Are doubts surrounding the PNG Chiefs actually justified?
Peter Maniaty
It’s official, the NRL’s 19th team has a name and the
‘PNG Chiefs’ will enter the competition from 2028.
While past NRL expansion clubs have been generally greeted with hope and optimism, it doesn’t take much digging to reveal a mountain of derision and doubt shadowing every move of the Port Moresby-based franchise.
Social media is alive today with cynics saying the Chiefs will fail and are destined to disappear quickly into the history books of regret.
But is that really the case?
MORE: ARLC boss backs Wayne Bennett for PNG expansion role
‘Stupid name,’ some are bemoaning following Sunday’s official announcement of the ‘Chiefs’ moniker.
‘Stupid logo,’ reply others, despite the fact the team’s logo and colours haven’t even been released yet.
‘Stupid idea,’ seems to be the general view of the naysayers.
No-one is saying it will be easy to establish a self-sufficient NRL team in Papua New Guinea—if it was, it would have happened years ago—but ‘easy’ is rarely a pre-requisite for any constructive change to the status quo, be it in sport or any other endeavour.
Rather than embrace the long-term value of growing rugby league’s global footprint—coupled with the not-insignificant benefits of supporting our closest international neighbour via their national sport—it’s easy to obsess over the $600-million-across-10-years price tag being merrily bandied about due to the Chiefs essentially being underwritten by the Australian government for the first decade of its existence.
Yes, it’s a big number, but to label it as nothing more than ‘charity’ feels a little simplistic and short sighted.
Surely committing to the ongoing success of the PNG Chiefs is a hugely worthwhile investment for the NRL and also for Australia?
Of course there are strings and risks attached to the expansion, just as there are with the NRL entry of the Perth Bears in 2027.
Consequences that run far deeper than the NRL Integrity Unit
Concerns around the potential for corruption are genuine, but they also conveniently overlook the fact that the history of the NRL, and rugby league in general, is hardly one of spotless integrity either.
Every market brings its own unique challenges and PNG will be no different.
Not only will rules will be put in place for the Chiefs administration just as they are for every NRL club—the Chiefs will almost certainly come under far greater scrutiny given the quite direct involvement of the Australian government. Slip up and there will be consequences that run far deeper than just the NRL Integrity Unit.
Another thing worth remembering is this is not entirely new territory. The PNG Hunters have played in the Q Cup since 2014 and proven highly competitive with just a fraction of the financial and administrative backing the Chiefs will enjoy, finishing mid-table in 2025 and
winning the competition back in 2017.
There are no guarantees, but nor is this a complete shot in the dark by the NRL—right now, there are reasons to see the glass as half full, not half empty.
Will we look back in ten years and say the PNG expansion was a success?
No-one knows for sure—but surely the least we can do is give the Chiefs a chance?
www.nrl.com
www.theguardian.com
www.abc.net.au
www.foxsports.com.au
www.stuff.co.nz
www.thenational.com.pg
newscop.com.au
wwos.nine.com.au
www.zerotackle.com
