Chow sets up links with Sharks

By PARKER TAMBUA
LAE Snax Tigers franchise owner Ian Chow has met with National Rugby League (NRL) club Cronulla Sharks over the weekend to discuss a pathway arrangement which could see Papua New Guinea junior talents further their sporting careers in Australia.
Chow met with Sharks chief executive Dino Mezzatesta and a few Sharks players Nicho Hynes and others while in Sydney.
Chow told The National yesterday that junior development was the way forward if the PNG Rugby Football League wanted to get a team into the NRL after 2025.
“The Cronulla sharks CEO Dino Mezzatesta wants to do a partnership with PNG teams and ultimately PNGRFL,” Chow said.
“We sponsor our juniors, players and even our potential referees to go to them and if they are good, the clubs or NRL will keep them.”
Chow said the North Queensland Cowboys showed interest about establishing a partnership with teams in PNG.
“The Cowboys also spoke to me about this. We can send potential young players to their elite rugby league schools in Queensland for a term or year.
“They can tell if they have potential and can take them on after.
“This is the real pathway for PNG juniors. This is why so many smaller Pacific Islands have more players in NRL than PNG.
All NRL clubs know PNG has potential and also they all have huge fan base in PNG.
“If we want to get a team into the NRL, a junior programme such as this should be the priority
“We need to improve in PNG with our junior development, more fields, more referees and officials, better local competitions and better spectator behaviours.
“If we cannot meet these than having a team in the NRL will only be a dream.”