Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has welcomed the support of Australian National Rugby League (NRL)’s reigning premiers the Penrith Panthers for Papua New Guinea’s NRL Deal which is set to have a PNG-based NRL Team participate in the professional elite competition from 2028.
Following the historic NRL deal announcement by Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese last December (2024) in Sydney, Australia, for a PNG Team to enter the NRL from 2028, opportunities for greater people-to-people connections, sports tourism, business and commerce activities have been identified and are expected to boost the existing unique bond between PNG and Australia, mainly based on political and social history.
With the Penrith Panthers Club Chief Executive Officer Matthew Cameron visiting PNG this week and declaring support for PNG’s NRL Deal as the nation prepares for 2028, when an NRL team will be based out of Port Moresby, Prime Minister Marape acknowledges the support from the Panthers, which is a Club that has won four (4) NRL premierships in a row from 2021 to 2024.
In a significant event held at the Stanley Hotel yesterday evening (Thursday, 6 February, 2025) to have the formalities of the Penrith Panthers’ support for the PNG NRL Deal and Prime Minister Marape’s acknowledgement of the support, Marape stated: “Your (Penrith Panthers CEO and Club) presence here and your expression of support towards PNG’s NRL Deal that was declared last December in Sydney means a lot to me and Papua New Guinea, especially as the number one club in the NRL at the moment coming in to show support in this manner. I really appreciate what is happening here.
“Rugby League has turned out to be a great spectator sport, not just in Australia, PNG and the Pacific region, but it is gaining popularity and interest in other parts of the world. Twenty to thirty years time I see this code of sport going deeply into the entertainment arena for bigger countries like the United States and even into Asian countries.”
PM Marape said for Papua New Guinea joining the NRL competition in the next few years in this generation and era is special and is exciting as the sport of rugby league expands its borders beyond Australia and the Pacific, as well as the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe.
“For Papua New Guinea, joining the NRL is not just about sport. It is also nation building, and people-to-people connections with Australia and other countries. At this juncture I want to acknowledge Australian High Commissioner John Feakes and my counterpart Australian Prime Minister Hon. Anthony Albanese for supporting us every step of the way until the successful completion of our NRL Bid Process, as we prepare for 2028.
“Our two nations (PNG and Australia) have special historic relations founded on Australia granting us Independence in 1975. And back then in 1975, the Penrith Panthers were only a 19-year-old Football Club. Next year (2026) will be the Panthers’ 70th year as an NRL Club, sporting franchise and of course the business it is today. As I recall the year 1991 when I was a student at the University of Papua New Guinea, I was a Penrith Panthers fan and I witnessed the Brad Fittler-led side that won the Club’s inaugural premiership. The Club then went on to also win the 2003 NRL premiership and then have been Premiers over the last four consecutive years. And it’s great to have such a successful Club support PNG’s NRL Deal while I am Prime Minister. I appreciate the Club very much,” Marape said.
Continuing their unique relationship with PNG this year, the Penrith Panthers Football Club was also the first NRL Club to play an official trial match in PNG at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby against the PNG Hunters in 2016.
Prime Minister Marape reminded the Penrith Panthers: “You definitely have a good fan base here in Papua New Guinea and with us joining the NRL from 2028, you can expect your fans from PNG and other places watching and supporting you live. All the best for the future and appreciate your support.”