Papua New Guinea Reportedly Set to Join NRL as 19th Team in $600M Government-Backed Expansion

In a significant development, Papua New Guinea is reportedly set to join the NRL as its 19th team in 2028, following a $600 million expansion deal that is being backed by the Australian federal government. While not yet officially confirmed, this would mark the largest expansion in the NRL’s 116-year history. The reported agreement is part of a broader ‘soft-diplomacy’ initiative aimed at strengthening relations in the Pacific. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the ARL Commission have reportedly endorsed a 10-year funding plan to establish a self-sustaining team by 2037, with financial support directed toward both the team’s operations and broader regional development.

Under the proposed deal, the federal government would allocate $60 million upfront as a licence fee for the new team, to be distributed among the 17 existing NRL clubs – offering $3.5 million per club to offset financial concerns regarding the expansion. The remaining $540 million investment would be split, with $290 million supporting the team’s operations over the next decade and $250 million directed toward education, infrastructure, and social welfare programs in Papua New Guinea, reflecting the government’s commitment to regional development beyond rugby league. Once the 10-year funding agreement concludes, the PNG team will need to financial support itself.

The Pacific NRL team is expected to be formally announced after the grand final, with a celebration planned during the Australian PM XIII’s match against PNG in Port Moresby, where the team will be based.

“This is a game changer for our relationship with Papua New Guinea,” Prime Minister Albanese stated, stressing the broader goal of using the funding to drive economic opportunities and youth engagement in PNG.

As part of the NRL’s broader expansion plans to become a 20-team competition by the 2032, Papua New Guinea’s entry is anticipated to follow the introduction of an 18th team in 2027, with speculation suggesting the Western Bears as a leading candidate. With rugby league deeply ingrained as the national sport in PNG and supported by a passionate fanbase, the addition of a PNG team is expected to bring significant regional engagement to the competition. Meanwhile, the Western Bears, with their rich heritage and market potential, would further bolster the NRL’s efforts to drive both regional and national growth.

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