Australia’s PM’s XIII’s beat PNG in Port Morseby as deal nears

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Negotiations are ongoing as a deal nears between the Australian Government, the PNG Government, and the NRL over the establishment of a team in Port Moresby.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo was in Port Moresby on Sunday to watch Australia beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the men’s and women’s Prime Minister’s XIII fixtures.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo was in Port Moresby on Sunday to watch Australia beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the men’s and women’s Prime Minister’s XIII fixtures.

Negotiations are ongoing as a deal nears between the Australian Government, the PNG Government, and the NRL over the establishment of a team in Port Moresby.

Australia’s PM’s XIII’s beat PNG

The Australian Prime Minister’s XIII teams are made up of players who did not play in the NRL Preliminary Finals and were not selected for the Kangaroos squad.

Wests Tigers’ Kezie Apps captained the women’s side to a 50-0 win. Afterwards, South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Damian Cook led the men’s side to a 42-20 victory.

The NRL’s next team?

Last month, it was reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had agreed ‘in principle’ to a deal with the Australian Rugby League Commission and PNG. The deal would see the Australian Government commit $600m over 10 years to fund a PNG-based team. It’s been described as part of a broader strategy from the Australian Government to secure PNG’s loyalty amid geopolitical tension with China in the South Pacific region.

What they said

Abdo also expanded on the possibility of a PNG-based NRL side, saying: “Hopefully [there is] an announcement soon. As you’ve heard our chairman [Peter V’landys] say, this is something that is strategically important for the Australian Rugby League Commission. Expansion and potentially having a team out of PNG is definitely exciting for the game.”

In a statement last week, PNG PM James Marape said: “There are a few more regulatory processes to complete before an official announcement can be made, but the future is looking bright for our national team. This aspiration is not just about sports — it’s about fostering national development and unity. With over 10 million passionate supporters, a PNG NRL team would further strengthen the bonds between our two nations.”

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