Papua New Guinea joins NRL in 2028

Papua New Guinea to join the NRL in 2028

NRL.com | December 12 2024

Media release issued by PNG NRL Bid

The incredible story of the journey of rugby league in Papua New Guinea has received its ultimate end-result with the announcement that the country will join the National Rugby League in 2028.

The decision is an amazing boost not only for the people of PNG, but also the Pacific Nations as a whole.

Months of speculation were today confirmed with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape standing together in Sydney to announce the news that will thrill a na􀆟on of people where rugby league is the national sport and unites the country.

A tremendous amount of work has taken place behind the scenes to make this decision possible.

With an incredible talent pool of male and female players throughout the country a
structure needed to be put in place to support the development of these players.
NRL Bid CEO Andrew Hill and Chairman Wapu Sonk, were tasked with the job of putting the pieces in place that would create a structure that would be the envy of any club in the NRL.

This started with the appointment of the highly credentialled Joe Grima to head up the pathways program.

An Academy program was created to nurture the best 15, 17 and 19 year-old players and to expand the geographical reach to create training centres throughout the country.

An annual tournament was then created to allow the best players in the country to showcase their skills on a national platform that was televised for the first time.

The success of the new structure was then highlighted when the Junior Kumuls were able to draw 22-all with the Australian Schoolboys side in Port Moresby in October, showcasing the major steps forward that had taken place in the skills levels and fitness of the players.

With the structures and programs now in place, and can move to creating a franchise that can thrive in the NRL.

NRL Bid CEO Andrew Hill was delighted that an enormous amount of hard work by many people had led to this point.

“Rugby League in PNG is extremely thankful to both the Papua New Guinea and Australian Governments. There is no doubt that their support was a game changer," he said.

"We are also indebted to Peter V’Landys, Andrew Abdo and the ARLC for their vision and commitment to PNG and the Pacific.

“PNG is in the incredible position of being the only country in the world where rugby league is the national game. It brings together people from all backgrounds and locations under one banner.

"When you have a population that can unite behind one cause, it is incredibly
powerful, and we have the potential to create the largest fan base of any other current NRL team.”

NRL Bid Chairman Wapu Sonk was equally as effusive about what the news would mean to the people of PNG.

“We can’t wait for the world to see the beauty of this great country and everything that it has to offer. It is a chance for our country to showcase itself to the world through a sport that unites the nation.

“This is now the starting point for a lot of hard work. There is much to do to make sure that we are ready to go in 2028, but I am confident that when we run out for our first match, we will be ready and the whole country will be behind us.”

SOURCE

In a world becoming more & more crazier every day, there are still things that just make me shake my head.
How does the NRL expect PNG to assemble a team that will be competitive. The players that will be signing there will not be players that will make them competitive - Albo’s tax concessions or not.
No player worth having as a star player will play there if they have a family. Imagine a life there, living in a compound for 9-10 months a year. The situation in Port Moresby is not a safe one & the lifestyle there is not attractive for a family.

I know a couple who have just returned from a 2 year appointment in Port Moresby. One of them works for Australian military intelligence. The lived in a guarded compound for the 2 years. The workplace was a military facility to which the person travelled to on a daily basis - the travel was as part of a military convoy, as separate travel was not possible. These are not footy players or their families but trained military personnel. No trips to the shops or to see the local sights!

Imagine if in 2028, after a lifetime of service to the Panthers, someone like Moses Leota is offered a kings ransom to play a year or two for PNG. His young family get to life a captive lifestyle in PNG - no trip to the Plaza for them.

It is just a crazy concept that is doomed to fail, and the Federal Govt’s $600M bribe will be a total failure.

Unbelievable!!!

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Agree 100% mrwalker. Then add in the logistics and the whole thing is a nightmare.

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