in between Australia and let's just beyond Papua and New Guinea.
And they're freaked out by it. They need some protection, right,
so they're going to WHI A hold lot of money
in there?
Speaker 2 (14:39):
You go?
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Is this a slap in the face, a punch in
the nose that chopped to the neck of the South
Island NRL birds. We know that the Papua New Guinea
fans are huge on the game. They love the game.
It's the national sport. Can't get enough of it, fantastic.
Why why would you expand besides the obvious, which is
(15:04):
government money, because that's all I seen to be interested in.
It's the flavor of the whole day, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Really?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
What else do the NRL stand again?
Speaker 8 (15:12):
Out of this?
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Like, if you want to expand, wouldn't you do it
in your own country? Wouldn't you do it within the
borders of your own place, and it is the National
Rugby League. And that's why I think they probably won't
coming to New Zealand for I don't know how long,
because we're not part of their nation Australia. They look
(15:42):
after their own, unless, of course they get asked nicely
by the government to climb on in. I think this
is a slap in the face and an affront to
the other teams in Australia that want to be involved
in the NRL. Secondly to the New Zealand teams. They
are trying to poke their nose in there as well.
(16:04):
I mean, Camera made some great points around travel, the
likelihood of maybe conference systems to alleviate the pain of
all that travel. There's also the issue of the player base.
How many players are going to be lost to Australian
teams because of the tax rebate these players are going
(16:25):
to get when they go over there. Although I'm saying
that from what I know of life and Port Moresby,
which is limited, Okay, you know it's air saying the like,
I'm not entirely sure if anyone want to take their
family over there. Doesn't seem like the safest place in
the world. They won't be just there for eight months
and barracks or maybe it is built from underneath and
(16:52):
it's all going to be local players. Yeah, we know
why they're doing it, but it still seems like a
poke in the eye to an NRL. Your gut reaction,
your initial forces from a South Island perspective signal the
end is this like, oh, it's going to give up now,
(17:13):
there's no point no, Or is maybe the time going
to come when he's oil on rugby league stands up
and is actually worthy of having a secondary team in
the NRL. You just all by the way the Landers
basically ignored everybody, specifically everyone in the South Islan when
he came down, wasn't interested no money at it. The
(17:34):
only way we're going to get in there is by
giving them a whole all of the money, because that's
all they're interested in. It's poking the eye, it really is.
Whether it's good for the game of rugby league, I
can't tell you tell me rugby league fans O eight
one hundred and eighty ten eighty I've beneficial as this
for the game? How bad is this for New Zealand prospects.
(17:57):
Two more teams to be your name. What's the chance
they're going to stay in Australia. Surely the gones up
up with the New Guinea now, so what are they
in Perth? Look after their own interest as they should,
it's their game. One hundred and eighty ten eighty lines
are open. I'll leave you with this text. Proper politics
and sport has arrived locally with the NRL deal aimed
(18:18):
against the Chinese incursions of the Pacific. Yeah. True, absolutely,
it has no doubt about that. Apparently, if the government
money stops coming in, the deal's off. The NRL walk
and this text Port Moresby might predict a riot. I
(18:39):
thank you for that. Twenty five minutes after seven Sports
Talk on News Talks EBB NRL after Papula and New Guinea.
You're buying into this or is this a real death
blow to New Zealand's chances for a second team? Your
thought to your calls? Coming up next here on News
Talks eb our Breakers are playing tonight. This is News
(19:02):
Talk's eb Sports Talk High Welcome. I'm Darcy over the
North saw the Norse Events Center, the end Circle, the
insects some people called it take you on the champions
the jack Jumpers. Oh, I'll keep you out to date
with that as it carries on. Remember the Breakers have
(19:23):
lost four on the bounce, Brutal Parker, Jackson Cartwright, Sean Bestow,
Curreem Lopez, Max Darling and Tacko Fall. Are you starting
five to four? That gotta pack things up at least
four consistent quarters?
Speaker 8 (19:41):
Please?
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Has been hard to watch one hundred eighty ten eighties.
This a good thing for South Island expansion? Does this
mean now that the situation, the issue around the government,
Papua New Guinea and the NRL are now has come
to a head. They've got it, they've got the team,
it's and it's done. They can focus on maybe bringing
it over here. But now they've gone off sure to
(20:05):
pup Guinea. Does that suggest to you that the NRALI
going you know what, not going off shore again. We're
staying right here in Australia. That's what I think's going
to happen. I speak's chance in hell. I'd love a
South Island team. I would love to have the situation
that the A League have got Awkrom, the FC and
the Phoenix. It's just gold. Imagine that here. I really
(20:28):
don't think it's going to happen. I think they've signaled it.
What do you think? Am I completely wrong?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (20:31):
One hundred and eighty ten eighty Hey Trevor, how are
you tonight?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Oh?
Speaker 11 (20:36):
Good, Darcy?
Speaker 9 (20:38):
Nice?
Speaker 11 (20:39):
Hope you looking forward to Christmas, mate, and aly all
the stuff that goes with it.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I'm looking forward to lying in the sun with a
delicious cold craft and beer and hanging out with my daughter.
Speaker 11 (20:49):
Eh. Oh that sounds cool. Oh yeah, Look I'm a
little bit with two. I think that's the South Island
that's gone for a few years now. But I'm just
not too sure about this expension stuff in Sport. I mean,
you know, obviously I have some money. It's very hard
to believe going to Papua New Guinea where the money
is coming from. I mean, we know about going Las Vegas. Well, yeah,
(21:13):
that's right. Yeah, that's what I mean. And it's almost
blatantly batantly political what they're doing. I mean and Las Vegas.
I mean, you know, I just don't know whether that's
going to turn out to be a good move or not.
The players will love it, a course, but I just
think for your basics, fans, you know that have made
the clubs in Australia. I'm just not too sure whether
(21:34):
they like all this stuff, you know, away away.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
From the ground, where has This is a wider conversation, Trieber,
and thanks for bringing it up. But we as expansion
actually been successful in sporting leagues where.
Speaker 11 (21:47):
Well, well well I was trying to say. I mean,
I mean you just mentioned the A League with the
Weally Containment Auto team. But I know over the years
the A League have been backwards on forwards on expansion.
You know, they've tried, they've tried, the fail, they went that,
they downsized again and you know, at the moment it's good.
But yeah, I suppose we have to give it to
(22:08):
Lendi's I mean, since he's since he's been in charge
of the NRL, some pretty big things have happened and
he seems to know what he's doing. But no, I'm
a bit of a conventionalist. I mean, I'm not too
sure people can bring up America there. You know, they
don't have any I don't think they have any teams
in their competition.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Well, they're all expanding internally down they so big the states.
You keep doing that, it doesn't matter it's so big.
They've got like they've got the attention of the entire nation.
So yeah, be it from Alaska down to Florida, I
think it really matters. It's all the states.
Speaker 11 (22:41):
Yeah, no, that's that's right, it's all the states. But
we'll just have to understand what happens. But I think
that's the end of the South Island but for a
little while to come. And I'm just actually grateful we've
got one team in the NRL. I mean, it is
their competition. I don't like this cool you know, state
of Oregon. Let's bring a New Zealand team, And no,
I don't want that.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
I'm with it's their competitions.
Speaker 11 (23:04):
Not absolutely.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
I think that an absolute insult to the fans of Australia.
If a state of Origin match came here to Eden Park,
I'd be there. I'd watch it one hundred percent. But
I don't think it's fair and right.
Speaker 11 (23:16):
Yeah, but you know, I know it's a big internestal
world now, but you know, when you see the New
Zealand team, you know someone I've scratched my head, if
really closely. But when I found out what players in
the NRL were eligible to the new Zealand. Half of
them have never been to the country. Darby, you hit
the play Rugby League and it just doesn't had that
same feel of, you know, the way it used to be.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
So the NRL that would that they expanded to the
Singapore Slingers. So the NBL that didn't work particularly right,
They've made that one step to New Zealand and that
appears to be successful. I'm presuming even though we flogged
a few titles off them, and I think maybe the
A League, but I get the feeling that financially the
(23:59):
A League a really really stretched and somebody turned up
and wrote a checks like, fine, you're in. It's pretty simple,
aren't Yeah.
Speaker 11 (24:06):
No, I'm a little bit old school Dutch. I don't
like this talk of the NRL of bonus points and
you know, certain points. I just like the old fashioned
wouldn't lose that's a draw. So you know, all this
talk of modernization, I'm not a great fan of it,
but I am an old quadra. But yeah, no, I
think we should be very grateful we've got one team
in it and they did the son. Of course, he's
(24:27):
zill and Rugby would never let an Australian rugby team
are now in PC. I mean, they've tried to do that,
and you know, I think we should be grateful we've
got that one team. And I just think the plaid
det's going to be weak. See you more teams of
plaid debt's going to be weakened.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
So well, yeah, that's it. We're talking about Cameron George
for so what happens then suddenly and that's what he said,
He goes, Look, now teams are starting to lock in
their key players because they don't want to lose them.
You know, from when I gather about Moresby, I'm not
entirely sure it will be the most inviting place for
people to take the young families, so they may struggle
on that. Again, I've not been there. I don't know,
(25:04):
but and totally it doesn't sound like the best place
to bring up a young family.
Speaker 11 (25:10):
You did this other parts of paper, the guinea that
you probably don't go to that are can be very challenging.
But I don't know. We'll just have to wait and
see and see how it works. But I'd just really
love to know what swung it. To me, there's not
very many positives in a tour really, I mean, I
think a lot of the people that live in part
in New Guinea, the good rugby league players. I think
they'd rather play the play the sport, but be based
(25:31):
in the city like Sydney or one of the Australian cities.
Speaker 9 (25:34):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Now they play really, really well and advertise their claims
and then they get picked up by another team. That's
a ticket to freedom. They're out of there. Trevor, well,
it's pleasure made. Thanks very much for your call. Oh
one hundred eighty ten eighty if you'd like to make
like Trevor and join. And just to furthering what Trevor
was saying, I find it vaguely interesting. Where is expansion
(25:56):
of domestic comps worked really well? Well, Super Rugby didn't work.
They tried expanding all over the shop basically just choked
the life out of the competition, didn't It didn't work.
Singapore Slingers in the NBL, that didn't work. I think
(26:17):
there's two teams over here in the A League because
they needed some money and an old mate from Walkland said, sweep,
how much do you want bang in? You know, the
more I thinking about it, the less the less impressed,
the less keen I am to see expansion teams outside
(26:38):
of your own nation. I don't think it serves the
fan base particularly well. Let's put the fan and the
seine through the room. I say, I'm sure the Aussie
fans are fealthy about this. Wait, what about Australia? Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighties? This signal the end
(26:58):
for any chance to south id I'd ever had of
an NRL franchise. And what are the sports who have
actually expanded it outside of their own shores have had success?
Ken to know? Sevent thirty seven SportsTalk Care and News
Talks EB still to come. Stephen Price joins us he's
had experience over and Papua New Guinea and give us
(27:18):
the skinny and what he knows about that place in
the rugby league expansion. This is News Talks B.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports on
your home of Sports Sports Storm.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
It's d J.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Gunner Homes New Zealand's first trusted home builder News Talks
be love me.
Speaker 3 (27:43):
You can see all these SportsTalk care and newstalks B.
See pright just around the corner. He knows a little
bit about playing in Papua New Guinea. Thank you find
it from him about this agreement between the n r
L and p ng G. Before I do that, though,
(28:04):
let's have we checked to George.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
How are you?
Speaker 9 (28:10):
I'm fine. I think I'll have a look in the mirror.
It's still me. I think it's me. It looks rapid
like me.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
Are you still pretty?
Speaker 9 (28:19):
Oh? Yeah? No, not a pretty boy, but I'm pretty.
But anyway, I need to drag a bit of my
long bow out on this one.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
A bit of what.
Speaker 9 (28:33):
My longbow?
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Your longbow?
Speaker 2 (28:36):
Right?
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Should I be afraid of this? George? Does this make
me worry?
Speaker 9 (28:42):
Or I'm going to hold my long bow on my
sega and I'm going to charge into my comment and
see what I had. The All Black sponsorship was on
the news today, some segueing a bit and that Ford
has pulled out or is pulling out, and I believe
(29:03):
Steinlager is pulling out, and I wouldn't be surprised that
there's probably others that are going to pull out from
sponsoring the or Blacks.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Well, before you carry on, what was the because I've
seen these, but I've been juggling all sorts that I
haven't deeply logged into it. But but I think Ford
are staying with uh Mowzille cricket, Morazillian hockey, with the
football fans, so they haven't run out of money and
(29:32):
they've been around for how long now? How long?
Speaker 9 (29:35):
More than one? So what's happened for Ford to want
all their vehicles back from the or Blacks and the
All Blacks guys are starting to cry because they're not
used to not having someone giving a vehicle and the
sponsorship of the vehicles for all the people in the
All Blacks and all that they're pulling all back.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
You're about to tell me, George, Yeah.
Speaker 9 (29:59):
Well, I'm going to shoot my long bow into fresh
air and see where it leands. My thoughts is that
it's landed on that debarkle of a harker where suddenly
the All Blacks became political politicized.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
Okay, so that's what that's what you think me. I
don't know why they were.
Speaker 9 (30:20):
They let me run with us and also putting the
big flag up afterwards, holding that up and the saying
way supporting the Mary flag. Now, sports teams are supposed
to be non political. If you support the sports team,
you don't want to be involved in any politics.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Even though sport and politics are inextricably linked, always have been,
always will we but yeah, carry.
Speaker 9 (30:41):
On, not not demonstrated like that. So what would happen
if think when next week and put the Palestinean flag up.
You know, there's no reason why they can't. They've already
set the stage play for whatever they feel like would.
Speaker 3 (30:57):
So your your long Bow was saying that the reason
Ford walked is because they were upset at what happened
in that Harker. Yes, so they withdraw thirty years plus
of sponsorship and commitment to the All Blacks because of
something that happened in about twenty seconds.
Speaker 9 (31:19):
If you're a Ford company in New Zealand saw that
happen and were offended by it because they don't want
to be involved in anything like that. They are not
going to want to support that type of action or
that type of group action, or that type of philosophy.
So they're going to say, enough's enough to get out
(31:39):
of here before we get implicated in things we don't
want to.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
I suppose when the situation's over with taking a knee
and the like. In the state, a lot of companies
backed out of ad, didn't they And a lot of
companies back out of untoward political statements that do not
want to be attached to, and it's either to the right,
to the left of the whatever they don't like it. Look,
you may well be right, George on this, but I
(32:04):
don't know. But they've said nothing to that degree, have they.
Speaker 9 (32:10):
There has not been a comment why. There's only been
a comment that we're doing this. And I think Steinlager
might have been the other one. I might be wrong
on that, but someone around Johnny that I'm a hundred
percent wrong. But there was a second sponsor that also
pulled out today in the news. I'm going, that's two
right together. What's going on here?
Speaker 3 (32:30):
I don't know about Steinlager, but they weren't around on
the launch of the next to his schedule, so there.
Maybe it's just some of the lines of of n
z Are and Sporting General backing away from alcohol sponsorship
like they backed away from cigarette sponsor. That that could
be that again, I don't know.
Speaker 9 (32:47):
I'm not I don't know either, or that's pretty circumstantial
that there are two announcements on the same date.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
There's only one announcement. The other one is just being
thrown in the air. Isn't. It's just it's just four
that said they're out right.
Speaker 9 (33:03):
The other one commented that they were also reading.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
These The other one, I don't think they've come in.
I think that it was thought that they might be
there might be a sponsorship change, but I don't think
it's been confirmed regardless. I see what you're saying, Georgia,
get you.
Speaker 9 (33:21):
I need someone else to ring up and confirm what
I'm saying because it has been on the news today,
and you've got some really good breaking bucks listen to
this program, the kind of put me right one way
or another.
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're talking about Steinlager, who weren't
engaged or involved when the launch of Next to Your
season came out, and they normally are. Steinlager series wasn't there,
so maybe it's been extrapolated from that as opposed to announcement. George,
thanks very much for your call. Interesting thoughts. I'm not
saying you wrong. I can't say right either, because I'm
(33:54):
not part of Ford. I've got no idea. Makes sense
to a degree, companies don't like being associated with anything
that's vaguely scandalous or or upsetting.
Speaker 8 (34:09):
Today.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
You get that they want to be pure as driven silt,
snow snow. I don't want anything hanging around their next
Which is kind of funny because when you think about
car companies, they're probably the number one polluters on the planet,
and that's probably a whole lot more offensive than someone
saying we backed the treaty. But again, I don't know
(34:30):
why they've done this. What I do know though, I
was sitting in my favorite bar, then favorite bar up
in Tiking a number of years ago, Malachi ficker Thor
I drove past a brand new forward. I have not
seen a happier man in my life. The grin on
that bloke's face just a three got named to be
an all black, give me the car, Oh and he
(34:53):
got it. Steve Price joining us next this Hello Stephen Price,
very well and I'm always good to chat to you.
Tristan news today a Papa and New Guinea's finally been
confirmed as being yet another in RL side. I suppose
(35:13):
your initial reaction to the Steve what we all knew
it was going to happen, But now it's signed, sealed
and delude.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
Yeah, I think like there's been so much talk about
it happening, but now it's actually been an ounce, so
I think that's a good thing. We can move on.
You know, how it all sort of happens, that's going
to be the next big part of the puzzle. But yeah,
saying Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, having played them myself,
I know how passionate. You know, every pup in New
(35:41):
Guinea is of our Ruguy league, so they're not going
to have any problems from a support scenario. It's just
going to be how it all works, you know, in
regards to where players live and all that sort of stuff.
So I'm sure that you know, the ultimate goal is
for him to be based in Port Moresby. That it
(36:02):
makes sense. But yeah, logistically if that happens, that's that's
a good thing for for I suppose Papa New Guinea
and for the game, and yeah, that's going to be
I suppose everything that comes up from now is you know,
they start to put everything together. So yeah, it's going
to be really interesting to see how that goes.
Speaker 3 (36:19):
Steve logistics, And this is the key thing, isn't it
For Port Moresby, things like the club, things like the grounds,
all of that has to be worked through. So I
suppose when you look at what they actually have over there,
the facilities that they've got, what work do you believe
has to be done there?
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Man, the actual grounds outstanding. The one that I played
on when we would do the Prime Ministers thirteen when
I was sort of playing back in you know, sort
of two thousand and eight and nine, it was the
old ground. But the new stadium, I think it's Santos Stadium,
I think they call it. It's outstanding. The surface is amazing.
(36:57):
The dressing rooms, you know, you won't get much better
at any ground, you know, in Queensland. So you know,
from that perspective, suppose I just have to do a
little bit more infrastructure wise, probably add some more grand
stands and that might that might be part of it.
I'm not sure where there's a you know, a capacity
(37:18):
minimum that you've got to have. But yeah, the actual
ground itself is pretty good, and you know, all that
sort of part of it's just going to be. I
suppose the team's traveling in. You know, it's going to
be great for the locals, no doubt about that. Obviously,
security and everything like that. I never felt unsafe in
PNG because they love rugby league, so much, but it
(37:41):
is very different to you know, where we live, so
just you know how all that works and that type
of thing is just going to be the next part
of it. But yeah, I mean, when you're looking at
the whole picture, they've been working so hard for so
long to even get it to this stage. That's probably
going to be the easiest part of the whole of
the whole venture.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
Great to hear that they've got the facilities playing you
that's key because player safety when it comes to playing
on the field, you need it to be working. For
the NRL, they've got these standards that they need to
adhere to, but buy in line to believe a lot
of that's sorted out.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
Yeah, mate, there was some in the nationals there at
the end of the year this year and you wouldn't
you know, Yeah, it wouldn't have been any different to
anywhere else, you know, whether it's the Islands or in
Australia or New Zealand. So yeah, it's a really good surface.
The girls played there as well, you know, the Ausbie
Girls and the Pang Girls and you know there was
(38:36):
a few other teams that played in it and that
Pacific Nation sort of and the ball so yeah, it was.
It was really good for that. And then a couple
of NRL teams have gone over there for pre seasons
as well, and you know they have the the the
team obviously in the Q Cup that play there every
(38:56):
second week. So yeah, it's already happening. I suppose it's
just going to be up to that next level in
professionalism and the expectations of the NRL as well as
the clubs and obviously their own expectations and being able
to support that and actually deliver that.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
You talked about your own personal safety over there. We
know it can be a little on the sketchy side,
It can be a little wild wild West. You felt
perfectly safe over there. The security has to be in place, though,
still does it Do you think that will detract the
want of players to go over there and nextly plays.
I'm presuming it's not going to be entirely just made
(39:36):
up of the locals. They'll try and rain in some
NRL players to get them up to standard.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
Steve, Yeah, so that's just going to be the thing,
I suppose, with families and all that sort of stuff.
How that works. Yeah, And there's going to be managers
and players and all that sort of that are going
to be wanting to understand the whole dynamic and how
it's going to work. And I'm sure they've been doing
a whole lot of work behind the scenes, and that
(40:04):
would have been part of their obviously entry into the
end of the NRL. Say, I'm sure all those things
are ticked off. It's just how that's actually going to
look and feel and actually, you know, be at the
time when the players do arrive for their pre season
for their first season, and then you know during the
season and end of season. Say, I know it's some
(40:26):
talk at one stage that players might be sort of
you know based in cans or somewhere like that. But
if it's a p n G team and it's Port Moresby,
that's the hosting city, like you'd want to actually do
well be there, I reckon. Otherwise it's not a fair
and can BG team, is it. So yeah, whoever goes
(40:47):
to play there, I'd assume, just like when I played
for the Warriors, you'd have to live in the in
the in the town that it's based. You know, in
my situation was Auckland, but Port Moresby is the town
for the for the new team. So I'd assume, you know,
there's going to be some sort of set up there
that the players and families will live there.
Speaker 3 (41:05):
And I'm interested to think, Steve, to see how this develops,
how this unfolds, who they actually get, who the coach
is going to be, who climbs on board, how long
it lasts, like I was being propped up by the
Aussie government. That sounds long term and secure, isn't it.
(41:28):
It is three minutes to eight. The Tasmanian team have
runaway thirteen to six over the New Zealand Breakers. Jack
Jumpers have got it six to go on that first quarter.
Thanks for producing ants, Millicit. Thanks to all out there
for your ears. Catch again tomorrow from seven for
Speaker 1 (41:45):
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