Papua New Guinea Chiefs

Papua New Guinean rugby league in Australia Rugby league is the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea and even regarded its national sport, and efforts to launch an NRL team in the country date back to 2008, when prime minister Sir Michael Somare announced a Papua New Guinean bid. In 2014, the Papua New Guinea Hunters entered the state level Queensland Cup competition, going on to win the premiership in 2017. In February 2021, PNG Prime Minister James Marape declared his hopes of an NRL side in the country by 2025. Through 2023 and 2024, a Papua New Guinea bid was viewed as a frontrunner to enter the NRL, in light of an Australian Government plan to invest $600 million over a 10-year period in rugby league and socio-economic programs in the country. Discussions have included a proposal from ARLC chairman Peter V'landys to offer tax-free status to rugby league players who played for a Papua New Guinea NRL team. On 12 December, 2024, a Papua New Guinea team in the NRL was formally announced, with the team planned to begin playing in the league in 2028. The name and colours of the team are yet to be determined. On 24 June 2025, the ARLC boss Peter V’landys met with PNG Prime Minister James Marape to unveil the new franchise’s seven-person board chaired by former Bulldogs supremo Ray Dib. Dib was unveiled as PNG’s first chair and will head-up a seven-person board that includes Melbourne Storm legend Marcus Bai. The other board members are Lorna McPherson, Richard Pegum, Stan Joyce, Wapu Sonk and Ian Tarutia. On 12 October 2025, before the Prime Minister's XIII test between Papua New Guinea and Australia, PNG Prime Minister James Marape announced the franchises name as the 'PNG Chiefs', set be the 19th active franchise to join the National Rugby League from the 2028 season Security agreement: Australia vs China The Chiefs will be funded by a $600 million package from the Australian government over a ten-year period, ==Logo and colours==

The PNG team ran a national competition to choose a team name, logo and colours that reflect the entire nation. Officials did consider using the Hunters moniker currently used by the PNG Queensland Cup side, The Crocs (crocodiles) were considered as another option that became quite popular amongst Australians and Papua New Guineans. However it came down to the public to vote. On 12 October 2025, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, announced that the new PNG team to enter the NRL in 2028 will be known as the PNG Chiefs - a name with cultural significance for men and women. Three names were shortlisted: Crocs, Pythons, and Chiefs. However, the Chiefs had particular appeal for the PNG team as the term Chief can be equally applied to a male or female leader in Papua New Guinea. The PNG board still need to finalise a logo and colours. ==Stadium==

will be the home of the PNG team National Football Stadium, known by the sponsored name of Santos National Football Stadium, is a sporting ground in Port Moresby. It will be the home ground for the Chiefs and the Papua New Guinea national rugby league team. It has a total capacity of approximately 15,000 and is the National Stadium of Papua New Guinea. The stadium was completely redeveloped in preparation for the 2015 Pacific Games.It will be upgraded to a capacity of 23,000 - 25,000 for the Chiefs games in 2028 ==Players==