PNG Prime Minister James Marape says Papua New Guinea’s entry into the Australian National Rugby League in 2028 through the PNG Chiefs will extend beyond sport, creating opportunities for national unity, tourism and regional cooperation.
The Prime Minister made the remarks on Tuesday following a meeting with PNG Chiefs board members and executives at Melanesian Haus, where discussions focused on preparations for the club’s inaugural season, including player recruitment, accommodation, facilities, fan ownership and city readiness.
Officials reported that preparations are progressing steadily, with additional player signings expected as the club works to assemble a competitive squad ahead of its historic NRL debut.
Prime Minister Marape in a statement on Tuesday said that the PNG Chiefs should become more than a national team and serve as a platform to connect Papua New Guinea with the wider Pacific rugby league community, including supporters and players from Australia, New Zealand, Far North Queensland and Pacific Island nations.
“The future is constructed by the present,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“What we are doing today is about entering the NRL in 2028. We are creating opportunities for our young people, our country and our Pacific region.
“Rugby league is already one of the strongest unifying forces in Papua New Guinea.
Through the PNG Chiefs, it can become an even stronger bridge between Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and our Pacific neighbors.”
The Prime Minister said sport offers a practical way to strengthen relationships across the region and encourage unity, particularly among younger generations.
He said the club’s recruitment and player pathway strategy should reflect the inclusive Pacific character of the franchise while maintaining a strong Papua New Guinean identity.
Marape also said the NRL entry presents a major opportunity to showcase Papua New Guinea’s cultural diversity, tourism potential and investment prospects to international audiences.
“Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” he said.
He said the Government intends to link the NRL strategy to broader economic sectors including tourism, hospitality, aviation, transport, infrastructure and small business growth.
Discussions also covered plans for a dedicated PNG Chiefs village in Port Moresby to provide accommodation and support services for players, officials and their families.
The proposed development is expected to include family-oriented facilities such as schooling and community services to support a professional sporting environment.
“We are not simply building accommodation for athletes,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“We are creating a community where players and families can live and thrive while showing the world Papua New Guinea is ready to host elite sport.”
The meeting also examined preparations by the National Capital District Commission to accommodate expected increases in visitor numbers once the PNG Chiefs enter the competition.
Marape said the city should prepare for greater demand in hotels, restaurants, transport services, tourism activities and related business opportunities.
“As the PNG Chiefs take the field in 2028, Port Moresby must also rise to the occasion,” he said.
He said the anticipated growth in sporting tourism could encourage responsible private-sector investment and generate wider economic activity.
The Prime Minister also welcomed discussions on membership, subscriptions and future ownership opportunities aimed at allowing Papua New Guineans to directly support the club.
“The PNG Chiefs must be the people’s club,” he said.
“Every Papua New Guinean should feel represented by this team regardless of where they live.”
Prime Minister Marape commended the PNG Chiefs board, executives, technical staff and partners for progress made so far and said the Government would continue working with stakeholders to maximize the opportunities created by the country’s NRL entry.
The PNG Chiefs are expected to become Papua New Guinea’s first team in the Australian National Rugby League in 2028.
“This is the beginning of something much bigger than a football team,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“It is a statement that Papua New Guinea is ready and that our Pacific future can be built on unity, friendship and shared opportunity.”