Papua New Guinea team officially granted NRL licence

The NRL officially granted a licence for a Papua New Guinea team on Thursday, with the new club set to join Australia’s premier rugby league competition in 2028.

Both the Australian and PNG governments have made significant financial commitments to ensure the success of this project, which has been many years in the making.

Just last week, the PNG parliament passed a law creating tax exemptions for people involved with the new club based in Port Moresby.

Prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape were present for the announcement, and the PNG leader insisted the team would be competitive from the start.

“We want to win the competition,” Marape said.

“Just like the Dolphins did in their first year of entry we will field a very strong team in our first game in 2028.

“We have a solid team behind us here working… It just goes bigger than just rugby league and sport.

“It is national development, national unity, PNG and Australia unity and our security conversations is all dovetailed into one team, one nation and one country.”

Despite ongoing civil unrest in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Albanese believes the new franchise will have no issue attracting top-drawer talent.

“I think it will be an incredibly attractive place to go… I know sometimes NRL players like playing in Melbourne,” he said.

“They don’t get asked for as many selfies at a restaurant in Carlton compared to a restaurant in Redfern.

“I assure you, no one will be incognito in PNG. They will all be heroes and they will know they are playing a role in lifting up Papua New Guinea.

“PNG, in a few short years, will be a powerhouse in the NRL with the amount of home-grown players to come through the system.”

Even so, NRL betting sites are sure to have the PNG team at long odds to win the premiership in 2028.

Sports news