10 million fans, pathways growth, world-class facilities: Why PNG’s bold NRL premiership claim can become reality

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has planted a bold premiership flag. Backed by 10 million people, the new PNG franchise has all the ingredients to become an NRL powerhouse.

Papua New Guinea PM James Marape has high expectations for the new franchise. Picture: NewsWire/John Appleyard

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has boldly predicted his new NRL franchise can win a premiership inside 10 years as the club starts to establish a hit list of rugby league’s finest players and coaches, which includes the Cleary father and son.

It comes as ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys claimed PNG’s inclusion would help double the game’s revenue within a decade as rugby league becomes one of the world’s most watched sports.

PNG will enter the NRL competition in 2028 with V’landys hoping to announce the Perth-based Western Bears as a further expansion side in the next two to three weeks.

Marape and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the momentous PNG declaration on Thursday morning at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Bligh Street, Sydney.

While PNG will mainly target home grown talent through its burgeoning pathways system, this masthead can reveal the new club would look at star players Nathan Cleary, Cam Munster and Bradman Best, who all come off contract in 2027, a year before PNG’s entry.

Nido Fowler, the mother of Nathan’s partner Mary, was born in PNG.

PNG players Xavier Coates and Cooper Bai will also be targeted while premiership winners Trent Robinson, Ivan Cleary and Des Hasler will be discussed as PNG’s inaugural coach.

Papua New Guinea PM James Marape has high expectations for the new franchise. Picture: NewsWire/John Appleyard

Marape was buoyant with his new side and predicted amazing early success.

“Trust me, within 10 years’ time we will lift the trophy. I want to indicate to everyone in Australia and back home, we’re not just filling the numbers to make us feel good, far from it, we want to win the competition,” Marape said.

“We will field a very strong team in our first game, 2028. There is no other nation on planet earth who will claim to have rugby league as its national sport. What the NRL is gifting us goes to the heart of uniting our country. For the NRL to embrace a team from PNG is monumental.”

PNG’s entry triggered wild and emotional scenes in a country truly obsessed with rugby league.

The new NRL club can now start working on a team nickname, colours, jumper design and the construction of a resort-style village, most likely near Port Moresby Harbour, where players and families will be housed.

“There’s 10 million people in PNG, some say 18 million,” V’landys said. “They are currently probably casual fans so it’s our aim to make them engaged fans. Where else can you get a 10 million (person) new audience overnight?

“In 10 years, you will have rugby league as one of the most watched sports in the world because of the population of Australia and PNG. More viewers means more sponsors, more broadcast revenue, more revenue.

“For the game, we could increase our revenue by double within ten years. This is one of the greatest days for rugby league in a very long time. All of a sudden we may have increased our support base ten-fold. That’s what is going to happen.

“There are now more than 10 million people (ready to enter) pathways. PNG will be a strong team in the first five or six years.”

Albanese said PNG would be a “powerhouse” before describing the nation’s NRL inclusion as an “extraordinary project.”

“There will be a tax-free status for Australian nationals who go and play for the franchise. I think PNG will be an incredibly attractive place to go. I assure you, no-one will be incognito in PNG. They will all be heroes. This (PNG) is the greatest rugby league pipeline potential on earth, bar none,” Albanese said.

“They will be a powerhouse in the NRL with home grown players, I have no doubt. Rugby league is PNG’s national sport and the new team will belong to the people of PNG. They will literally have millions of proud fans barracking for them.

“(PNG will play home games) at a ground, I dare say, with the most extraordinary atmosphere, compared with any ground in Australia. There will be no better experience than going to Port Moresby.”

The Australian Government has outlaid $600m over 10 years to bankroll PNG’s entry into the NRL. PNG’s Government has separately allocated around $150m over four years to support the NRL team.

“I have no doubt players always want to play in good teams in good environments – and have a great experience – so I’m very confident we will create a very attractive proposition for players and families to come and enjoy PNG,” said PNG bid CEO Andrew Hill.

“PNG is an untapped resource for rugby league. This will be the people’s team of PNG. Off field, we will be a strong, financially-viable, powerhouse.”

One name option for the new team is the Hunters, the same moniker as the PNG team which competes in the Queensland Cup.

“We will run a process of getting the whole country involved in picking a name,” said PNG bid chairman Wapu Sonk.

PNG will continue to develop the women’s game but an NRLW side won’t enter the competition in 2028 alongside the men.

NRL games would be played at the 15,000-seat National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. The ground is expected to be redeveloped before 2028 with a new high performance centre to be built near the ground.

PNG’s entry is the culmination of two years’ intense work where Hill undertook the complex task of marrying two Governments and securing $600m through treasury and red tape.

Player and fan safety will be paramount given PNG has the second highest crime rate in the world. The Government has promised security and protection for contracted and visiting sides.

Top-end-of-town sponsors and benefactors in PNG are queuing to align their brand with the new NRL side. More than 1.5 million viewers in PNG alone watched the PM’s XIII game in Port Moresby on October 13 on Digicel TV.