With the arrival of the Papua New Guinean NRL franchise in 2028, Queensland Rugby League has continued its work with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League to improve existing pathways within the country alongside educating staff on competition management.
Papua New Guinean rugby league has long been a part of the game in Queensland, with the Port Moresby Vipers becoming the first team from PNG to compete in an elite statewide competition in 1996.
After the Vipers’ exit from the competition, the PNG Hunters enjoyed their inaugural Hostplus Cup season in 2014 – winning their first premiership only three years later in 2017.
In June of this year, representatives from the QRL arrived at the home of the Hunters, Santos National Football Stadium, to discuss competition management and existing infrastructure challenges with delegates from the PNGRFL.
The meetings included field visits across Port Moresby as well as one-on-one discussions and presentations with the joint aim of improving accessibility and sustainability for rugby league across the nation.
"Visiting Papua New Guinea and seeing firsthand the passion for rugby league was incredibly inspiring; the potential for growth is immense,” said Scott Dunshea, QRL South East region manager.
“What stood out most was the opportunity to strengthen community engagement through better access to resources, education, and structured pathways,”
“The collaboration between QRL and PNGRFL is laying the foundation for long-term success, helping to create a sustainable future for rugby league that starts at the grassroots level and empowers communities across the country.”
Dunshea’s optimism was reflected by former PNG Kumul and current Pacific Program Coordinator at the NRL, Mark Mom, who believes that the future of the game in Papua New Guinea is bright despite the hurdles facing the PNGRFL.
“We’re facing a lot of what I would call healthy challenges. The NRL franchise requires a lot of infrastructure to be built, especially regarding junior sport, and pathways for elite players,” Mom said.
“We need our staff here in PNG to be trained further. Currently, we don’t have the numbers or expertise when it comes to our people – and that takes time to develop. So, the human resources and the structured pathways are required to support the game here long-term.”
However, Mom believes the partnership between QRL and PNGRFL will be crucial in addressing these challenges.
“The connection between the two bodies is massively important. Having the PNG Hunters competing in the Hostplus Cup allows for good synergy between QRL and the PNGRFL, and it provides a model to successfully operate and administer the sport,” explains Mom.
“It’s a very important relationship for PNGRFL to have and see grow. To see sport in Papua New Guinea be sustainable, the relationship with QRL is crucial in all levels from community to elite competitions.”
Queensland Rugby League is excited to continue working with the PNGRFL as both bodies strive towards a shared goal of fostering the growth of rugby league within Papua New Guinea.
