PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says the country’s new National Rugby League franchise will be used as a platform for national unity, Pacific ties and economic growth.
Preparations are intensifying for the PNG Chiefs to enter Australia’s NRL in 2028.
Speaking after meeting PNG Chiefs board members and executives in Port Moresby, Marape said the franchise was being developed as more than a football team, with recruitment, player signings, accommodation, facilities, and supporter-ownership models already underway.
He said rugby league remained Papua New Guinea’s strongest unifying force and argued the new club should reflect that role while carrying a distinctly Papua New Guinean identity.
“This is not just about rugby league; it is about nation-building,” Marape said, according to the government’s message on the project.
He added that the franchise should help “strengthen the bonds between Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and the wider Pacific.”
The Prime Minister also linked the club to broader economic aims, saying NRL exposure would help promote tourism, attract investment and support sectors including hospitality, aviation, transport, small business and infrastructure.
Marape said Papua New Guinea’s culture and natural attractions would be showcased to millions of viewers through the team’s participation in the competition.
Plans are also advancing for a dedicated PNG Chiefs village in Port Moresby, including accommodation, family facilities, a school and support services for players and staff.
Marape said the project would demonstrate Papua New Guinea’s capacity to host elite sporting professionals in a safe and modern environment.
The government is working with the National Capital District Commission to prepare the capital for the expected influx of visitors when the club joins the league, with planning focused on hotel capacity, transport, tourism experiences and hospitality infrastructure.
Marape also backed proposals for Papua New Guineans to become members, subscribers and shareholders in the franchise, saying public ownership would help shape the PNG Chiefs into a genuinely national club.
The PNG Chiefs are due to become the first Papua New Guinean team to compete in Australia’s National Rugby League in 2028, a move the government says will mark a major milestone in the country’s sporting history.
