Coupla interesting guests on The Breakdown last night in terms of PI involvement in an Australasian rugby comp.
First up, Joe Rokococo who's one of the backers of the Hawaiian MLR franchise & talked about the organisation running teams in both comps & providing opportunities for kids in all PI communities whether in the islands themselves, NZ or Australia. Didn't mention USA by name but no doubt they'll be looking to the US-based Samoan & Tongan communities as well. I know Working Class Rugger has reservations re: MLR letting Kanaloa operate in this way but the fact they've given them a licence suggests they're OK with it.
Next, Inoke Afeaki talking about a more traditional model based on the existing Fiji, Samoan & Tongan Unions. Unlike other critics of these organisations he actually put a name to the elephant in the room, that being corruption. He made the point that if money is channeled through a Union-based consortium you'll get the same outcome as throwing money at individual Unions i.e. people without connections won't get paid in full & on time, to the profit of those with connections. His solution is for NZR to control the finances but I don't see any of the Unions agreeing to handing over the keys to the gravy train.
Also on the show was Andrew Forrest & what an eye-opener he was. Anyone doubting his commitment to WA & Australian rugby needs to watch this. Not just WA & Aus, either, but rugby in general: "should be the biggest game in the world" he said & you could hear & see that he meant it & means to do something about it.
