Papua New Guinea NRL team highlights need for grassroots investment, says Warriors CEO

The Warriors celebrate a try against the Brisbane Broncos. Photo / Photosport

The announcement of a Papua New Guinea-based NRL team for 2028 highlights the need for investment in rugby league grassroots development to ensure its long-term sustainability, says Warriors CEO Cameron George.

At a press conference in Sydney yesterday, Australian and PNG Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape confirmed the new team, backed by more than $600 million (NZ$662m) in funding from the Australian government. While seen as a strategic move to counter rising Chinese influence in the region, George underscored its potential to strengthen rugby league beyond Australia.

“PNG is really focused on promoting from within, which is why the development of pathways is critical and the investment in that,” George told Sportstalk with D’Arcy Waldegrave. “This announcement shows the level of funding needed to ensure the best possible development and pathways. These are structures that last a lifetime.”

Adding another team will inevitably stretch the existing player pool. George said clubs are already securing players with longer contracts, particularly in key positions, in anticipation of increased competition for talent.

Warriors CEO Cameron George. Photo / Photosport

While there is interest in establishing a second New Zealand-based team alongside the Warriors, who entered the NRL in 1995, George cautioned that timing is crucial.

“We need to invest a lot more time, money and resources into New Zealand to help rugby league here and in all regions to improve competitions and so on ... but until we do that, timing is an issue for me.

“It’s no use putting it in tomorrow without having anything underneath it.”

George said the move demonstrated the “appetite” from the game’s powerbrokers to expand the competition. Regarding further growth in New Zealand, he suggested that the NRL should view New Zealand “as another state of Australia” and focus investment on elevating local competitions to the standard of the New South Wales Cup or Queensland Cup.

“I’ve been challenging the NRL to invest more in New Zealand to create better systems and competitions so we can grow the game here,” he said.

“That way, we can retain great talent in this country, allowing them to play rugby league across the nation and have a pathway into the NRL.

“I think there’s a great opportunity on the South Island. It’s just a matter of timing.”

Luke Kirkness is the Sports Planning Editor for the NZ Herald. He’s an award-winning journalist who also covered consumer affairs for the Herald and served as an assistant news director.