It’s the most untrue statement ever uttered - sport and politics don’t mix.

In the NRL, not only are they mixing, they’re in a blender.

Let’s take the past few weeks as an example of how the game’s governing body has joined itself to the hip of governments right across the country.

The Perth Bears only exist because the NRL got a sweet deal from the West Australian government.

That was after the NRL rejected a private consortium, took the concept to the WA government and received an offer it rejected as too low, only for the government to come back with a new, higher offer. Money talks, but when you take it, you’re beholden to them.

Beware the hand that feeds you.

Anthony Albanese with Peter V’landys at Leichhardt Oval in June last year.Credit: Kate Geraghty

We all know the history of the Papua New Guinea team.

Keen to lock China out of the Pacific, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gifted the NRL $600 million over ten years for the team to exist, thereby currying favour with a rugby league-mad government in a rugby league-mad nation.

Why on earth the game is dabbling in the geo-politics of the region is anyone’s guess.

The PNG Board announced during the week looks very well-credentialed, so a big tick there. But there was a worrying moment when all league fans would have, or should have, cringed.

Politicians specialise in bagging everything opposing........

© The Age