NRL turns attention to Perth expansion after PNG success

With Papua New Guinea confirmed as the NRL’s next team, Peter V’landys will shift his attention to Western Australia, as the race for a 20-team competition continues.

Peter V'landys will turn his attention to Western Australia.

Fresh from announcing PNG as the game’s next team, the NRL will now shift its attention to finalising a deal with Western Australia as chairman Peter V’landys remains adamant the game still intends to become a 20-team competition.

After months of protracted talks and a few false dawns the NRL along with the Australian and PNG governments announced that PNG would come into the competition by 2028.

While the name, colours, board and logo are a long way from being finalised, the PNG side will be based on Port Moresby and become just the second side to take part in the NRL from outside Australia.

Players and staff will receive tax free entitlements to live in PNG which will also help with attracting star talent and balancing the club’s roster within the NRL’s salary. However there are no plans to bring forward the November 1 anti-tampering deadline meaning PNG will not be able to start signing players until November 1, 2026.

With PNG expansion confirmed, ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys will turn his attention towards Perth as the NRL eyes a 20-team competition. Picture: NewsWire

The NRL remains locked in talks with the Western Australian government who are yet to fully fledge their support to becoming the game’s 18th team in 2027 despite high level discussions between V’landys and WA premier Roger Cook.

V’landys said he would continue to work on the hope that the Western Bears would be part of an expanded competition.

“It is in the hands of the WA government,” V’landys said. “We have made them aware of what our requirements are. They have never shown any concern about the requirements. They have been very positive about what we’ve said.

“If that translates into a deal then it will be done very shortly. (The goal) is still 20 teams. There is still a bit of work to get to 20. This is the first one. Western Australia is next and we have many options for the 20th team.”

For now the NRL may be forced to settle on just 18 teams with PNG a certainty to join the competition.

V’landys says the NRL have told WA Premier Roger Cook what the requirements for expansion are. Picture: Michael Wilson

The federal government’s 10-year $60 million commitment was key to getting the deal across the line but V’landys anticipated the NRL would be the big winners.

V’landys anticipated the injection of PNG would help double the NRL’s revenue which is about $700 million.

“There are 10 million people and some people say up to 18 million people in PNG,” V’landys said.

“They are casual fans. What our aim is to make them engaged fans. Where else can you get 10 million new audience over night like we have today? This is the greatest moment in rugby league for a very long time. All of a sudden you may have increased your support base 10 fold. That will take time. In 10 years rugby league will be one of the most watched sports in the game because of PNG.”

V’landys says the NRL will try and tap into the large casual fan base in PNG. Picture: Getty Images

PNG chief executive Andrew Hill will now start the process of appointing staff and exploring team name options. The colours will mimic that of the national flag – red, white, black and yellow.

“There is an attractive opportunity for people to come and play in PNG and enjoy what PNG has to offer for established players,” Hill said. “From a football point of view (in 10 years) you will see a talented pathway of boys and girls that are from their hometown become national heroes.

“Success could look like we can’t accommodate every player we develop and the other NRL clubs will have more PNG players playing for them.

“Our club will be a strong and financially viable powerhouse of the competition. A lot of people make comments about PNG whose experience in PNG is desktop research.”