A team from Papua New Guinea has been accepted into the NRL, the sport’s premier competition has announced. The side will enter the competition in 2028 in a decision that comes after more than 10 years of negotiations.
Rugby league is the national sport of Papua New Guinea but the nation’s most high profile team currently plays in the Queensland Cup, a second string competition beneath first grade level. That will change in just over three years’ time when a side from PNG plays its first ever NRL game in what promises to be another historic moment for the sport.
The NRL already has 17 teams following the addition of the Dolphins a couple of years back and their expansion won’t stop with PNG, either. A side from Perth, the Western Bears are due to be welcomed into the competition in the coming weeks and there has been talk of more teams entering the fray down the line.
This morning’s announcement was made by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
It is claimed that PNG will look to sign players from the country, meaning Super League sides could well be on alert in a few years to come, the Daily Telegraph suggesting the side has eyes on the likes of Nathan Cleary, Cam Munster and Bradman Best, too.
Trent Robinson, Ivan Cleary and Des Hasler have been mentioned as potential coaches and Marape was bullish when discussing the side’s chances of early success in the NRL.
“Trust me, within 10 years’ time we will lift the trophy,” the Prime Minister said. “I want to indicate to everyone in Australia and back home, we’re not just filling the numbers to make us feel good, far from it, we want to win the competition.
“We will field a very strong team in our first game, 2028. There is no other nation on planet earth who will claim to have rugby league as its national sport. What the NRL is gifting us goes to the heart of uniting our country. For the NRL to embrace a team from PNG is monumental.”
