Albo signals push for Papua New Guinea NRL side moving closer
The Prime Minister spoke on the proposal on Friday, detailing where the plans were up to.
NSW
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An 18th NRL team could be established in Papua New Guinea within four years, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese giving his strongest indication yet a $600 million plan to have a side based out of the Pacific Nation has taken another step forward.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by his New Zealand counterpart Chris Luxon on Friday, said the government was “working through those issues” of establishing a team linked to the country, adding the move was about more than sport – namely, the economic development of Australia’s northern neighbour.
Government sources wouldn’t confirm if the National Security Committee had approved the $600m move this week but Mr Albanese said the proposal was moving forward.
“We are working through those issues. I can confirm we are in discussions with the Australian Rugby League, the New Zealand government and the Australian government,” Mr Albanese said.
“We see this not just being about sport, but being about economic development and about cementing the relationship that our two great countries have.”
The Prime Minister earlier this year hiked a part of the Kokoda Track with his PNG counterpart James Marape, part of a historic two-day trek with his fellow leader.
“My position has been clear for a long period of time that the people of Papua New Guinea are very passionate about rugby league. It is their national sport effectively,” he said.
“When I travelled with my friend Prime Minister Marape, along the Kokoda Track, (there) was something remarkable about being in one of the most dense jungle areas of the world, and you come into an opening and there’s little kids wearing Cowboys jumpers, Origin jumpers.”
Amid gentle ribbing from Mr Luxon – who queried whether there had been any South Sydney Rabbitohs jerseys on the trek – Mr Albanese, a staunch Souths supporter, added “there’s always a random Souths guy”.
The move is a major tactical one to ward off Chinese influence in the region, with the country’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting Papua New Guinea days before Mr Albanese’s visit in April.
Australian Rugby League chairman Peter V’landys reportedly held discussions with Mr Albanese in May about the venture into Papua New Guinea.
Mr Albanese’s comments came during a visit by Mr Luxon, with the two Prime Ministers talking up increased defence links between their respective countries.
That included affirming support between the two countries could be triggered if either faced a “sufficiently severe cyber attack”.
Mr Luxon said his new government was working towards forging closer links with Australia in the defence space.
“We want to be fully interoperable with Australia’s defence forces. We want to be a force multiplier for Australia,” he said, pointing to measures like joint-procurement of defence systems.
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