PNG NRL Bid

Mr Albanese will use his historic speech to PNG’s parliament on Thursday to restate his support for a Pacific Islander team to compete in the NRL, saying Australia and PNG have a “shared passion for rugby league”.

“Today I affirm my view that I want to see a PNG-based, Pacific Islander team compete in the National Rugby League competition,” he is expected to say.

“Sport is such a genuine and powerful way of building strong and lasting ties between our peoples, at a code and club and community and family level.

But what they said will be felt across the playing field of the NRL, and regional geopolitics.

At a picture opportunity for media ahead of a bilateral meeting, Mr Marape stated to Mr Albanese — as part of the pleasantries provided for the cameras — that rugby league was part of PNG's national character.

"If there’s something good that Australia has left as far as a lasting imprint in Papua New Guinea, rugby league is one of them," he said.

But Mr Albanese went beyond mere courtesy in reply.

As the NRL awaits the introduction of the Dolphins as the 17th team next year, Papua New Guinea has put its hand up for the license of the 18th club.

Rugby league powerbrokers want to make the NRL an 18-team competition at some point in the future, but it’s hard to envisage that happening before the upcoming broadcast agreement ends after the 2027 season.