Gallop to visit PNG

[DIEHARD]

Gallop to visit PNG

NATIONAL Rugby League (NRL) boss David Gallop will visit Papua New Guinea in February to be briefed on the status of the PNG NRL licence bid.
The visit, at the invitation of Sports Minister Philemon Embel, will allow him to personally appraise the unique bid components and general progress of the PNG effort.

Confirmation of his first trip to Port Moresby follows a landmark meeting between Gallop, bid representatives Beverly and Paul Broughton and NRL operations manager Graham Annesley at league headquarters in Sydney last week.

Bid strategic adviser Paul Broughton said the meeting demonstrated that the PNG bid was focused on the ?big issues? needed to secure a licence.

?We discussed our current and future strategies and assured David that he won?t find a nation anywhere on the planet more passionate about rugby league than PNG,? he said.

?We spoke at length about landmark initiatives such as the newly-initiated all schools rugby league programme, plans to create a rugby league village for visiting teams, media rights and the outstanding support of the PNG government and sponsors,? Broughton said.

He said construction of a state-of-the-art stadium in Port Moresby was a critical component of the bid?s success.

?Our stadium planning is well advanced and high-ranking PNG officials have visited Skilled Park at Robina (Gold Coast) no less than four times to meet with Queensland sports minister Phil Reeves and the architects.

?The PNG facilities committee for the 2015 South Pacific Games will fund the development of the stadium and it?s been determined that the rectangle league-soccer-union configuration required by the NRL will be built.
?The committee will shortly announce where the stadium will be built, possibly within the next few weeks,? Broughton said.

Bid general manager Bev Broughton said Gallop was also briefed on the bi-partisan level of support already being received from the PNG government and a large number of high-profile corporate sponsors.

?The level of sponsorship achieved so far and the absolute commitment they have shown to the cause is already well in keeping with that of any current NRL team,? She said.

Points discussed in detail with Gallop in Sydney included:
* The success of the all schools programme, including its strong social message;

* The progress of media rights discussions with NRL consultant, LEK principal Colin Smith;

* Plans for a world-first ?rugby league village? which will provide accommodation and ensure the security of the resident PNG team, visiting players and officials; and

* The settling of the leadership differences within the PNG rugby league administration.

Embel said he was looking forward to the visit in February.

?I am delighted that David Gallop accepted my invitation to visit PNG and I believe the early 2011 timing will be perfect and in keeping with our approach of ticking all the boxes,? Embel said.

http://www.thenational.com.pg

[Cowboy Titan]

I think the best option would be to get a PNG team in the Qld Cup for a couple of years before they consider them in the NRL.

[DIEHARD]

QLD Cup would be a great start and have immediate benefits providing semi-professional players for the Kumuls.

Last time the Port Morseby Vipers were in they had a great home record and a terrible away.

So they obviously need an Australian base of operations.