The Tongan fishermen bringing NRL players together
Avid social media followers may have noticed a trend emerge among rugby league players in recent
NRL
‘One of the greatest’: PNG trailblazer Olam retires
Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam has announced his immediate retirement after struggling with a long-term knee injury. The decision means the premiership-winning centre won’t be available to play for the Papua
Knee issue could force Tigers’ Olam into retirement
The NRL future of Papua New Guinea international Justin Olam is under a cloud as the Wests Tigers centre battles an ongoing knee injury. Olam has been absent from the Tigers’ two pre-season games and is
Mana Pasifika bid For NRL expansion unveiled
A new chapter in rugby league is set to unfold with the launch of new Auckland franchise Mana Pasifika, Auckland’s official expansion bid to join the National Rugby League (NRL). This bid aims to bring a Pasifika
Lucrative tax breaks will be ‘vital’ in PNG team’s bid to attract top NRL players
Tax concessions and safe accommodation loom as non-negotiables for players as an NRL team in Papua New Guinea plans its entry the competition 2028, but the opportunity to have a social impact has emerged as a potential
PNG to turn pipeline NRL dream into bona fide reality
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has confirmed he expects his nation’s entry to the NRL to get the green light on Thursday, as officials prepare to turn a pipeline dream into a bona fide rugby league club.
NRL’s PNG team expected to be confirmed next week
The NRL is expected to confirm as early as next week a team from Papua New Guinea will enter the competition later this decade. The PNG bid, propped up by $600 million (US$386 million) of Australian government
K100 million allocated for PNG NRL bid support programme
The Papua New Guinea Government has allocated K100 million (US$25 million) in the 2025 National Budget to rugby league. The budget was handed down last Friday in the National Parliament. Under Volume 3A document of the
Different agendas at play, NRL researcher says
Different agendas are at play with Australia’s support of Papua New Guinea’s push to have a team in the National Rugby
NRL fans blast Anthony Albanese after AU$600 million PNG plan gets the green light: ‘Waste of tax payer dollars’
Australian footy fans fear Anthony Albanese is making a ‘horrible decision’ amid reports the Australian Prime Minister has given the greenlight to AUD$600million (K1.6billion) in funding to launch a new NRL team in
Tahnee Norris appointed as PNG Orchids head coach
Women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea has received an enormous boost ahead of the upcoming Pacific Championships with the groundbreaking appointment of Tahnee Norris as Orchids coach. Norris, who last month
NRL wants me to stay out of PNG discussions: Olam
Justin Olam feels rugby league powerbrokers have not consulted him about the Papua New Guinea expansion bid for fear he will warn against fast-tracking the team’s entry into the NRL. The premiership-winning PNG
NRL insists competitiveness part of PNG criteria
Andrew Abdo has emphasised the NRL must believe a Papua New Guinea team can be genuinely competitive before it is given the green light to enter an expanded competition. The league will take the next step towards
PNG eyes Coates for NRL bid
State of Origin star Xavier Coates has been earmarked as the face of the franchise if Papua New Guinea’s bid for an NRL club is approved. Papua New Guinea is in a battle to become one of the newest teams, with Perth
NRL and Australian federal government dosing in on $600m deal to launch PNG rugby league team
The Australian federal government and the NRL are closing in on a deal worth up to $600 million (US$400 million) to secure a new NRL side based in Papua New Guinea. NRL chairman Peter V’landys met with Minister
Fiji Business Briefs: NRL trophy, Vatuvara Foundation, VIL director resigns, FMF results
The NRL trophy visits Fiji Fiji Airways Premium Lounge at Nadi International Airport hosted the prestigious NRL Provan-Summons Trophy last week, the first time it had travelled outside Australia. Fiji Airways CEO Andre
Samoa name powerful World Cup squad
Toa Samoa‘s World Cup credentials have been underlined by the inclusion of eight players from the Penrith and Parramatta grand final teams in a powerful squad announced on Tuesday. Samoa are the first Pacific
PNG to likely join NRL by 2025: Hill
Australia’s Foreign Ministry is working with PNG Sports executives to get the NRL bid up and running. Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong said this when appearing at NBC National Radio. She said
Opinion: Don’t blame Pacific Island cultures for queer fear, blame colonisation
Six of the seven players who refused to wear the Manly Sea Eagles rainbow jersey in their match on Thursday night are from a Pasifika heritage. I’ve been working alongside wellbeing and education with the NRL since
