There’s been a mixed response to the announcement that Papua New Guinea will house the newest NRL team. 

The team will be based out of the capital, Port Moresby, and will join the competition from 2028. 

It will be the first non-Australia based club since the Auckland Warriors were established in 1995. 

Australia Correspondent Adam Peacock joined Piney to discuss the fallout of the announcement.  

“You can tell that there’s an, like, above and beyond tone to it all to attract players in the sense that they’ll go up there and not have to pay tax, so that says a lot.” 

LISTEN ABOVE  

There’s been a mixed response to the announcement that Papua New Guinea will house the newest NRL team.&nbsp;
The team will be based out of the capital, Port Moresby, and will join the competition from 2028.&nbsp;
It will be the first non-Australia based club since the Auckland Warriors were established in 1995.&nbsp;
Australia Correspondent Adam Peacock joined Piney to discuss the fallout of the announcement. &nbsp;
“You can tell that there’s an, like, above and beyond tone to it all to attract players in the sense that they’ll go up there and not have to pay tax, so that says a lot.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB brings you all the action and reaction to the sporting weekend.

Weekend Sport with Jason Pine

Adam Peacock: Australian Correspondent on the new Papua New Guinea based NRL team

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a082c3b1-3a02-4259-87d2-b24600316f0a/transcript

Eyebrows have been raised over Super Rugby Pacific’s light schedule for the Easter weekend. 

Only three matches were scheduled – the Crusaders v Fijian Drua, the Chiefs v Waratahs, and the Reds v Force.  

CEO Jack Mesley told Piney they faced quite a few scheduling difficulties for the weekend when they were initially building the draw. 

He says that the sporting landscape is very competitive over Easter, and while some might think they’re losing out, others could say they’d be missing a trick to go up against it, and that they’re being quite strategic about how they place their matches and how they compete. 

“We’re pretty confident with what we’ve rolled out.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

Eyebrows have been raised over Super Rugby Pacific’s light schedule for the Easter weekend.&nbsp;
Only three matches were scheduled – the Crusaders v Fijian Drua, the Chiefs v Waratahs, and the Reds v Force. &nbsp;
CEO Jack Mesley told Piney they faced quite a few scheduling difficulties for the weekend when they were initially building the draw.&nbsp;
He says that the sporting landscape is very competitive over Easter, and while some might think they’re losing out, others could say they’d be missing a trick to go up against it, and that they’re being quite strategic about how they place their matches and how they compete.&nbsp;
“We’re pretty confident with what we’ve rolled out.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Jack Mesley: Super Rugby CEO defends scheduling only three games over Easter Weekend

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/67d7fc96-6101-42e3-8fa0-b422001ff697/transcript

One of football’s biggest clubs is coming to our shores. 

Tottenham Hotspur is taking part in the NZ International Football Festival for 2026, set to face off against Auckland FC. 

Tottenham icon Ledley King told Piney he knows how much the team is looking forward to coming out and playing in front of a new audience.  

He says the team has a massive global fanbase, and it’s important for them to give back to them and not just stay in their comfort zone in the UK. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

One of football’s biggest clubs is coming to our shores.&nbsp;
Tottenham Hotspur is taking part in the NZ International Football Festival for 2026, set to face off against Auckland FC.&nbsp;
Tottenham icon Ledley King told Piney he knows how much the team is looking forward to coming out and playing in front of a new audience. &nbsp;
He says the team has a massive global fanbase, and it’s important for them to give back to them and not just stay in their comfort zone in the UK.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Ledley King: Tottenham Hotspur ambassador on the team facing off against Auckland FC in the NZ International Football Festival

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d3938ec9-ed74-4a8f-9b47-b422001ad51c/transcript

A tribute to the Crusaders now former home from CEO Colin Mansbridge in the wake of the Super Rugby team's final match there. 

Apollo Projects Stadium housed the team for 14 years and saw them take home multiple Super Rugby titles. 

It has been farewelled with a 69-26 thumping of the Fijian Drua – hooker Codie Taylor scoring four tries in what was his 150th game for the franchise. 

Mansbridge told Piney it’s always going to be a place that every time he walks past, no matter what shape or form it takes in the future, it’ll be a place that grabs the heart.  

“I think it’ll always be like our folks’ home – you know, it’ll always be that thing that you hope they don’t sell.” 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A tribute to the Crusaders now former home from CEO Colin Mansbridge in the wake of the Super Rugby team's final match there.&nbsp;
Apollo Projects Stadium housed the team for 14 years and saw them take home multiple Super Rugby titles.&nbsp;
It has been farewelled with a 69-26 thumping of the Fijian Drua – hooker Codie Taylor scoring four tries in what was his 150th game for the franchise.&nbsp;
Mansbridge told Piney it’s always going to be a place that every time he walks past, no matter what shape or form it takes in the future, it’ll be a place that grabs the heart. &nbsp;
“I think it’ll always be like our folks’ home – you know, it’ll always be that thing that you hope they don’t sell.”&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

Colin Mansbridge: Crusaders CEO on the team's final match at the Apollo Projects Stadium

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/daba5b2b-eea5-407a-96cd-b4220014ec4a/transcript

Adam Peacock: Australian Correspondent on the new Papua New Guinea based NRL team

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