About the PNG Chiefs

On 12 December 2024, the Australian and Papua New Guinea Governments, together with the Australian Rugby League Commission, unveiled a historic agreement to grant Papua New Guinea a licence for an NRL team beginning in 2028.

The PNG Chiefs will be based in Port Moresby, with home games played at the National Football Stadium.

Rugby league isn’t just a sport in Papua New Guinea. It’s part of the national identity.

From its arrival in the 1930s to the creation of the PNG Chiefs, explore the defining moments that shaped Papua New Guinea’s journey towards the NRL.

  1. 1930

    PNG’s century-long love affair with rugby league begins

    Rugby league arrived in Papua New Guinea during the 1930’s gold rush, brought in by Australian prospectors working in the region. The sport gained renewed momentum when Australian military personnel reintroduced it during and following World War II.

  2. 1949

    PNG Rugby Football League is founded

    The establishment of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNG RFL) marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s sporting history. The newly formed league provided structure and organisation to the game that had already begun capturing hearts across the country. Rugby league quickly evolved into more than entertainment – it became a major spectator sport that drew huge crowds and united communities across PNG.

  3. 1974

    PNG rugby league gains global status

    The PNG RFL achieved global recognition in 1974 when it became an official member of the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF). This milestone opened the door for the national team to compete on the world stage. The following year, the Papua New Guinea national team played its inaugural Test match – hosting Great Britain in a historic encounter that ended 40-12 in favour of the visitors. Despite the result, the match represented a defining moment for PNG rugby league and signalled the nation’s arrival in an international competition.

  4. 2013

    PNG Hunters enter professional rugby league

    Papua New Guinea took a major step forward in professional rugby league with the formation of the PNG Hunters in 2013. The club was established to compete in the Intrust Super Cup – the men’s reserve-grade competition in Queensland – marking the first time PNG had representation in a professional rugby league competition. The Hunters’ entry into the league provided PNG with a crucial pathway to higher levels of the sport brought professional rugby league to passionate home crowds eager to support their national representatives.

  5. 2021

    Prime Minister James Marape announces NRL ambitions

    Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape publicly expresses his ambition to see a PNG team competing in the NRL – giving voice to efforts to establish an NRL franchise in Papua New Guinea which had been ongoing since 2008.

  6. 2024

    Papua New Guinea is granted NRL entry

    The inclusion of a Papua New Guinea-based team into the NRL was officially announced on December 12, 2024 as part of the Pacific Rugby League partnership involving the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and Australian Government. The club will officially enter the NRL for the start of 2028 season.

  7. 2025

    Inaugural board announced

    ARLC Chairman Peter V’landys AM and PNG Prime Minister James Marape jointly announce the franchise’s inaugural board on June 24 with a seven-member group unveiled. This milestone meant planning could accelerate with official governance in place, with key appointments soon following with CEO and General Manager – Football.

  8. 2025

    PNG Chiefs announced as the club’s name

    After a national name-the-team campaign that garnered over 20,000 submissions, the winning name for the club was officially unveiled as the PNG Chiefs on October 12. The name has a significant cultural resonance because it is a term that honours leaders in communities, both male and female, and symbolises unity. The name was read out at an announcement at Port Moresby’s National Stadium – where the PNG Chiefs will play home matches – to a loud roar, affirming its selection.

  9. 2026

    Jarome Luai becomes PNG Chiefs Player #001

    On April 29, Samoan superstar Jarome Luai is officially announced as the first player to sign with the PNG Chiefs – known as Player #001 – with the four-time Premiership winner inking a multi-year deal with the club from the start of the 2028 season.

  10. 2026

    Alex Johnston becomes PNG Chiefs Player #002

    The game’s most prolific try-scorer, Alex Johnston, becomes the first Papua New Guinean player to sign with the PNG Chiefs, having represented the Kumuls in 12 Test matches between 2019 and 2025 prior to his signing. He is officially signed as PNG Chiefs Player #002.