Transcript
TIMOCI NALEBA: Having Petero with a separate bid and having the FNRL with a separate bid, you would think that it would not work out fine or work out well for us because of the lack of resources that we currently have. We think it is wise at least to start talking together and actually come to an agreement on the final shape on how we are going to proceed with the bid towards the New South Wales Rugby League. We haven't come to have the final details of it but we have come together to realise we have the same objective.
KORO VAKA'UTA: A lot of attention had been given, I guess because of his high profile, to Petero's bid and his move so what do you think the Fiji NRL can provide in terms of momentum? What can they add to the bid?
TN: One thing has to be clear to the International Rugby League Federation and the rugby league community. The FNRL, as a current body, organises rugby league competitions and as well as regulate them. So far there have been a lot of changes in the FNRL and also implementation of development programmes to foster the growth of the game here. The competition here is also improving clearly and we hope to have established development programmes by two or three years time so the players going through our programme would be the ones going to the New South Wales Cup.
KV: When is a deadline? When do you need to submit it?
TN: For us here there is a few deadlines because we have our own budgeting channels here and also Fiji Government budget because it is going to be a national initiative to have this competition approved by New South Wales Rugby League because rugby players overseas and rugby [union and league] as a whole is quite a big industry here in Fiji. So government is going to consider having some sort of assistance to the bid. For that, government budgeting is due on July. That is the first one and then after that we have stakeholders who are interested to partner with the FNRL and juggling other sponsorships for the requirements or what was required by the New South Wales Rugby League.
KV: It sounds like you have got the player pool available, you are working on the finances, how about the venue?
TN: The ANZ stadium here in Suva is hosting the Super Rugby. We have all the boxes ticked to host international matches. We are now intending the New South Wales Cup played here in Suva. We also have the second largest ground in Lautoka so we should be able to have that option as well.
