An announcement date for Papua New Guinea’s NRL team has been set as the nation’s prime minister whet the appetite of potential sponsors.
James Marape concluded a lengthy speech at a major Papua New Guinea economic conference in Sydney on Monday by addressing the one topic on all attendees’ lips.
“On Thursday, hopefully, some of you potential sponsors of our NRL team can join me as the NRL completes its process in making a potential announcement of the team,” he said.
The PNG bid, propped up by $600 million of Australian government assistance, has entered its final stages in recent weeks following two years of productive talks between the nations’ hierarchies and the Australian Rugby League Commission.
PNG’s passion for rugby league is obvious every time the national team players in Port Moresby. (HANDOUT/NRL PHOTOS)
“It will really kick start sports tourism in a way we’ve never seen,” International Trade and Investment minister Richard Maru told the PNG CORE conference.
“It will be our greatest marketing opportunity.
“We are extremely grateful for the support we are getting from the Australian government – extremely, extremely grateful.”
A top-tier club is expected to have a ripple effect across the rugby-league-mad nation, improving junior and local competition pathways.
It also comes at a time of rapid economic growth for the linguistically and culturally diverse nation of at least 11 million people.
Mr Marape underlined the deal was “not complete yet” but suggested the yet-to-be-named team will play its first match towards the end of the decade.
“I ask all of you to please join me to become good sponsors of our potential team post-2028,” he said.
The PNG team’s entry had initially been slated for 2028, but needs to fit with the NRL’s ongoing plans to expand into Western Australia.
James Marape and Anthony Albanese have been key figures in the creation of the NRL expansion side. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
The Western Bears had been on track to beat PNG to enter the NRL and join as the 18th team, until a consortium comprising local investors and the North Sydney Bears had its bid rejected.
The NRL has since engaged the WA government in talks over funding, with the Bears bid also keen to revise their pitch.
National team coach Jason Demetriou expects sold-out crowds, a stronger pathways system and a more competitive national team to follow on from the announcement.
“It’s going to open the door for PNG rugby league to continue its growth,” he told AAP last week.
“They’ll sell out that stadium. They’ll probably have to increase the capacity because they’ll sell that out every week.”