Ashes / Pacific Champs 2025

WWOS reporting that the IRL has all but decided on staging the 2030 RLWC in the USA with Honolulu as one of the possible host cities: Michael Chammas’ idea for a Hawaiian franchise being admitted to the NRL is starting to sound more and more like becoming a reality…

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Has China suddenly said it will try to increase ties with Hawaii?
Because I don't see a path for a Hawaiian NRL franchise otherwise.
 
I didn't think PNG was a chance of a team so who knows anymore. Imagine the travel time for the Perth Bears. It's going to be bad enough for them getting to NZ or PNG.
 
I didn't think PNG was a chance of a team so who knows anymore. Imagine the travel time for the Perth Bears. It's going to be bad enough for them getting to NZ or PNG.
Me either but it makes more sense than a team in Hawaii taking away the political reasons.
 
That's very different to having a fulltime NRL team in Hawaii.
Before Chammas went on to elaborate, I was in the same boat TBH.
However, when you consider that Hawaii is currently starved of professional sport and are currently building a new stadium to host their college football team that is scheduled to be completed by 2029 and the fact that they have a large Polynesian population, it feels like it would make sense to base the Pasifika bid there and, hopefully continue any momentum and traction gained from having the USA host the 2030 RLWC.
When you see the attendances and the atmosphere created by the Samoan and Tongan fans in Brisbane and Auckland during this year’s Pacific Championships, it is fair to say that any Pasifika franchise would likely attract a large attendance wherever they play, home and away.
 
I didn't think PNG was a chance of a team so who knows anymore. Imagine the travel time for the Perth Bears. It's going to be bad enough for them getting to NZ or PNG.
I would think when the NRL gets to 20 teams we will see a conference system implemented where Perth/Hawaii would likely only meet in the Grand Final.
 
There's a reason (actually 2) there's no US major league professional team in Hawaii.
Time difference with the East coast and travel.

I don't see how this would be any different with the NRL.
A flight time of about 10 hours from Sydney to Hawaii (12 from Melbourne and a whopping 15 hours from Perth), and a 21-hour time difference would make it a logistical nightmare. *
The odd game there? Why not, but start with an annual Tonga v Samoa test match to get things going.
Otherwise it's just another pipe dream in my opinion. (And so is the USA world cup by the way)

* Edited for clarity.
 
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There's a reason (actually 2) there's no US major league professional team in Hawaii.
Time difference with the East coast and travel.

I don't see how this would be any different with the NRL.
With a flight time of about 10 hours from Sydney to Hawaii (12 from Melbourne and a whopping 15 hours from Perth), and a 21-hour time difference would make it a logistical nightmare.
The odd game there? Why not, but start with an annual Tonga v Samoa test match to get things going.
Otherwise it's just another pipe dream in my opinion. (And so is the USA world cup by the way)
Yep, will never happen.
 
5 sharks coming up in the girls Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns match. Penitani-Gray, Ellie, Dodd, Anderson and Biddle.

Edit: I missed Tyla King. Make that 6.
 
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I can see the “Southwell kick to Robinson” against Staples A LOT to destroy us next season
 
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I just turned on the tv to see that.

First footy I've watch since gf.

Instantly remembered what I hate.

Wonder if they'd pick that up if it was for Brisbane to win the GF?
 
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