NRL expansion: Australian government to provide $600 million in funding for PNG bid
The Dolphins joined the big league as the NRL’s 17th team in 2023, but more expansion is coming. Australian PM Anthony Albanese is ready to fund the biggest expansion project in NRL history.
The ARL Commission and the Australian Government are in talks on the richest expansion project in rugby league’s 115-year history – $600 million for a new NRL franchise to win over the Pacific.
In a landmark moment for the sport, ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has begun due diligence to introduce an 18th club to the NRL by 2027.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not comment on the specific financial commitment, saying it was too early to discuss figures, but declared his strong support for the project which would deliver infrastructure and an NRL team to represent Papua New Guinea.
A proposed PNG franchise will have the financial and political support of Mr Albanese – and now US president Joe Biden –
following the Australian Prime Minister’s trip to the White House.
It is understood the Federal government is prepared to bankroll a $600m expansion package — $60m injected annually for at least 10 years for sporting and economic development in PNG via the NRL’s overseas push into the Pacific.
“We are absolutely expanding the competition to 18 teams,” V’landys said.
Albanese is a key ally in the NRL’s growth strategy.
A passionate South Sydney supporter, Albanese believes Papua New Guinea can be an NRL powerhouse and confirmed he is in negotiations with V’landys for a historic 18th franchise with Pacific links.
“I am very supportive of an 18th NRL team in PNG,” Albanese told News Corp on Saturday following his return from the White House.
“This is a game changer for the relationship with Papua New Guinea.
“We’re definitely behind the NRL bid and, importantly, Prime Minister (James) Murape in PNG is very much behind an NRL team.
“This is a country that will celebrate its 50th year of independence in a couple of years (2025).
“Having PNG participate in the NRL, I can’t think of any better way to get that ongoing relationship and engagement between our two countries.”
Under V’landys’ plans for an 18-team Telstra Premiership, super coach Wayne Bennett has been identified as the potential face of the richest expansion project since the birth of the code in Australia in 1908.
Bennett is currently in charge of the Dolphins, but he will stand down as head coach when his contract expires at the end of next season — making him an open target for a new 18th NRL club.
With the NRL having locked in their historic double header to launch the 2024 premiership in Las Vegas next March, V’landys confirmed his next mission — fresh NRL expansion — is underway.
“Yes, we’re having expansion talks right now,” V’landys said.
“We’re analysing the data as we speak and we’re working on the strategy for an 18th team in the NRL.
“We’re looking at 2027, but possibly earlier in 2026, if we can put the pathways in and implement the necessary programs with the support of the government.
“Anthony Albanese is a great man and a great supporter of rugby league.
“I won’t speak about figures, but the Prime Minister is a big supporter of expansion, he is a driving force behind it.
“Now that we’re committed to playing games in Vegas, we’ve begun talks with the government on expansion.”
V’landys has spent recent days in Washington DC, where, as a guest of Albanese, he met US president Biden at a state dinner at the White House.
Albanese believes an 18th PNG franchise can have educational benefits for the region, bolstered by the use of ‘soft diplomacy’ via a government-financed sporting team to keep China at bay in the Pacific.
Albanese has a powerful ally in US president Biden and the Federal government’s support for a new NRL franchise has huge ramifications for rugby league’s wealth.
It is understood the estimated $600m investment is not solely for a new NRL team, but part of a wider social, economic and educational blueprint to strengthen a nation of 10 million where rugby league is the No.1 sport.
“I was in PNG in January and you see kids and adults all wearing State of Origin jumpers and jumpers of NRL clubs. The support there is fanatical,” Albanese said.
“Samoa made the World Cup final last year. If you develop a pathway for young people to come through, Papua New Guinea is a potential powerhouse in global rugby league.
“We haven’t landed on exact figures. It’s a bit premature. That’s a matter for discussions, which are taking place at the moment.
“We put $7 million into the recent Pacific Championships and we are prepared to have talks with the NRL on funding.
“The aim would be for any government funding to be aimed at economic development in schools. It’s not just for the NRL team and to pay Alex Johnston (Souths winger) to play for PNG.
“To have a PNG NRL team, we would need to get the pathway and infrastructure right.
“It’s an important part of economic development and getting young people engaged in PNG.
“This is not just about sport in itself, it’s building people-to-people relations and economic development for PNG.
“That’s the way the government sees it.”
Not only will the code enjoy rivers of government gold by creating an 18th club, but the extra game per round will give the NRL more bargaining power when V’landys thrashes out the code’s next TV rights deals for 2028 and beyond.
A nine-game NRL round could be worth in excess of $2 billion in broadcasting value over a five-year period — not bad for a code on the brink of bankruptcy during the Covid crisis three years ago.
