PNG's back.

[Trifili13]

It`s an interesting point, it might be hard to get a gauge on the number of PNG fans that are actually from PNG now that we have an increasing number working in Oz, having said that those Australia based New Guineans could be a potential source of Vegas attendees.

No.doubt you would expect the Australian based PNG people to support the Chiefs as a sign of pride that their country has a team and add colour and fanfare to the crowds here like all the Warriors and pacific island supporters. But to suggest that because an airline generated 300m in revenue is evidence that there are a lot of people in PNG that can afford to travel is a giant leap.

 

[Wb1234]

It`s an interesting point, it might be hard to get a gauge on the number of PNG fans that are actually from PNG now that we have an increasing number working in Oz, having said that those Australia based New Guineans could be a potential source of Vegas attendees.

Yeh I was thinking of Aussie expats but also whatever business class there is in png

There’s a lot of big corporates in png and they will be paying big wages for employees and not all will be foreign

It’s a nation whose population is bigger than nsw and qld where the only sport that matters is league

The other thing I was thinking of is png can reduce corruption and get higher levels of fdi they should be able to have high rates of gdp growth for decades and the nrl competition and the chiefs will be able to benefit directly with this long term growth

The team itself could be the catalyst for economic development and showing png to Australia nz etc

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Papua New Guinea defends $600m NRL deal as a ‘two-way street’ for Australia​

PNG’s Deputy Prime Minister has defended Australia’s $600m on NRL investment after taxpayer backlash, insisting the deal delivers security and tourism benefits back to Australia.
Andrew Webster

There’s no argument an NRL team has the power to unite Papua New Guinea throughout the country, with passionate fans here supporting a PNG PM XIII against its Australian equivalent in October 2025. Picture: NRL Imagery
Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso understands why Australian taxpayers aren’t happy about the Albanese government spending $600m on an NRL franchise in another country – but reminded them of the financial and security advantages of the deal.
Rosso is in Las Vegas for the NRL’s season-opening double-header at Allegiant Stadium. He also spoke at the Indo-Pacific Forum held the day before at Resorts World.
While the NRL’s push into the US has been front of mind this week, the PNG Chiefs’ inclusion in the premiership in two years has been discussed behind the scenes.
The Albanese government has come under fire for pumping DFAT money into the PNG franchise. As first reported by The Australian last year, $250m of the package is designed to target rugby union talent in Pacific nations such as Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
As well as having a transformative impact in PNG, Albanese has made it clear from the outset the exercise is also about thwarting Chinese influence in the country and region.

Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso wants to remind Australia of the tourism dollars coming into the country from PNG Picture: Chris Calcino
“I can understand why the Australian taxpayer would jump up and down‚ it’s their dollars,” Rosso said. “They have every right to complain. But in time they need to realise it’s a two-way street.
“Papuan tourists go to every game in Australia, every State of Origin, we charter planes to go down there. They stay in hotels, they spend money. It boosts tourism in Australia. The tourist dollars going back is important for your country.
“Then there’s the security diplomacy of it all. Having a stable PNG with a vibrant economy is important, and what better way than sport? The $600m is not just one-way traffic. It’s not just about the players. It’s an investment. It will improve Australia’s security. We sit at the border of Australia.”
When the ARL Commission held its annual general meeting last week, there was a subtle but significant change in the way it talked about itself: “The biggest game in Australia and the Pacific”.
The AFL would argue otherwise on the first count, and rugby union on the second, but the statement exposed rugby league’s hand. It wants to take over the Pacific, including rugby union strongholds such as Fiji, where half the country stops to watch the Drua play Super Rugby matches.
While the NRL wants to create strong pathways in PNG and the Pacific as a pipeline to the Chiefs’ men’s and women’s teams, there are fears the team will be loaded with fly-in, fly-out Australian players.

Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso wants to see players in the Chiefs with PNG origins, but he is realistic to accept in order to compete in the NRL there will be a number of imports needed Picture: NRL Photos
As part of the deal with the Australian government, ARLC chairman Peter V’landys convinced Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape to give players and officials tax-free contracts.
Consequently, NRL players and their managers have been reaching out to the franchise about playing for them from 2028.
Asked if he had concerns about how much of a connection the team will have with locals if it doesn’t feature players with PNG heritage, Rosso said he was a realist.
“We want to win, too,” he said. “We would hope for people with origins in PNG, or the Pacific for that matter, but also now we’re having a pathways inside villages and schools. In a few years, we want people from PNG playing in that team.”
Privately, PNG officials are conscious about setting up a team of overseas workers playing for the Chiefs just for the tax break. Gold Coast Titans star Cooper Bai, the son of PNG and Melbourne Storm legend Marcus Bai, comes off contract in 2028 and will be heavily targeted.
“We want another Marcus Bai in that team,” Rosso said. “We want to nurture it, like a tree. If we have professional players from Australia teaching them those skill sets, getting them ready to play. There’s another 20 Marcus Bais playing for us. We’re more passionate about rugby league than Australia.”

All cities have parts in which you would not walk down the street, says Deputy PM John Rosso – including Port Moresby, where looters and rioters killed 15 people and damaged buildings in January 2024, necessitating a 14-day state of emergency in the capital Picture: AFP
Rosso also dismissed security concerns about players and their families living in Port Moresby.
“Like every country, we have our problems,” he said.
“Parts of Sydney, you can’t walk down the street. Parts of this country (US) are the same. I’m not sure who assesses security threat levels, but Papua New Guineans are basically a loving nation.
“If you stay in a basic village in PNG, the people will literally give you the clothes off their back. We’re a loving nation.
“In a land of wide diversity, with 1000 tribes that speak 800 different languages, the Chiefs can unite our country. Sport can unite the country. And what better sport than rugby league coming under a united name called the Chiefs.
“It crosses tribal boundaries. It’s a chance for a kid in a village to make something for himself or herself. It crosses all cultural boundaries.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/papua-new-guinea-defends-600m-nrl-deal-as-a-twoway-street-for-australia/news-story/652754f8caf33fe88cbf001411245b9d

 

[SirPies&Beers]

PNGRFL fast-tracks local coaching standards as NRL ‘Chiefs’ era looms

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has officially moved to professionalise the nation’s grassroots talent pipeline, concluding a high-level NRL Coaching Education Workshop designed to synchronise local development with international standards.

www.postcourier.com.pg

 

[Trifili13]

Couple of points from the article in The Australia:
PVL was pushing for the tax breaks which gives the Chiefs say 30 to 40% more cap space then every other team.

The Deputy PM arguing every city/country in the world has streets people would not want to walk down. While correct, and if he feels PNG is safe, why are they building a compound for players and officials? Don't see any other NRL team having to do that.

 

[Wb1234]

“Papuan tourists go to every game in Australia, every State of Origin, we charter planes to go down there. They stay in hotels, they spend money. It boosts tourism in Australia. The tourist dollars going back is important for your country”

lol

 

[SirPies&Beers]

PNG Chiefs respond to Gairo Voro transfer rumors

Speculation regarding the future of rising star Gairo Voro has reached a fever pitch across Australia and Papua New Guinea. Recent rumors have linked the explosive talent with a high-profile move to the Perth Bears for their 2027 NRL campaign.

www.postcourier.com.pg

 

[Wb1234]

PNG Chiefs respond to Gairo Voro transfer rumors

Speculation regarding the future of rising star Gairo Voro has reached a fever pitch across Australia and Papua New Guinea. Recent rumors have linked the explosive talent with a high-profile move to the Perth Bears for their 2027 NRL campaign.

www.postcourier.com.pg

Red bear said it was bs Perth were chasing him anyway

If he’s good and ripping it up for the chiefs it’s going to be an idol for a generation of png boys and girls

 

[SirPies&Beers]

Red bear said it was bs Perth were chasing him anyway

If he’s good and ripping it up for the chiefs it’s going to be an idol for a generation of png boys and girls

no he didn't.

his exact quote was as below

Bears Confirmed & Rumoured Signings

forums.leagueunlimited.com

Two things here.

Please keep in mind that just because a player is mentioned in an article, it doesn’t necessarily mean the Bears are going to formally target that player and offer a contract. There’s a difference between looking at someone and offering someone a contract.

Secondly, talent is talent irrespective of where it’s from. There will continue to be PNG players playing for other clubs not named Chiefs just as there is NZ players playing for other clubs not named Warriors.

PNG’s main strength is their ability to be able to further resource the playing pool due to their love of the game and how many people (juniors) play the game. There is a reason the NRL have offered all clubs salary cap exemptions if they sign PNG juniors to their squads.

ARLC to fast track development of PNG players

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has announced a new policy aimed at developing rugby league talent in Papua New Guinea, in preparation for a Port Moresby-based NRL team expected to join the competition in 2028.

www.nrl.com

The NRLWA is a fair bit off where it needs to be to adequately resource the game (Bears) in any meaningful way. The revised junior pathways structures are still being developed and worked-on. The Bears were always going to look around for talent. I’ve been saying since day-1 that they would be taking a holistic approach to recruitment. I’ve been saying since day-1 that PNG would likely provide some players (or juniors) for the Bears. Judah Rimbu is on a train & trial with the Bears after all.

I’m not sure why you gents are suddenly up in arms. The information has been here in this very sub-forum for absolute months.

Whether the Bears potentially are or aren’t looking at a young talent like Gairo Voro - his place of origin is completely irrelevant.

this mean bears could be looking at him and if they is his place of origin is irrelevant to the talent that garners appeal.

 

[Wb1234]

no he didn't.

his exact quote was as below

Bears Confirmed & Rumoured Signings

forums.leagueunlimited.com

this mean bears could be looking at him and if they is his place of origin is irrelevant to the talent that garners appeal.

It was in an angry pm he sent me lmao

 

[mikail-eagle]

“Papuan tourists go to every game in Australia, every State of Origin, we charter planes to go down there. They stay in hotels, they spend money. It boosts tourism in Australia. The tourist dollars going back is important for your country”

lol

I don't know why some people in Australia think we don't fly anywhere.

PNG is country with difficult terrain so most travel between provinces is by domestic flights.
The capital Port Moresby is contacted by road to only one other Province which is the Gulf Province. Even Oro Province which is just across the mountains from Port Moresby cannot be driven to. You either fly there or walk across the rugged Kokoda Track.

So everyone traveling anywhere for work or holidays or whatever takes a domestic flight at some point.
And mind you, domestic flights are not cheap either.
It actually costs me less to travel to Cairns or Brisbane from Port Moresby then it is travel to my home Provinces of Bougainville or even Kokopo in East new Britain.
And while I have always persisted on going to my home Province, there are plenty who take the cheaper option of flying down south.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

PNG Chiefs confirm Gairo Voro to return home in 2028

The PNG Chiefs have signaled their intent to bring home-grown star Gairo Voro back to the club, with leadership confirming he remains a central figure in their long-term strategy.

www.postcourier.com.pg

 

[Wb1234]

I don't know why some people in Australia think we don't fly anywhere.

PNG is country with difficult terrain so most travel between provinces is by domestic flights.
The capital Port Moresby is contacted by road to only one other Province which is the Gulf Province. Even Oro Province which is just across the mountains from Port Moresby cannot be driven to. You either fly there or walk across the rugged Kokoda Track.

So everyone traveling anywhere for work or holidays or whatever takes a domestic flight at some point.
And mind you, domestic flights are not cheap either.
It actually costs me less to travel to Cairns or Brisbane from Port Moresby then it is travel to my home Provinces of Bougainville or even Kokopo in East new Britain.
And while I have always persisted on going to my home Province, there are plenty who take the cheaper option of flying down south.

I don’t know that much about png tbh but this forum people like to make up stuff as fact and everyone just runs with it

When I see videos of kids on a beach or a field in png passing a footy I know we’re on a winner

But there’s loads of experts in league who have been dead wrong about things. Most people in nsw thought origin would be a huge failure

And when the broncos came in people worried they wouldnt compete with the strong nsw sides

Lang park was a dump and crowds were around 15k and they missed the finals in their first year with basically an origin side

Now they turn over 100 million plus and average 43k

People will change their opinions once they see the chiefs competing on the field

Chammas helps given he’s an ex journo he will get loads of publicity

Going to be fun watching this side grow over the next 20 years into something amazing

That comment about it being cheaper to fly to oz is an eye opener

 

[SirPies&Beers]

 

[Gobsmacked]

I don't know why some people in Australia think we don't fly anywhere.

PNG is country with difficult terrain so most travel between provinces is by domestic flights.
The capital Port Moresby is contacted by road to only one other Province which is the Gulf Province. Even Oro Province which is just across the mountains from Port Moresby cannot be driven to. You either fly there or walk across the rugged Kokoda Track.

So everyone traveling anywhere for work or holidays or whatever takes a domestic flight at some point.
And mind you, domestic flights are not cheap either.
It actually costs me less to travel to Cairns or Brisbane from Port Moresby then it is travel to my home Provinces of Bougainville or even Kokopo in East new Britain.
And while I have always persisted on going to my home Province, there are plenty who take the cheaper option of flying down south.

Las Vegas, from PNG, 3 to 4 flights? Return, 6 to 8 ?
$4000 to $6000 ? Hotels , food..
What are we talking? 3 to 4 days in transit and on the cheap end of the trip.. $10,000 ?

How many Papauns could afford it? Or expected to make that trip?

And I'm sorry we're even talking about this, the whole point of the side is so Papauns can access NRL games, not move it as far from grasp as possible.

 

[SirPies&Beers]

im sure there's at least 1,000-5,000 if not a fair bit more that can afford it from a population of over 10,000,000....
thats 0.05% of the pop... what are we even talking about here.

 

[i0Nic]

Don’t think PNG Chiefs first game should be in Vegas but being included in their second year would be a real coup even if they got around 1,000 fans travelling over for it. It would make a great story. But we’d have to make sure we add teams with large supporter bases that year to make up the shortfall - Wigan, broncos etc

 

[Wb1234]

Doing a Google search and it appears residential rents in png for upmarket stuff are 750 to 1400 usd A WEEK

And properties can sell for one million usd

Comprising of wealthy expats and LOCALS

That’s why this forum is good for a giggle is the bs people post as fact

There’s a huge wealth divide in the country but as I suspected like everywhere else, like the midnight oil song, the rich get richer, the poor get the picture

 

[SirPies&Beers]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/inside-nrls-png-chiefs-player-base-in-airways-hotel-in-port-moresby-sport-confidential/news-story/5f2dc6facd442873e4a4ece76b74690f?amp

​

Inside NRL’s PNG Chiefs player base in Airways Hotel in Port Moresby | Sport Confidential​

The NRL has made a call on where PNG bound NRL players will live, with all Chiefs stars set to stay in a five-star resort, with access to their own private island. WATCH the video.
Michael Carayannis and Brent Read

The NRL has made a call on where Chiefs players will live in Papua New Guinea and the good news is that along with tax-free dollars, anyone who makes the decision to move to Port Moresby will have access to their own private island.
Sport Confidential can reveal that players who agree to join the PNG side for their inaugural season will stay at the Airways Hotel and Residences in Port Moresby, a five-star resort that boasts its own bank, convenience store and medical facilities.

The resort also has its own security staff and a shuttle service. This column was given a tour of the resort late last year, where Airways officials also provided details on their plans to expand the resort.
The players and their families will also have access to Loloata Island Resort, a luxury private island which can be used by members of the team and their families.
The NRL also received bids from the Hilton and Marriott groups in Port Moresby, but Vegas Confidential understands that Airways has held sway for a myriad of reasons including a commitment to build 80 villas to house the players and officials in preparation for their maiden season.
Airways is also close to the international airport and fenced off from the wider world. As well as shops and a medical centre, it has a tennis court, basketball court, gym and salon.

SHARKS SHUT DOWN PNG POACHING RAID
Cronulla are growing increasingly confident that coach Craig Fitzgibbon will sign an extension with the club that will guarantee he remains at the Sharks and stays out of the clutches of the PNG Chiefs.
The Sharks have already held informal talks with Fitzgibbon and his management, and believe he is open to staying beyond his current deal, which expires at the end of 2027.
Sharks chairman Steve Mace is on his way back from overseas but is expected to ramp up talks on his return as he looks to ensure Fitzgibbon continues to lead the club’s premiership charge.

Fitzgibbon has been an unmitigated success since stepping into a head coach role at the Sharks, having moved from his assistant role at the Sydney Roosters in 2022.
The Sharks have won more than 60 per cent of their games on his watch and been perennial finalists.
The next step is to win another premiership and Sharks officials believe that Fitzgibbon is the man to get them there.
A new deal will also dash any remote hopes PNG had of luring Fitzgibbon to the fledgling franchise, leaving Jason Demetriou, Brad Arthur and Willie Peters as frontline contenders for the Chiefs job.

PNG V PERTH: BATTLE FOR RISING STAR BEGINS
PNG Chiefs have made it known they want to secure homegrown talent Gairo Voro to be one of their first signings despite strong interest from Perth.
The Bears had been closing in on Voro but he has opted against taking up a contract with the new franchise in the hope of joining the Chiefs in 2028.
Voro, a five-eighth, is playing for London under Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou.
PNG Chiefs head of football Michael Chammas confirmed the club want Voro to be part of their inaugural squad.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Gairo’s future,” Chammas said.
“He’s an exceptional talent and the attention he has received from other clubs is a reflection of his hard work and those who have played a part in his development.
“We’ve let Gairo and his manager Wayde Rushton know that we see him having a big future at the PNG Chiefs. His manager has told us that Gairo also sees his future at the Chiefs, so we will work with the new coach when appointed to make sure that happens. It’s important for us to have our homegrown stars part of what we build and Gairo wants to be part of the journey.”
“Gairo is an example of what we want to see more of in PNG. A young kid who came through the system, developed his skills and is showing the world that he is a very capable footballer. We are excited by what he is doing at the London Broncos under Jason Demetriou. It’s great that the Perth Bears recognised that, but we felt it was important for us to let him know that he’s part of our plans and we’re thrilled he wants to come home in 2028.”
Voro’s London teammates Emarly Bitungane and Luke Smith have already agreed to join the Bears in 2027.

 

[Wb1234]

Should’ve picked the one on the water

Google maps says it’s only 12 minutes drive from Santos stadium so it’s not a long commute to work