NRL PNG expansion bid: 12 burning issues, biggest questions answered
The landscape of the NRL is poised for a shake-up with PNG firming as the next expansion side. Michael Carayannis takes a deep dive into some of the biggest burning issues and questions that need answering.
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If Ricky Stuart struggles to attract marquee talent to Canberra, how can the NRL convince players to uproot and move overseas to Papua New Guinea?
What is the NRL thinking by wanting to base a club in a country with the second-highest crime rate in the world?
And how can a rugby league team really counter China’s growing interest in the Pacific?
However, in a country where rugby league not just the national sport, it’s a national obsession — the potential is limitless.
With PNG firming as the destination of the NRL’s 18th team, there are still lots of mystique surrounding the potential new franchise
Michael Carayannis takes a forensic look into the 12 big questions you want answered.
1. WHEN CAN PNG BE READY?
Tentatively, it looks like expansion will happen by 2028. However there have been discussions for PNG’s NRLW team to come into the competition by 2027.
Players for the men’s squad can’t be signed until after November 1, 2026, which means there is no major rush to hit the player market. The smart agents will ensure their players are off-contract at the end of 2027, knowing there is a potential bidding war and big payday coming.
The PNG team will draw up a shortlist and will focus on having as many players with PNG heritage as possible. The likes of Alex Johnston, Xavier Coates and Lachlan Lam will be in demand.
It might be a stretch for Justin Olam to still be playing NRL given he is already 30, but he is massively popular in PNG and would be a natural signing if he is still running around.
2. WHERE WILL IT BE BASED?
There had been two schools of thought budgeted for. The first is to have the team train and live in Cairns and then fly in and out for matches in Port Moresby. This would be for about five years, before a gradual full-time relocation to PNG.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has now ruled out that idea, but it would be better for the bottom line.
The other option is to have the players immediately based in PNG where resort-style living would have to be built for hundreds of players, staff and their families. Schooling and medical care will also be at the forefront of any full-time living situation.
Both have major ramifications in terms of the budget needed.
Living in Cairns means players would pay for their own accommodation whereas, in PNG, aside from building a multimillion-dollar compound, there will be a host of associated costs including security fees.
There is a push for tax exemptions as well as ‘danger money’ to entice players to play if they are based in PNG. The club will push for tax relief from the PNG government, giving them a distinct advantage in the player market.
Expect resistance from rival clubs.
3. RISK FACTORS
Recruiting players is always going to be an issue given the unstable landscape in PNG. A state of emergency was declared in January as around 20 people were killed as a result of riots, looting, arson and civil unrest.
The Australian government’s current travel warning is for people to exercise a “high degree of caution” as well as urging them to reconsider the need to travel to parts of the country, including Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands, all of the Southern Highlands, Hela and Enga Provinces.
PNG has the second-worst crime rate in the world behind Venezuela, ahead of places like Afghanistan, Haiti and South Africa.
4. CORPORATE SUPPORT
Money won’t be an issue, even aside from the support from the respective federal governments.
Queensland Cup side the PNG Hunters have been largely underwritten by corporate support since their inception. They have a minimal amount of support from Queensland Rugby League. There is massive sponsorship dollars in the resource industries and they are already clambering to support the bid.
The federal government has pledged more than $600 million to the bid, but that is not to service the team alone.
The uncertainty remains around what happens if there is a change of government in Australia – although cabinet will have to approve the funding. It could sit in a trust to future-proof it, regardless of the political landscape.
5. THE BROADCAST DEALS
Locally, there is an opportunity for Digicel – which is owned by Telstra – to broadcast matches. It already shows some NRL games.
There are two free to air networks in PNG – NBC and EMTV – who could also bid to show games in the region.
The extra game available to broadcasters in Australia, as a result of the 18th team, should also help fill the NRL’s coffers. It also opens another timeslot, with the return of Monday night games an option, or weekly Sunday night matches.
Port Moresby has the same timezone as Sydney.
6. THE FACILITIES
Regardless of where they are based, either location would need a state-of-the-art high-performance facility.
Those plans have already started after the PNG team toured the setups of NRL clubs last year.
The stadium in Port Moresby is already NRL quality, having been built in 2015. There are cosmetic changes which need to be made, including better television monitors, a new scoreboard, faster internet cabling.
However, the stadium is ready to go for an NRL match and has hosted plenty of Test matches already.
Although, with just a 15,000-seat capacity, it would be one of the NRL’s smallest venues, with only the Dolphins’ part-time home at Kayo Stadium (10,000), and the under-renovation Shark Park (13,000) holding fewer fans.
7. TEAM NAME AND COLOURS
There is little doubt that the national colours of PNG – black, red and yellow – will be a centrepiece of the jersey. There is some support to retain the Hunters moniker, but that remains undecided.
The club will partake in community engagement through schools in PNG to help design the jersey and logo.
8. THE COACH
Peter V’landys wants Wayne Bennett involved, but he’ll be 78 by then. However, depending on what the supercoach is doing at South Sydney, the position will be his if he wants it.
The NRL is well aware Bennett was central to the success of the Dolphins’ expansion. If he not available to be the head coach, expect there to be a role for Bennett in whatever capacity he chooses.
9. VISITING TEAMS
They will follow the blueprint that has been in place for the Australian PM’s XIII side, who have toured PNG for the past two decades.
The players usually arrive two or three days before the match and have a captain’s run at the stadium. They will be greeted by thousands of fans at the airport, as well as a stack of armed security guards.
Players and officials will stay in five-star hotels. It takes four hours to fly from Sydney, less for the Queensland-based clubs. Queensland Cup sides have travelled and played in PNG without any major hiccups.
10. DEVELOPMENT IN PNG
PNG already have some key staff, including ex-Canterbury boss Andrew Hill as chief executive, respected pathways coach Joey Grima leading their junior development and former head of referees Tony Archer, who is educating and overseeing officiating programs in PNG.
They have established an under-15, 17 and 19 academy for boys across six regional areas and replicated that for under-18 girls.
About 720 elite players have been identified and take part in training, which is the equivalent to what NRL clubs put their younger players through. It includes a 20-week program and has already cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Last year, the Federal Government gave $5.5 million to help with these programs.
In the next few years, they will implement a national under-17 and under-19 youth competitions. The open-aged national competition is comprised of full-time players. The teams compete in what has been described as the fifth best senior competition in the world – sitting behind the NRL, Super League, NSW and Queensland Cups. Matches are televised. That competition has captain’s challenges and video referees. Archer helps with all of that.
The biggest challenge is getting into schools and that will be an area of focus.
11. SOFT DIPLOMACY PITCH
There is only one reason why the respective governments are pushing this team – and that is as a way to fend off China’s growing influence in the region.
While China can fund more infrastructure, there is only one thing their seemingly endless money pit can’t produce – and that’s a rugby league team.
Rugby league is PNG’s national sport, and the benefits of having a team are both economic and diplomatic.
The Australian Government will leverage the team to ensure China does not encroach on the region as a bid to protect its sovereignty.
12. THE OTHER TEAMS
The NRL will produce a road map to 20 teams in the coming months. After PNG, one will be Perth and the other is likely to be a New Zealand/Pacific team. The Bears are expected to partner with one of those bid regions, while Newtown have also had in-depth discussions about linking with Perth.
The frustrated North Sydney faithful might not have wait too much longer for their resurrection.
While PNG may be a total disaster, it gives the NRL something the AFL have long-craved – a proper international game.
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Originally published as NRL PNG expansion bid: 12 burning issues, biggest questions answered
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