Anthony Albanese steps in as Aussie footy team is threatened with being KICKED OUT

The prime minister has offered his assistance to end a Queensland Rugby League stand-off that could see the Mackay Cutters booted from multiple competitions.

The Cutters have refused to travel to Papua New Guinea for Saturday’s final round of the Hostplus Cup, with the QRL on Thursday threatening to pull their licence as a result.

The game is slated to be the PNG Hunters’ first at their Port Moresby home since 2019, with the pandemic forcing them to create a base in Australia.

Civil unrest in the country has scuppered recent efforts for the PNG Hunters to return any earlier.

But an independent risk assessment from the QRL deemed this weekend’s game could safely to go ahead, despite the federal government’s official travel advice that people reconsider their need to travel due to the ongoing conflict.

However The Courier Mail reported on Thursday that Anthony Albanese had informed the QRL the federal government would support any request for security for the match.

‘The people of PNG are passionate in their support for rugby league and our relationship is of critical importance to Australia,’ Albanese said.

Mackay Cutters had refused to travel to PNG Hunters due to civil unrest on the island

The Cutters are at long odds to qualify for the Hostplus Cup finals.

But they act as one of North Queensland’s feeder teams and their absence from QRL competitions next year would have a severe impact on the NRL pathway.

A crowd of about 10,000 was expected on Saturday, with Albanese previously showing his support for the country’s efforts to house an NRL team.

‘If the Cutters are unable to remedy the breach of the participation agreement, they will be suspended from all QRL statewide competitions,’ a QRL statement read.

‘The Cutters have been requested to respond to the allegation and will be required to show cause as to why the club should continue their involvement in QRL statewide competitions in 2023.’