A Queensland Rugby League spokesperson says the Mackay Cutters have verbally indicated that they will travel to Papua New Guinea to play the PNG Hunters.
Key points:
- The QRL says it looks as if the match in Port Moresby will go ahead
- Earlier the league said it had issued the Cutters with a notice of intention to terminate the team’s participation agreement
- Anthony Albanese weighed in on the issue this afternoon, saying it was safe to travel to Port Moresby
The news follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s assurance that it would be safe to travel to Port Moresby for the match.
Mr Albanese spoke about the issue on Thursday afternoon and encouraged the Cutters to travel to PNG for the game.
He said that while he had not been asked by the QRL to supply any extra security, he would be willing to do so and also had a personal offer of support from the PNG prime minister.
“It would be such a disappointment if this game doesn’t go ahead and I see no reason why it can’t,” Mr Albanese said.
When asked if he thought it was safe for the Mackay Cutters to travel to Port Moresby for the match, he answered, “Yes it is.”
The QRL says it is working through some logistical issues but is optimistic that the game will go ahead.
Earlier the QRL told the Cutters they risked being kicked out of all statewide competitions after refusing to travel for the match.
The league issued the Cutters with a notice of intention to terminate their participation agreement.
The Hunters have been part of the Queensland Cup since 2014, but the club has not played at home in Port Moresby since 2019 amid ongoing civil unrest as well as high rates of COVID-19 and foot-and-mouth disease.
The PNG Hunters have been playing “home” games on the Gold Coast.(Facebook)
Travel warnings in place
Earlier this month, the QRL said it would not allow teams from Townsville and Burleigh to travel to PNG.
“Based on this advice and the need to ensure the health and safety of all teams and club personnel remains a priority, the board has not approved travel to PNG this weekend,” it said at the time.
But in a following statement the league said an extensive risk assessment had been done and approval was granted for a game between the Hunters and Cutters to proceed after a request from the Hunters to play at home again.
The Cutters would be the first team to play in PNG in about three years.
The ABC has asked the QRL why it believes it is now safe to travel, but has not received a response.
Advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says people should reconsider non-essential travel in parts of the country.
Source:: ABC News
