The NRL is moving swiftly on its Papua New Guinea expansion, with Hall of Fame coach Wayne Bennett emerging as a central figure in the launch of the PNG Chiefs.
According to The Daily Telegraph, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys stated he would love for Bennett – who led the Dolphins in their inaugural 2023 season – to be involved in the league’s 19th franchise.
While the 75-year-old is currently signed with South Sydney until the end of 2027, if Bennett were to join the Chiefs when they enter the competition in 2028, the veteran coach would be 78 years old.
Although it remains unclear whether Bennett plans to continue as a head coach after the Rabbitohs, V’landys confirmed the Hall of Famer would be the first person he calls and could take on any role he chooses within the Chiefs’ setup.
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“Yes, we want Wayne Bennett involved,” V’landys stated.
“If Wayne is available, he will be the first bloke I call.
“You can ask Wayne if he wants to coach, but we will use Wayne in whatever capacity that would be suitable to him.”
It is suggested that the coach, who has overseen over 900 NRL games, could be involved in the league’s PNG blueprint in a consultancy or advisory role and help shape the franchise’s football structure, pathways, and culture during its formative years.
While Bennett’s involvement would be a major boost, some observers question whether the Chiefs can succeed amid challenges including crime, infrastructure, and travel logistics in PNG.
However, V’landys drew parallels with the early scepticism surrounding the Dolphins’ 2023 entry, arguing the PNG team could be even more successful.
“The amount of attacks I got about the Dolphins being put in, most people would have said I don’t need this trouble and not gone ahead with it, but look how successful the Dolphins have been,” he said.
“In my view, PNG will be more successful.
“As a sports administrator for a long time, I can categorically say with confidence that Papua New Guinea will blow everyone out of the water.
“There are 18 million people there that are potential customers and potential players and the beauty of PNG is that it’s a one-nation sport.
“It’s all rugby league. We have no competition in PNG. We have a ready-made market. Even at a low-cost point, even if you charge $5 a month to watch the game, if you have more than 10 million people to tap into, look at the players we will find over there.
“Once the pathways are done right and implementation is everything, PNG could be the best thing to happen to rugby league.”