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[bigleague]

And that's the strategic problem.

Sure, if it’s the only thing Australia is doing in the pacific, but it’s not, it’s only one part.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

It achieves what it’s supposed to, which is help secure PNG as a security partner of Australia and not China.

What's the basis for this assertion, other than PNG loves RL?

 

[bigleague]

What's the basis for this assertion, other than PNG loves RL?

Marape has said among other things that it was "pivotal in anchoring the PNG-Australia relationship", and a security deal has since followed it. It has also been widely reported that a break clause is included should PNG violate the security agreement. All of this started with PNG being courted by China.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

I totally get the PNG side but for me the money being spent in the rest of the Pacific Islands is ridiculous. That money should all be towards Union which is their main code but the government have obviously been taken for a ride by the NRL. (Well done to them)

 

[hampton]

I totally get the PNG side but for me the money being spent in the rest of the Pacific Islands is ridiculous. That money should all be towards Union which is their main code but the government have obviously been taken for a ride by the NRL. (Well done to them)

With the amount of Tongans and Samoans playing in the nrl, why is it a bad thing for young kids there to be given pathways to do the same just like their brothers that are raised in Australia and NZ? Nrl is growing popularity there fast.

It’s like saying the nsw government should never spend any money on venues or facilities for afl because it’s not the main code they should put it all on nrl only.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Tongans and Samoans playing in the nrl,

The same Tongans and Samoans who are born and raised in Australia and New Zealand, in many cases are not actually Tongan and Samoan citizens and therefore are of little relevance for the purposes of geopolitical security - they are already aligned to Australia (or New Zealand) by virtue of the fact that is their only citizenship?

 

[hampton]

The same Tongans and Samoans who are born and raised in Australia and New Zealand, in many cases are not actually Tongan and Samoan citizens and therefore are of little relevance for the purposes of geopolitical security - they are already aligned to Australia (or New Zealand) by virtue of the fact that is their only citizenship?

The money is going to be spent on pathways for Tongans and Samoans and others like Fijians who are living in those islands, not ones living in Australia who are already taking advantage of Australian pathways? Thought that much is obvious.

The Polynesians that live in Australia and NZ already have access to pathways, and take up the game in great numbers. Whereas the ones in the islands have little opportunity in comparison which this funding aims to address. Just like the government is funding other programs to help those in the islands have opportunities to make it in education and work.

The game is popular but poorly organised in the islands compared to union, this will fix that and give young Polynesians living in the islands opportunities to play in the NRL.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The money is going to be spent on pathways for Tongans and Samoans and others like Fijians who are living in those islands, not ones living in Australia who are already taking advantage of Australian pathways? Thought that much is obvious.

Except there is no practical RL infrastructure physically on those Islands, in the context of it being compared to RU and having a player base and infrastructure that's independent of RU (ie, how many claimed participating players would state that RL is their main/preferred sport over RU).

Before you yell at me with statistics about how there are RL competitions on those islands with dozens of teams (I'm sure there is), to be clear I'm talking about how the player base for those teams crosses over with RU and the players grew up and learnt their skills from a RU dominant culture.

Because if there was, we'd see players born and raised in those countries qualifying for the national teams, but we don't.

The point of that is that because they live in Australia and NZ they have access to pathways,

You're claiming this as if they move to Australia as teenagers. Some do. A majority of the national team players were born in Aus and NZ, therefore generally Australians for the purposes of citizenship and security.

It's incredible how you can claim Australians born in Australia as the reasons for RL government money being spent on Islands for security purposes where there's no large interest in the sport domestically on those islands as a good thing.

 

[hampton]

Except there is no practical RL infrastructure physically on those Islands, in the context of it being compared to RU and having a player base and infrastructure that's independent of RU (ie, how many claimed participating players would state that RL is their main/preferred sport over RU).

Before you yell at me with statistics about how there are RL competitions on those islands with dozens of teams (I'm sure there is), to be clear I'm talking about how the player base for those teams crosses over with RU and the players grew up and learnt their skills from a RU dominant culture.

Because if there was, we'd see players born and raised in those countries qualifying for the national teams, but we don't.


You're claiming this as if they move to Australia as teenagers. Some do. A majority of the national team players were born in Aus and NZ, therefore generally Australians for the purposes of citizenship and security.

It's incredible how you can claim Australians born in Australia as the reasons for RL government money being spent on Islands for security purposes where there's no large interest in the sport domestically on those islands as a good thing.

Just not sure what you’re getting at here. First union have been way more organised there and pluck players out that have talent way before rugby league can get a sniff. Agree that many people there would play both codes but union is just way more established there in terms of systems and pathways. However of late they’re more plucking talent out to serve other countries with Samoan and Tongan rugby union slipping.

Rugby league has really captured the attention of Polynesians as both players and fans in the last 15 years, no matter whether born here or there. The ones born here are very close to their heritage and don’t just see themselves as Aussie with no ties to their homeland. Polynesians must move away to find a better life and work opportunities of any kind.

Polynesians living and playing either rugby in the islands can’t get to play for rugby league national team if they’ve been plucked out playing in French and Japanese rugby comps.

I’m sure there are plenty that would love to play nrl. The nrl Polynesian players, who are all developed in either nz or au, are treated as celebrities over there.

Also your points about the Samoans and Tongans that are born here, what’s your point about them? Not sure what you’re getting at. The reality is rugby league is popular with Polynesians, whether born in au/nz, or born overseas and came here later. The reality is that any Polynesian that wants to build their rugby skills no matter which code needs to leave the islands for opportunities. These are islands of 100k people living there.

 

[hampton]

I feel like you’re trying to downplay the Polynesians born here or raised here from younger ages as “Aussie” and not truly Samoan or Tongan and not representative of the ones living on the islands in terms of their desires to play league. That would be bullshit if that’s what you’re trying to say.

You can try to tell them yourself they’re not really Samoan or Tongan and don’t represent their native country. See how that goes for you.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

no matter whether born here or there.

Where they're born and what citizenship they have (and therefore by extension where they can wield political influence) matters for the purposes of geopolitical security foreign policy, my dude. That's the whole freaking framework of this conversation.

We're not trying to convince Australian citizens to support the geopolitical aims of Australian security ... because they already want that ... by virtue of being Australian citizens.

It's not a matter of downplaying their heritage, it's a matter of their literal interests in a political sense differing greatly on the basis of their citizenship. A Tongan or Samoan heritage Australian that is an Australian citizen would presumably be on the side of Australia in a theoretical future conflict with China ... because their political interests are already lined with the country they have existing citizenship of (Australia...)

Sporting representation in a cultural sense for international sports is vastly different to which country you pay taxes to and get services from and how you interact with the world politically.

You're so obvious in your bleating that you're refuting an argument that I have never made (that I'm trying to downplay their heritage). You've literally shifted the goalposts to a different location, and think you're the smartest dude on the planet.

I'm making the point that we don't have to win the "battle" over China with regard to Tongan, Samoan and Fiji heritage Australian citizens, because the battle is already won ... by virtue of the fact that that they are Australian citizens, because they were born and brought up here. Isn't that obvious?

 

[hampton]

Where they're born and what citizenship they have (and therefore by extension where they can wield political influence) matters for the purposes of geopolitical security foreign policy, my dude. That's the whole freaking framework of this conversation.

We're not trying to convince Australian citizens to support the geopolitical aims of Australian security ... because they already want that ... by virtue of being Australian citizens.

It's not a matter of downplaying their heritage, it's a matter of their literal interests in a political sense differing greatly on the basis of their citizenship. A Tongan or Samoan heritage Australian that is an Australian citizen would presumably be on the side of Australia in a theoretical future conflict with China ... because their political interests are already lined with the country they have existing citizenship of (Australia...)

Sporting representation in a cultural sense for international sports is vastly different to which country you pay taxes to and get services from and how you interact with the world politically.

You're so obvious in your bleating that you're refuting an argument that I have never made (that I'm trying to downplay their heritage). You've literally shifted the goalposts to a different location, and think you're the smartest dude on the planet.

I'm making the point that we don't have to win the "battle" over China with regard to Tongan, Samoan and Fiji heritage Australian citizens, because the battle is already won ... by virtue of the fact that that they are Australian citizens, because they were born and brought up here. Isn't that obvious?

I don’t know why you keep bringing up the Australian based players again and again regarding this when you well know that the funding is not for them but for developing pathways in the islands.

The only point I’m making with the Australian based players is that their island based brothers will get similar opportunities which theyd be appreciative of.

Not sure why you keep moving the goal posts to bringing up the Australian players and how they’re not relevant to the geopolitical funding - no shit. It’s not for them.

 

[The_Reaper]

Why is it actually our problem if the Chinese have influence in Fiji and Samoa?

 

[The Educator]

Why is it actually our problem if the Chinese have influence in Fiji and Samoa?

Well, it is certainly more debatable than the Australian media would suggest.....but if you believe it is then this should be a concern.....

Union and league need to team up for Pacific rugby win | The Strategist

Australia relies on rugby as a key diplomatic instrument in the Pacific. However, the influence of sport depends not only on how much it invests but also on where, how and with whom those investments ...

www.aspistrategist.org.au

"It’s no secret that Samoan and Tongan rugby union executives are ‘negotiating with Chinese government officials’ about further investment in their sport as ‘they grapple with the prospect of losing players to rugby league’s multimillion-dollar Pacific expansion.’"

"In Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga, rugby union is not just a pastime. The game is the soul of the nation, worn on jerseys and projected to the world through song, strength, culture and power. Preserving Pacific rugby union through balanced funding is not only the right thing to do but a strategic imperative."

and....

League versus union: Australia’s rugby diplomacy needs a game plan | Lowy Institute

Does Australia really want to fund rival codes against each other in Pacific competition with Beijing?

www.lowyinstitute.org

News broke last week that the governments of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are preparing to request $150 million for rugby union. This follows recent moves by these nations to develop closer sports ties with China.

Should Fiji, Tonga and Samoa’s $150 million request be granted, it would put Australia in a rather bizarre situation: funding two rival codes to compete against one another in the Pacific, all as a means for Canberra to compete with Beijing for political influence. It’s hard to understand how this is an efficient or logical use of taxpayer money and a finite development budget.

 

[HavUEvaSeenTheRain]

With the amount of Tongans and Samoans playing in the nrl, why is it a bad thing for young kids there to be given pathways to do the same just like their brothers that are raised in Australia and NZ? Nrl is growing popularity there fast.

It’s like saying the nsw government should never spend any money on venues or facilities for afl because it’s not the main code they should put it all on nrl only.

Why support a rival code to those countries most popular sport when we already have sporting links through it?
Bang for buck supporting union is an absolute no brainer.

Stupid argument comparing Australian and State governments spending money on their own citizens which they actually get a some sort of financial and social return on.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Well, it is certainly more debatable than the Australian media would suggest.....but if you believe it is then this should be a concern.....







and....

Only the genius that is a pro-NRL troll could think that it's an efficient use of money to fight China's tens of millions of dollars per country being spent on the sport they love with spending government money so a New Zealand born-and-raised citizen can play some end of season rep footy.

 

[Fire]

Why is it actually our problem if the Chinese have influence in Fiji and Samoa?

Because they are a geopolitical rival in the region, and its complex.

However I think funding sport is a ridiculous and inefficient way of competing for influence, when there is a whole range of things we could do to integrate these nations closer, but would probably be vote losers at home because of general racism.

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[Cmarsh]

The_Wookie do you have any A League ratings for this season?

 

[The_Wookie]

The_Wookie do you have any A League ratings for this season?

not national no.

as of december 1

• 2025-26 season Isuzu UTE A-League Men: Biggest ever streaming audiences. Up 31% on 10 and up 48% on Paramount+.
• 2025-26 season Ninja A-League Women: Biggest ever streaming audiences. Up 16% on 10 and up 72% on Paramount+.

https://footyindustry.com/index.php/football-2025-tv/

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[The_Wookie]

 

[jatz14]

Why is it actually our problem if the Chinese have influence in Fiji and Samoa?

Why would it be a concern, that the nation that built artificial reefs over a thousand KMs from their homeland, between two other nations, put military bases on them, and then claimed that his made the ocean between these two nations theirs, and is currently trying to chase fishing boats and the navy from those 2 nations out of their territorial waters, has been trying to gain port rights in nations in the Pacific that lie between Australia and the US?

I dont know, cannot think of any reason at all.

 

[The_Wookie]

Why would it be a concern, that the nation that built artificial reefs over a thousand KMs from their homeland, between two other nations, put military bases on them, and then claimed that his made the ocean between these two nations theirs, and is currently trying to chase fishing boats and the navy from those 2 nations out of their territorial waters, has been trying to gain port rights in nations in the Pacific that lie between Australia and the US?

I dont know, cannot think of any reason at all.

You cannot seriously equate the south china sea with the pacific