ive always supported a PNG NRL team.

the NRL has a lot of expansion options and needs to take all of them.

the options include :

central coast, wellington, PNG, perth and at least 2 more queensland clubs

when the nrl delivers on all these clubs well be massive

we spent the past 13 years recovering from the SL war and slowly getting back to shape. when we are in a position of outright expansion like we were in 1995 well be unbeatable.

the success of the gold coast titans shows expansion is very important to our future

each expansion clubs brings different benefits to the game. some increase TV revenues more than others.

but the chance to bring in 6 million more fans to the NRL is something we cant ignore

first step is a Queensland cup team for a few years then onto the NRL.

i posted this on the nrl section previously : www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5805507098 with government backing behind them it can only strengthen their bid

i posted this on the nrl section previously : www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5805507098 with government backing behind them it can only strengthen their bid

www.pngnrlbid.com/

www.pngnrlbid.com/

In PNG there's also 150,000 people playing RL,surely the NRL must look at this and let them have a team!

I mean where in the world besides PNG is RL a nations number 1 sport!

Why on earth would you Poms want PNG to become a stronger side?

They came within a whisker of beating you in Townsville (and to be honest they probably should have won)

Do you seriously want to slip even further down the RLIF rankings?

I care more about world RL than my own national side.

Being an England supporter you HAVE to say that.

Maybe thats why your national team havent won anything since the 1970's?

Nothing to do with that. I care about world RL more than Wigan... that won't change even if we start winning things again.

I would love more than anyone else to see RL played to a high level in as many countries as possible.

I applaud your love of the game but sadly it's not going to happen.

RL is a sport that is only reasonably popular in the North of England, along the east coast of Australia and in PNG.

Thats about it. And thats the way it will always be.

so it isnt popular in a country where its the national sport?

Disagree, the south of france is buzzing, I have friends who were season ticket holders at Lyon and now watch catalans as much as they can instead, many people around the country are behind them also. The same will happen when Toulouse get in super league, and then if the paris team can be 1/4 of the success then RL will take off even more in France.

You know my opinions on PNG.

North of England yes, but there are other success stories as well. There is still potential for other areas.

In Australia the NRL is massive and will continue to grow, its the best product in the world to sell!

There is plenty of potential for growth in NZ as well, their national side has just as much quality as aus, this is great for the game.

Wales is in such early stages in terms of the modern game, give them time, yes they will never be as big as Wigan and Leeds but surely it won't do any harm to have as many smaller clubs as possible playing the game even if they do only get small crowds, it will also do wonders for the Welsh international game.

There has been talk of Scotland and Ireland getting in on the super league act in years to come.

Look how well Ireland did in the WC, all be it with foreign players but their is potential.

Just go on Wikipedia and find out how many different countries rugby league is played in, I am not saying they will all develop competitions like the NRL as big as that but there is potential for smaller leagues and then building blocks for bigger competitions and inspiration to take into the international game.

I am not saying RL will take over the world, but it is currently no where near its potential, RU is making the most of what it's got, we however, are not.

I disagree in the long term they have the potential to be bigger, as they represent a nation,a nation with a love of rugby (admittadley manily union at this time), if they they can realise that potential is the question.

Sorry but Leeds and Wigan have been building for over 100 years. Even in that time maybe they will grow but they will never be able to take 30,000 to a cup final because everyone loves Union. Wigan and Leeds will get bigger in time as well.

spoken like a true shirefolk! Sadly it's the same attitude that has meant 100 hundred years on the game is still largely confined to the areas you mention. There's a spot on the NRL commision and the RLIF for you!