Peter V'landys reveals plans for NRL to buy a private jet in wake of Cowboys finals debacle
The development comes after the Cowboys were left without a commercial flight for their NRL finals game.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys has revealed the NRL is considering buying a private jet in the wake of the finals debacle that saw the Cowboys scrambling for a flight out of Townsville this week. The NRL was forced to help facilitate a private charter for the North Queensland team for Friday night's semi-final against Cronulla at Sydney's Allianz Stadium after the Cowboys missed out on seats for a commercial flight out of Townsville.
News Corp reported this week that the two commercial flights that fly directly to Sydney from Townsville were booked out as Cowboys fans clamoured to get seats to travel and watch the finals clash with the Sharks. It left club officials scrambling to sort out alternative flights for the Cowboys team, with the NRL helping to fund the $100,000 emergency charter flight.
In the wake of that bizarre situation, V'landys has now revealed the NRL is looking into purchasing its own private jet and explained how it would be beneficial for clubs, fans and officials. The ARLC chair pointed to the many opportunities it would offer as the game looks to expand into Papua New Guinea, Western Australia or southern New Zealand.
V'landys told The Sydney Morning Herald that league powerbrokers had discussed the private jet idea this week and would undertake an extensive cost analysis associated with the move. But the league boss said the idea had "enormous benefit" and reportedly already has the backing of a number of NRL clubs such as the New Zealand Warriors, Cowboys and Melbourne Storm.
"You can do promotions where you can take fans to different venues, and especially if we expand to Perth, Papua New Guinea, the south island of New Zealand or wherever, it becomes a more realistic option," V'landys said about the private jet idea. "If it's only slightly more money than what we're paying now, it doesn't matter because of the comfort and convenience which would be given to the players for their welfare far outweighs any additional costs."
Storm general manager Frank Ponissi is among those to throw his support behind the idea, particularly as the NRL is set to introduce two new teams in the coming years, making it a 19-club competition by 2028. "We would be very supportive of such a plan," Ponissi said. "Not only would it help with our travel and the preparation of athletes, but one benefit would also be enabling players and staff to spend more time with their family."
PNG all but set to become NRL's 19th team in $600m deal
The development comes after the NRL and federal government reportedly “agreed in principle” on a $600 million deal for PNG to become the competition's 19th team, most likely by 2028. The Perth-based Western Bears are favourites to be named the NRL's 18th side in 2027, and the Prime Minister says the finishing touches were being put on a deal to give PNG its own team.
"We are just working through the final details of that," Mr Albanese said this week. "I've been a strong advocate for PNG to have a team in the National Rugby League." The NRL bid will integrate PNG with Australia in a sporting sense and that will cement other partnerships economically, culturally and socially, with the Australian Prime Minister blown away by the passion for footy in the country.
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"There is no country on earth that is more passionate, including Australia, than PNG when it comes to rugby league," he said. When I walked the Kokoda Track in the lead up to Anzac Day with Prime Minister (James) Marape earlier this year, it's quite astonishing that you would emerge from the thickest bush... and you see little kids in Broncos or Cowboys jumpers."
Australian tax payers will be forking out the dollars needed for the NRL to base an expansion team in Post Moresby. V’landys held discussions with Mr Albanese in early May and the deal is now set to be rubber stamped with the funding reported to be worth $600m over 10 years. An official announcement is expected before the annual Australian Prime Minister’s XIII game against Papua New Guinea on October 12.
with agencies
