If you’ve been remotely tuned in to the rugby league zeitgeist over the past week it would be hard to avoid the charm offensive put on by the PNG Chiefs. The first masterstroke was landing the signature of Jarome Luai. The second was capitalising on the hype. A team that even weeks ago still seemed like a pie in the sky suddenly feels not just legitimised but, if you ask slightly bitter administrators at other clubs, a real threat.
Media Invitations and Missing Perspectives
Within days of the Luai signing a select number of podcasters and one media outlet were invited to Port Moresby, organised by the Chiefs, to see what it’s all really about and the reviews — unsurprisingly — are glowing. If you’re captivated by the PNG experiment the content is interesting. But among the heartwarming stories of a humble life in PNG mixed with banter of “how funny was it we almost didn’t get a visa haha” is a glaring omission — no female voice.
In a country regularly ranked towards the top of the list of the most dangerous in the world, was I shocked to hear that 6’5” Willie Mason or James Graham, one of the toughest men to play the game in recent times, and those travelling with them came out unscathed? In a place we’ve been constantly told that treats players like gods? No? Was I supposed to be?
Safety Concerns for Women
The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website notes “the risk of violent crime and sexual assault in PNG is high”. It seems like a peculiar choice that the main concern about rugby league families being based in one of the crime capitals of the world is the safety of their wives and partners, yet the only people outside the club we’ve heard spruik the safety of the country are those least at risk.
It’s not about equality. After all the Chiefs CEO is Lorna McPherson, a woman whose resume is wildly impressive and, with extensive experience living in PNG, appears no doubt the best person to lead the club. I would hope rugby league, a sport with female voices in almost every corner, is well past needing to virtue signal. It’s about answering the questions that still linger.
- Is it only safe to be there if you have played the game?
- What about club staff? Broadcasters?
- Would it be safe for fans of other clubs (without the protection of the Chiefs) to travel and watch an away game?
- Is it true if you are female you can’t leave the “resort” (compound) without security or is that a widespread furphy?
Of course to get the best answers to these questions, broadcasters, media outlets and podcasters should go to PNG with minimal input from the club at all. But is it a case that it wasn’t safe enough for the club to extend the invite to any women? I put this to the Chiefs general manager Michael Chammas, who stressed it wasn’t a safety issue.
Club Response and Vision
“We are really proud of the female representation we have at our club. Our chair and CEO are both females and passionate about being champions of change in PNG,” he said. “This week my wife and family joined the wife and families of Willie Peters and Liam Ayoub. They have loved their time over here and have been embraced by the community. The podcasters who came out this week had been asking to visit and see the country with their own eyes. We hope that they saw the magic in what our club is trying to build for all boys, girls, men and women around Papua New Guinea.”
For the record I think both Michael and Lorna have sold an incredible vision. The rugby league team that saved a struggling nation — it’s the stuff Hollywood would make a movie about. I went into their joint press conference to announce the Luai signing with my own reservations about how this team came about. The political reasons bother me, but that’s another story. I came out convinced that of all the bold ideas the NRL has put forward this has the potential to be the most important yet.
Hearing both of the Chiefs figureheads speak about the positive impact the team can have on the country has been compelling, and so far the club has put their money where their mouth is with the signatures of Jarome Luai and Alex Johnston, who are both incredible role models within the game. But I think we can’t ignore the questions that still remain and perhaps will only get answers to once the team is up and running. With 18 months to go until their first game, at least we are talking about them.
