ARLC chair Peter V’landys says the preferred option for a PNG team would be to base it outside of Australia

The Cowboys can breathe a sigh of relief as rugby league’s chief powerbroker Peter V’landys allayed fears the next NRL expansion team would be on the club’s doorstep. Go inside the game’s plans here.

Papua New Guinea playmaker Lachlan Lam. Picture: NRL Images.

The Cowboys can breathe a sigh of relief as rugby league’s chief powerbroker Peter V’landys allayed fears the next NRL expansion team would be on the club’s doorstep.

The ARL Commission chairman made it clear that the NRL would push for its second international team in Papua New Guinea but revealed his strong preference that the club would be based on the other side of the Torres Strait.

With no firm time frame on expansion, V’landys said it would take two to three years to set up the necessary infrastructure to base a team in the rugby league-mad nation.

The ARL Commission chairman spoke at the North Queensland Cowboys season launch on Friday, using the platform to reveal the NRL’s desire to grow the game internationally.

Papua New Guinea rugby league fans pictured with Jack de Belin Picture NRL photos

V’landys allayed any fears that the team would be based in Far North Queensland, and potentially leach off the resources and rich talent pool of the Cowboys.

“There was no secret that the Australian government is concerned about Papua New Guinea and the importance in Australia’s security and the soft diplomacy about getting a team into Papua New Guinea,” V’landys said.

“To my surprise when I started looking at all this, there’s 18 million people in Papua New Guinea and they love rugby league. There’s discussion as to where the team would be based and we’re starting to lean to base it in Papua New Guinea – build some infrastructure there, build housing, build everything.

“We’re exploring all options, and naturally there’s an opportunity to base them in Australia. “But the more I think about it the more I think they may be better based in Papua New Guinea.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys at the North Qld Cowboys season launch. Picture: Supplied by North Qld Cowboys

“Justin Olam came out and said the other day you’re only going to be successful if you’re based in Papua New Guinea. That way they’re going to have that support from the local communities and I think you might get more success by having them there.”

The messaging out of rugby league headquarters would be music to the ears of Cowboys supporters, with the club fearful a potential PNG side based in neighbouring Cairns would be at the detriment of the ‘locally-owned’ Cowboys.

V’landys cautioned against rushing expansion but said PNG could be the logical 18th team with the financial backing of the Australian Government

“You just can’t go into Papua New Guinea and expect to be successful,” he said. “It’s got a long way to go but that is our preferred option at the moment and the Australian government is prepared to invest substantial money into that.”

Originally published as ARLC chair Peter V’landys says the preferred option for a PNG team would be to base it outside of Australia