'Historic step for rugby league': Papua New Guinea franchise officially unveiled as NRL expansion plans ramp up
Updated . First published
The NRL will officially welcome a new team after the Papua New Guinea expansion franchise was confirmed to join the competition.
After months of speculation, the decision was formally announced by Australian Prime Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape on Thursday morning. The team will be introduced in 2028.
The team will be based out of Port Moresby.
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Papua New Guinea will enter the NRL in 2028. Supplied
"We are united, of course, by a love of rugby league," Albanese said.
"Rugby league is PNG's national sport and PNG deserves a national team. The new team will belong to the people of Papua New Guinea and it will call Port Moresby home.
"I know it will have millions of proud fans barracking for it from day one - not just in PNG, but I suspect many Australians as well will adopt them."
Early indications are the funding deal is worth an estimated $600 million according to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald in the wake of the announcement.
There will be an 'escape clause' for the Australian Government should PNG strike a security or policing pact with China or other rival countries over the next decade.
It comes as the league also remain in discussions for a Perth team to join in 2027, with plans to have 20 teams in the NRL by the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
"This is an historic step for rugby league, Australia, PNG and the entire Pacific," ARLC chairman Peter V'landys said in a statement.
"Rugby league is the number one sport in the Pacific. This new club will solidify rugby league's role as the unifying language of our region.
"Rugby league isn't just sport, it's a social force for good – a way to improve lives and build stronger communities. The new PNG team provides the NRL with a new 10 million-plus audience many who will go from being causal fans into engaged fans."
Peter V'landys and Andrew Abdo have led the way for expansion. Getty
The new team will be part of a world-first sports diplomacy deal between the Australian Government and the ARLC to bring to life a 10-year Pacific rugby league partnership.
At this stage, the official name of the team is unknown - but Marape is confident they will compete for competitions upon entry.
"We're not just filling the numbers - far from it, we want to win the competition," he said.
"Just like the Dolphins did in the first year of entry, we will field a very strong team for our first game in 2028. We have a solid team working behind the scenes.
"It will unite our country into one team."
