The NRL has rolled out a plan to lure players & administrators to lead PNG's rugby league expansion.
Papua New Guinea’s new NRL franchise is shaping up to be one of the most luxurious in the competition, with five-star accommodation, world-class training facilities and even access to a private island.
The PNG Chiefs will offer players and their families a secure, resort-style lifestyle complete with tax-free salaries and a community designed to attract top-tier talent from across the game.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo toured several potential accommodation sites while in Port Moresby for the Prime Minister’s XIII matches and said he was impressed by the options on offer.
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Luxury living for players and families
The NRL received 19 formal proposals for the Chiefs’ player village, with three standout bids coming from Airways, Hilton and Marriot.
Each plan includes a mix of new developments and high-end existing facilities, featuring shopping, restaurants, cafes, gyms, swimming pools, sports courts and landscaped parklands.
Airways’ proposal also includes access to Loloata Island Resort, where players and families could relax away from the city.
The Marriot’s plan was compared to Sydney’s Woolloomooloo Bay precinct, located within a vibrant waterfront development.
Abdo said the living standards would rival anything in Australia or New Zealand.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for players or officials or administrators who want to build something from the ground up,” Abdo said.
“The benefits of earning a salary that is tax free is obviously attractive and there is the opportunity to have great accommodation, great facilities and experience a new culture and a life experience that not many people get to do in their lifetime.”
Centre of Excellence next on the agenda
Construction of a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence is also set to begin in early 2026, located next to Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The facility will include high-performance training spaces, accommodation for players during match periods and facilities for a future NRLW side.
Abdo said the project would be “best in class”, matching the high-performance standards of leading sports institutions around the world.
“Our timeline is to move through to finalising the location, the design and the partners for the Centre of Excellence and the player village over the course of the next few months,” he said.
A long-term vision for change
Beyond the luxury, the PNG Chiefs project is being framed as a national opportunity to boost education, tourism and pathways for young players.
Abdo said rugby league’s presence would have a lasting social impact.
“I think everyone who comes here has an experience that reinforces a different way of seeing PNG,” he said.
“This is a wonderful country with warm people, natural beauty and a lot of interesting things to do.
“A key reason why we are doing this is driving educational outcomes for young people in Papua New Guinea to complete their education and get all of the positive attributes of a team sport like rugby league.”
Abdo believes the partnership between the Australian and PNG governments can “fast-track change” while opening the door for tourism and cultural exchange between the two nations.