Rugby league just got a 19th team. It's not from Australia.
The PNG Chiefs join the NRL in 2028, playing out of Port Moresby, backed by $600 million in Australian government funding over ten years.
Ian Hopkinson
17 July 2026 · 3 months, 3 weeks ago
The PNG Chiefs join the NRL in 2028. They'll play out of Port Moresby, backed by $600 million in Australian government funding over ten years.
Rugby league is Papua New Guinea's national sport already. The Chiefs give it a home ground on the biggest stage there is.
The board is set. The name is locked in. The wait for round one starts now.