NRL expansion: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on how NRL inclusion can unite country

In an exclusive sit-down with the PNG Prime Minister James Marape, he reveals his vision that NRL inclusion can bring the country together in the same way Nelson Mandela used rugby union to unify South Africa.

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea has claimed NRL inclusion would unite his country the same way Nelson Mandela used rugby union to unify South Africa.

And in this exclusive interview, James Marape revealed PNG would “not just make up the numbers” in the NRL and vowed visiting players would be “treated like rock stars and heroes” and have “no cause for (safety) concerns”.

“Bring it on, we’re ready,” a buoyant Marape said.

This masthead was invited onto Marape’s Prime Ministerial jet – Kumul One (also known as the Falcon) – for a flight from Goroka to Port Moresby.

During the flight, Marape spoke about how and why rugby league-mad PNG should be included into an expanded NRL competition.

He even cheekily admitted to sneaking away last week during a dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to watch State of Origin III on his phone.

Marape then invited this masthead for coffee at Airways Hotel on arrival in Port Moresby where he continued to reveal his genuine passion for rugby league.

Many in PNG believe this to be a sliding doors moment with both PMs – Marape and Australia’s Anthony Albanese – mad-keen NRL fans who want PNG playing top-flight rugby league.

Papua New Guinea is fascinating – no other country in the world, Australia included, can love rugby league more.

The passion here for NRL is truly astonishing and the skill, collision and dedication shown throughout the NRL Bid championship for men and women in Goroka over the weekend was eye-catching.

PNG’s bid team – headed by former NRL officials Andrew Hill, Tony Archer and Joey Grima – have the finances and players but, most importantly, the support of two powerful Governments.

Top-end-of-town sponsors are queuing to align their brand with the PNG side, which is expected to be ratified by the NRL in August. And it is rugby league which is strengthening ties between the two countries.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape and Dean Ritchie.

MANDELA MAGIC

Mandela united South Africa through rugby union and Marape wants the same for his country with rugby league.

“Just like Nelson Mandela used rugby union to unite his divided nation in the 1990s in South Africa, you saw the effects of the Springboks and the success in 1995,” he said.

“Nelson Mandela came from the apartheid story. He was imprisoned for 27 years and had every reason to be angry at the status quo but he said his country must unite.

“He used the Springboks and rugby union to unite his nation. All challenges haven’t been fixed in South Africa, just like any nation in the world but apartheid was able to be broken down by sport. The power and potential of sport is second-to-none.

“Rugby league is part of our contribution to ceasing lawlessness, ceasing unemployment, ceasing un-engagement by the youths.

(L-R) PNG RL CEO Stanley Hondina, PNG NRL bid chairman Wapu Sonk, Prime Minister James Marape, PNG High Commissioner John Feakes, PNG RL chairman Sandis Tsaka and NRL bid CEO Andrew Hill.

“We still have politics that divide, we still have tribes that we are affiliated to but our common denominator right across the land of 1000 tribes is rugby league and the passion for rugby league. Sport unites.

“You see PNG when an NRL and State of Origin game is being played and there is an absolute focus. State of Origin divides this nation into two, this team will unite the nation into one.

“For PNG, rugby league is a national sport and to have a national team playing and training week-in, week-out in the NRL, focused the entire 52 weeks a year with the conversation rotated around one focal point … it is a strategy around sport and business.

“We are the most diverse nation on planet earth and are the closest neighbour to Australia, who gifted us independence in 1975, 49 years ago. Australia has become a very important bilateral partner since we became independent.

“The Australian Government also sees that this might be the glue that sticks our nations together. Our nation has many fragments, if I could put it that way, the fragments of tribal affiliation and politics.”

WATCH US THRIVE

A number of up-and-coming players have already made an impact. Picture: Supplied

Marape insists PNG can and will succeed – on and off the field – over a sustained period.

“We’re going there to win, not just make up numbers and feel good. We’re going in there to win, win, win the competition,” he said. “We’re getting there to win two points on offer every week. We want to put forward a business case that outlives just the present moment.

“It must be a team just like the New Zealand Warriors. When the concept was mooted (and their inclusion) many thought there wouldn’t be a business case around it. Look, almost 20 years on and they have survived as far as a business unit is concerned.

“We don’t want to (be a) burden to the Australian taxpayers, far from it. We want a team that can be sustained around our business case and it’s not just backed by the two Governments. I have asked all major sponsors that operate in PNG to rally behind our national team.

“We want to take Government support out of the picture and stand alone. We don’t want the Australian Government to take it upon themselves as their responsibility. Our bid team will carry the load in terms of preparing the business case. We don’t want to be solely dependent on what the Australian Government is doing out of goodwill.”

YOU’LL BE SAFE

Marape emphatically dismissed suggestions Australian players and their families would feel unsafe visiting or living in PNG.

“I give you my 100 per cent commitment, by 2028 when we run onto the field, and we have built up our infrastructure, there should be no cause for concern. Our nation will be compelled to ensure the players are protected,” he said.

“You’ve been in Goroka. I could bet you $100 that if you drive to Mount Hagan tonight, you wouldn’t be stopped along the way and robbed.

“Of course once in a while there will be rogue elements, but generally speaking, we have a culture of respect for people who choose to live with us.

“Rugby league players are treated like pop stars, rock stars. They belong to an identity brand which is given particular respect. Those who relocate here for our national team will be given royalty status – national heroes.

“They won’t be fully-blooded Papua New Guineans but once they are contracted to our franchise, they become honorary Papua New Guineas and are entitled to first class treatment in this country.

“You see thousands who flock to the fields when Australia’s Kangaroos come to play here. They mean no harm, they just want to see the players, their heroes. They are sports ambassadors in our country.”

INVESTMENT PARTNERS

Marape wants Australians to know this.

“I want the Australian public to know that PNG is the country with the largest Australian foreign investment. Australia doesn’t have that investment in the US or other parts of the world,” he said.

“There isn’t another country in the world where Australians invest more than PNG.

“A good law and order environment, a prosperous economy and a good society is what investors need.

“I have nothing but appreciation for what the Albanese Government is doing. Both sides of Australian politics will see that rugby league unites this country.

“It’s not about 2024, but when I look at 2034, 2044, 2054, this little seed we plant today will anchor people-to-people, business-to-business and Government to Government.”

AUSSIE BENEFITS

The PNG NRL bid championships were held last week. Picture: Supplied

Marape outlined what his team could give to Australia.

“The NRL would be bringing a nation of 15 million people into the sport,” he said. “We will bring supporters to the NRL in terms of pay-per-view. There will be a couple more million people watching the game. Today, everyone is on a smartphone.

“There is, right now, about 100,000 Papua New Guineans living in Australia, especially on the eastern seaboard, right from north Queensland, down to Sydney, Melbourne and also Perth.

“Look at Justin Olam, who has his roots in PNG. There is a PNG crowd that follows him who isn’t loyal to his team but loyal to the player.

“A PNG team would give a complete roundness to the NRL with New Zealand and Pacific teams. It shows the NRL down the line would be exportable to the market in Asia and the US. A PNG rugby league team coming would anchor that space.

“We would give an international flavour and would add value to the rich flavour of Australia maintaining ties with the Pacific. Those cultural dimensions are there for the sport of rugby league to tap into. It’s a win-win for all of us.”

STARTING POINT

Marape spent five hours on Sunday watching the two-day PNG NRL bid championships in Goroka over the weekend.

“This is the starting point,” he said. “A good school competition will make us succeed in five years, ten, 15 years.

“That’s why I am here watching and spending five hours of my Sunday. I want to support it from a Government policy perspective. Ask other clubs in the NRL, where they have 1000 kids playing.

“If we look at our Hunter program as a case in point. We entered in 2014 and lifted the Queensland Cup trophy in 2017.”

ATTENDANCE BOOST

Marape knows his side could and will slide past existing clubs through ratings and crowds.

“If I’m not wrong, we will be on par with the Brisbane Broncos, and the big teams. We will have a big crowd base and a big family of sponsors. This we could pull together in one or two years, if we are allowed to have a team in 2028,” he said.

“Sometimes I look at the teams playing in Sydney, without naming names, and you’re lucky to get (a crowd of) 5000, 6000, 7000. The Port Moresby stadium would be packed with supporters. We could sell out every game.

“When it is up and running, trust me on this one, whether we are winning or losing, Telstra and sponsors of the NRL will have more viewers from PNG if you want to compare team-on-team.

Fans in PNG are obsessed with footy. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

“Rugby league is a sport which is part of Australia’s cultural influence on us.

“I was at dinner and a meeting (last week) with the Japanese Prime Minister and leaders and was watching State of Origin, sneaking it in between dinner on my iPhone.”

“Before 1975, we were part of Australian sovereignty. Early on in our life and freedom, rugby league was pushed more than other sports. Rugby league is played in almost 90 per cent of our country. It’s the biggest spectator sport in PNG.”

Asked whether I could cover the first NRL game in PNG, Marape said: “Please, you’re most welcome. See you in 2028.”

Originally published as NRL expansion: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on how NRL inclusion can unite country