'Always willing': Mal Meninga's simple reply to Papua New Guinea role

Mal Meninga will "never say no" to an opportunity to helping out the rugby league, but the vacant head coach role at Papua New Guinea will likely remain out of his sight.

Preparations to lock in the finer details of the PNG expansion team have begun, with rugby league fans eager to learn which stars and coach will be making the move up north.

Meninga is not an unfamiliar face for the PNG community, having spent plenty of years in PNG coaching Australia's Prime Minister's XIII team, but his role with the national team is one he is not ready to forgo.

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"I love what I'm doing now," the 64-year-old said.

"I am in an international space and I'm really committed to doing that.

"But you know, you never say no to anything.

"If I could help the game out in some way, I am always willing to do that."

The Kangaroos coach revealed his faith that the expansion team will be of great success for the competition, given the impact and growth of the game in PNG.

"I don't think it's an experiment," Meninga said.

"The (league) has made a really thoughtful decision around our game's future and the impact Papua New Guinea can have in the NRL.

"It's already pretty impactful. We understand how passionate they are and how much they love our game.

"They've been working behind the scenes the past couple of years around getting the development systems right and educating the players up there about the game.

"I think it's a very thoughtful decision, and leaving it until 2028 will give them plenty of time and space to develop the game."

The planned tax benefits associated with players and team staffers who join the expansion franchise are likely to play a strong part in sealing the decision of some.

Meninga had no doubt the PNG team could field a competitive unit of local talent.

"There are challenges over there to go and play, so that four-year period to get things right will help," said Meninga.

"There is relevant thought that they can build off their own (players).

"There are enough quality players up there that they can put time in to develop them.

"In four years time, I think the majority of that team will all be Papua New Guinean."