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Papua New Guinea NRL team

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This article is about the future professional NRL team. For the semi-professional Queensland Cup team, see Papua New Guinea Hunters. For the national men's rugby league team, see Papua New Guinea national rugby league team.
Club information
Founded2024
(To begin play in 2028)
Current details
Ground(s)
CEOAndrew Hill[1]
CompetitionNational Rugby League

An as yet unnamed professional rugby league football team based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea will compete in Australia's National Rugby League from the 2028 season.

The inclusion of a Papua New Guinea-based team in the NRL was announced on 12 December, 2024, as part of the Pacific Rugby League Partnership involving the Australian Rugby League Commission and Australian Government, in which AU$600 million in government funding will support the new team as well as grassroots development and other community initiatives in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific islands.[2][3] The team will be the 18th or 19th in the NRL, depending on the success of a bid to include a team from Perth, which ARLC chairman Peter V'landys has suggested could be announced before the end of 2024 and enter the NRL in 2027, before Papua New Guinea.[4]

Foundation

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Rugby league is the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea[5] and even regarded its national sport,[6] and efforts to launch an NRL team in the country date back no later than 2008, when prime minister Sir Michael Somare announced a Papua New Guinean bid.[7] In 2014, the Papua New Guinea Hunters entered the state level Queensland Cup competition, going on to win the premiership in 2017.[8]

In February 2021, PNG Prime Minister James Marape declared his hopes of an NRL side in the country by 2025.[9] Through 2023 and 2024, a Papua New Guinea bid was viewed as a frontrunner to enter the NRL, in light of an Australian Government plan to invest $600 million over a 10-year period in rugby league and socio-economic programs in the country.[10] Discussions have included a proposal from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys to offer tax-free status to rugby league players who played for a Papua New Guinea NRL team.[11]

On 12 December, 2024, a Papua New Guinea team in the NRL was formally announced, with the team planned to begin playing in the league in 2028.[3] The name and colours of the team are yet to be determined.

Pacific Rugby League Partnership

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Under the Pacific Rugby League Partnership,[3] the new Papua New Guinea team will be funded by a $600 million package from the Australian government over a ten-year period.[4] The team's future is tied to a security agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea, in which Australia can withdraw its funding for the team and would expect the NRL to revoke the side's license if Papua New Guinea enters a security agreement with China or another country rivalling Australia's influence in the Pacific. However, both countries' prime ministers, Anthony Albanese and James Marape, have said they would remain committed security partners.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "What you need to know about the ARLC Pacific Rugby League Partnership". National Rugby League. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ Walter, Brad (12 December 2024). "United in the stands: PNG NRL team to transform region". National Rugby League. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "ARLC and Federal Government confirm historic Pacific Rugby League Partnership". National Rugby League. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b Knott, Matthew; Proszenko, Adrian; Chammas, Michael (12 December 2024). "Australia signs $600m deal to create PNG NRL team; further expansion could be 'weeks away'". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  5. ^ Hadfield, Dave (8 October 1995). "Island gods high in a dream world". The Independent. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. ^ Gock, Kamin (18 December 2023). "Inside Papua New Guinea's bid to become the 18th team in the NRL". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  7. ^ Waide, Scott (13 December 2024). "PNG's NRL prophets preach hope and jobs for future talent, but not everyone is convinced". ABC Pacific. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  8. ^ Watts, Cameron; Yallop, Rania (12 December 2024). "Packing more than the usual muscle: PNG gets NRL's 18th team". SBS News. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  9. ^ "'Western Bears': North Sydney Bears back in hunt for NRL return after secret talks with WA group". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  10. ^ Harriman, Bethanie (4 November 2023). "An NRL team could be on the horizon for PNG — but some are worried the country isn't ready". ABC Australia.
  11. ^ "Peter V'landys pushes new tax-free plan for rugby franchise in Papua New Guinea". The Greek Herald. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  12. ^ Dziedzic, Stephen (12 December 2024). "Australia, PNG unveil deal for Papua New Guinea team to enter NRL in 2028". ABC News Australia. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
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