Papua New Guinea is launching an audacious bid to become the NRL’s 18th team.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the island nation’s prime minister is backing the push to put an NRL club in PNG.
The Dolphins will become the NRL’s 17th team and enter the competition next year. They are based in Redcliffe in southern Queensland.
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The NRL and Australian Rugby League Commission plan to expand the draw to 18 teams within a decade.
A PNG team would be the second club based outside Australia, with the Warriors operating out of Auckland.
According to the Herald report, PNG powerbrokers believe they could have a club up and running for the 2025 season.
“The investment and work we’ve done over the last 12 years with our infrastructure, governance and financial capacity and competitiveness of the sport in the country has put us in a good position,” PNG Rugby League chairman Sandis Tsaka said.
“Our men’s and women’s international teams are becoming competitive. Investment we’ve done across the game in terms of infrastructure has us in good stead to put in a good bid.
“We know there are other teams within Australia and New Zealand that have put their hand up. It will be a competitive process.”
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