Papua New Guinea Prepares for Historic 2028 NRL Entry

Rugby league fans across Papua New Guinea are celebrating a historic milestone for Pacific sport following a landmark deal to enter a PNG-based team into the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) by 2028. The initiative, reported by ABC Pacific on 24 August 2026, marks the culmination of decades of national passion for the code, often described as the heartbeat of the nation. As part of the agreement, Australia will contribute AUD$600 million toward the deal. The investment aims to formalise a pathway for local talent that has been decades in the making. Michael Marum, the Governor of East New Britain and a former PNG Kumuls head coach, noted the deep cultural significance of the sport, stating that rugby league unites the country across towns, villages, and settlements. For many in PNG, the move represents the fulfilment of a long-held dream. Since the 1980s, when Australian matches first reached PNG television screens, local players have looked for ways to compete at the highest level. The success of the SP Hunters in the Queensland Rugby League competition since 2014 proved the country’s competitive viability, laying the groundwork for this successful NRL bid. Della Audama, the PNG Rugby League Female High Performance Coordinator, and other officials are now looking toward the infrastructure and training requirements needed to sustain a professional franchise. While some commentators, including Oliver Nobetau of the Lowy Institute, have raised questions regarding the allocation of funding amid wider infrastructure challenges, the sporting community views the 2028 entry as a vital step for national pride and Indigenous sporting excellence on the world stage.