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PNG's back.

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Wb1234

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With all the png players at London and in super league will get good experience before they come to the nrl supplemented by guys like Johnson

Their squad is looking better then the one Perth are putting together
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

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NRL in PNG drives ‘voice against violence’ | The National

www.thenational.com.pg www.thenational.com.pg

World Cup run on home turf | The National

www.thenational.com.pg www.thenational.com.pg
news.pngfacts.com

PNG Kumuls Build World Cup Momentum with Rising Stars and Overseas Gains

PNG Latest News, PNG Breaking News, PNG Business News, PNG Sports News, PNG Mining News, PNG Economy News, PNG Corruption News, PNG Hunters News
news.pngfacts.com news.pngfacts.com
www.onepng.com

PNG Hunters See More Players Sign Abroad as 2026 Season Training Squad Finalised

PNG News ! Papua New Guinea News Online. Bringing latest Papua New Guinea news, PNG Kumuls news, PNG Hunters news, PNG Business News, PNG Sports News
www.onepng.com www.onepng.com
 
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Wb1234

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NRLQ will continue next year, Luck said: “Without speaking for the other three clubs involved, we’re very happy with it and very hopeful that it will continue.
“Hopefully it will be in an extended format so they get to play more games.”
As well as the Perth Bears, its expected fledgling franchise PNG Chiefs, who will join the NRL in 2028, will also have an under-20s side in the NRLQ as part of its pathways. Adding a Fijian side has also been discussed.
It’s understood running Jersey Flegg and NRLQ as two separate competitions is the favoured approach by clubs, as it is seen as far more cost effective than a national under-21s system.
The future viability of a national under-21s competition, however, will ultimately depend on the success of the NRLQ.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has also been a strident fan of bringing back an NRL reserve grade, but any notion of a three-grade system may not be realised until the code’s new TV rights deal for 2028 and beyond.“

PNG to run under 20s side in qld comp
 
SirPies&Beers

SirPies&Beers

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www.afr.com

DFAT asks Westpac to consider PNG sponsorship deal

The PNG Chiefs are expected to join the NRL competition from 2028. The Albanese government is taking early steps to ensure it has viable, trusted partners.
www.afr.com www.afr.com
theaussiecorporate.com

Westpac Considers Sponsorship of PNG NRL Team

In a move linking sport with foreign policy, Canberra is pushing major Australian firms such as Westpac to consider backing the PNG Chiefs. The team is central to a wider $600 million 10-year initiative aimed at deepening partnerships across the Pacific and offering a strategic counterbalance to...
theaussiecorporate.com theaussiecorporate.com

In a move linking sport with foreign policy, Canberra is pushing major Australian firms such as Westpac to consider backing the PNG Chiefs. The team is central to a wider $600 million 10-year initiative aimed at deepening partnerships across the Pacific and offering a strategic counterbalance to Beijing’s involvement in the region.

Set to join the NRL in 2028, the PNG Chiefs currently lack a CEO, stadium and playing roster. Despite this, they are already seen as a key element in Australia’s soft diplomacy efforts following a major funding agreement finalised in late 2024. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is now discreetly influencing potential corporate sponsorships aligned with the club, with Westpac among the targets.

Westpac has operated in the Pacific since 1901 and is familiar with the region. It had weighed exiting the market in 2021 through a $420 million transaction that ultimately fell through. The bank has also secured several major sports partnerships, becoming the official bank of the NRL as well as a lead sponsor of Cricket Australia. However, sponsoring a team with a clear diplomatic purpose involves added political considerations.

What sets this effort apart is Canberra’s direct role in guiding the sponsorship process. While final approval lies with the NRL, DFAT’s involvement signals strategic intent. A local PNG bank is also competing for the sponsorship deal and a decision may not be made until early next year.

Support for the PNG Chiefs aligns with a broader regional policy approach. The team’s launch follows the Pukpuk Treaty, a mutual defence agreement between Australia and PNG. It illustrates Canberra’s intent to strengthen alliances through sport and popular culture, especially at a time when China is expanding its regional influence.
 
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