Can I really see myself living in PNG?
asserted
myself → see → PNG
It’s a question NRL players, coaches and officials, intrigued by the prospect of banking tax-free dollars, are asking themselves as the PNG Chiefs prepare to enter their first free-agency period on the player market.
asserted
Chiefs → ’ → market
It’s an impossible question to answer without travelling to the Pacific nation and experiencing the lifestyle first-hand.
asserted
It → ’ → lifestyle
Which is why former Manly and Bulldogs half Trent Hodkinson and his wife, Chantelle, decided to tour the facilities before they committed to the sea change.
asserted
they → decide → change
Hodkinson, who had previously spent time in Port Moresby during his playing days, had been earmarked to become one of coach Willie Peters’ assistants.
asserted
who → spend → assistants
The couple, who have lived in NSW and Queensland, share a spirit of adventure.
asserted
who → live → adventure
They were keen to experience life in England, before injuries prematurely cut short the former NSW halfback’s playing career.
asserted
injuries → experience → career
Now a unique opportunity had presented itself in PNG ahead of the Chiefs entry into the NRL in 2028, but they
asserted
opportunity → present → 2028
first wanted to double-check if relocating would work for them and their two children, aged six and three.
asserted
relocating → want → them
After just a few days in PNG, they had their answer.
asserted
they → have → answer
“It’s a great, unique opportunity to be part of something special, to live here, and to bring the family over,” Hodkinson said.
asserted
Hodkinson → ’ → family
“I think that’s exciting – not many people get to do that.
asserted
people → think → that
“That’s the type of people Chantelle and I are, we want our kids to embrace and experience different countries and cultures.
asserted
kids → ’ → countries
What better place to do it than Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is life?
asserted
league → do → Guinea
On Wednesday, the Chiefs revealed their inaugural jersey.
asserted
Chiefs → reveal → jersey
Which players are prepared to fill them when their campaign kicks off in 2028 is the biggest story in rugby league as a raft of superstars prepare to hit the open market on November 1.
asserted
raft → prepare → November
While the Hodkinsons decided it would suit them, the fit may not work for other members of the Australian league community.
uncertain
fit → decide → community
“This is not going to be for everyone,” Chiefs coach Willie Peters conceded.
asserted
Peters → go → everyone
“Some people might prefer where they are, while others will look at this and see it as where they want to play, get better, and do something for something bigger than themselves – a club doing something for a country.
uncertain
they → prefer → country
You need to make sure it works for your family, but it needs to be bigger than that.
asserted
it → need → that
A lot of people will be making sacrifices to be here.
asserted
lot → make → sacrifices
My wife is coming over, my youngest son is coming over, and everyone’s situation will be different.
asserted
situation → come → ?
The living arrangements will be very different from what the game’s stars are used to in Sydney or Brisbane.
asserted
stars → use → Sydney
Chiefs players will be seeing a lot of the airport, and it’s not just because they are travelling to away games every second week.
asserted
they → see → games
They will reside at Airways, described on their website as an “oasis of understated luxury”.
asserted
They → reside → luxury
There are two primary restaurants, one swimming pool, a children’s playground and adjoining green space, although it currently looks more brown than green due to a lack of rain.
asserted
it → be → rain
They will live in one of the new residences under construction, in the hope they will be ready for the arrival of players in 12 months’ time.
asserted
they → live → time
The facility – descriptions alternate between “five-star resort” and “compound” – will be their home for the length of their stay.
asserted
descriptions → alternate → stay
A 250g Black Angus Steak Diane at the Airways’ Bacchus restaurant costs the equivalent of $56.
asserted
Diane → cost → 56
Then there’s the immaculately presented Waterfront Supermarket in town, where the label of every single product is turned to face the consumer.
asserted
label → ’ → consumer
There you can do a weekly shop and pick up fresh produce at reasonable prices; a loaf of bread for $2.25 (Australian), bananas are $3 per kg, a pack of thin beef sausages are just $A3.80 a pack, double smoked ham is $14.50 per kg.
asserted
ham → do → kg
However, imported goods are more expensive – for instance, a two-litre bottle of Biozet Attack laundry liquid is $40.
asserted
bottle → import → liquid
For the most part, the players will live in a bubble, as they did during COVID-19, far removed from the fans who so adore them.
asserted
who → live → them
Living in close proximity during the lockdowns brought some teams – most notably Penrith – closer together.
asserted
Living → live → teams
Others felt like the walls were closing in.
asserted
walls → feel → ?
“We have to be realistic, we can’t pretend we’re like any other football club.
asserted
we → have → club
We’re not, we’re unique,” said Chiefs general manager Michael Chammas.
asserted
Chammas → ’re → ?
“I’ve done a lot of homework on teams that succeeded during the Covid bubble.
asserted
that → do → bubble
When you talk to the Penrith players, the best time of their lives was the covid bubble.
asserted
time → talk → lives
“They loved it, their families loved it, they wish they could go back to Twin Waters.
uncertain
they → love → Waters
…and 30 more, not listed.
The Aporia
