By PHIL CAPLAN
IT’S an enormously exciting time for a country where rugby league is the national sport. Papua New Guinea is set to co-host World Cup games as a prelude to the PNG Chiefs entering the NRL in 2028, following on from PNG Hunters, formed in 2013, playing in the Queensland Cup.
The nation of 11 million people spread across hundreds of islands and encompassing around 840 languages in the southwestern Pacific, is said to have received its first exposure to rugby league during a 1930s gold rush which brought Australian miners to the territory, with the PNG Rugby Football League formally founded in 1949.
The near 15,000 capacity Santos National Football Stadium in capital Port Moresby will stage two doubleheader pool matches, the men taking on Lebanon and Samoa and the women Orchids facing France and Fiji.
The final men’s group encounter will be against England in Wollongong at the end of a four match extravaganza in the city, while the women will head to the Gold Coast to take on New Zealand.
It will be a daunting task for either to get out of the group stages, but the Kumuls are in positive mood having won back-to-back Pacific Bowls against Fiji and Cook Islands.
In addition, Papua New Guinea, along with France and Wales, have been identified as priority nations for International Rugby League.
They will receive significant funding to support bespoke national strategies that will be developed in partnership with each national federation.
The Australian Rugby League Commission has also announced a new policy aimed at developing rugby league talent in Papua New Guinea, with NRL clubs allowed to sign up two indigenous pathway players – defined as those who have participated in junior rugby league in the country – outside the salary cap.
PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina said: “Papua New Guinea continues to be a beacon of excellence and enthusiasm for the game.
“The foundation of six regional pathways and academy programs linked to the 12 clubs in our semi-professional Digicel ExxonMobil competition, has created a strong framework for future stars to emerge.”
He added: “PNGRFL’s strategic appointments – including Tony Archer, Joe Grima, and Stanley Gene, amongst many others – have strengthened the performance and pathway department, ensuring sustainable growth for elite and grassroots talent.”
His organisation has also announced the formation of its inaugural gender strategy, which will work to advance equality in inclusive, safe and empowering environments for all, and has been supported by the Australian government.
Current men’s head coach Jason Demetriou has a core of seven Kumuls at London Broncos who will all be looking to stake a claim for World Cup places.
Exciting fullback Morea Morea, free scoring Alex Max and fellow centre Robert Mathias, prop Epel Kapinias and playmaker Gairo Voro are joined by Finlay Glare and Jeremiah Simbiken, who starred for Castleford last season.
Another former Tiger, dynamic hooker Judah Rimbu, the Queensland Cup player of the Year in 2024, has signed a train-and-trial contract with Perth Bears for their maiden season in 2027, with an opportunity to be promoted to a fulltime contract. He is currently playing for the Bears’ feeder side Easts Tigers in Brisbane.
A number of familiar names in the Betfred Super League competition are likely to wear the red, black and gold in the World Cup, not least skipper Rhyse Martin who led them at the last World Cup.
The Hull KR back rower is his nation’s most-capped forward with 21 appearances, one behind record holder, St Helens new recruit Nene Macdonald, who has also scored the most tries for his country, with 15.
Massively influential Leigh halfback Lachlan Lam is joint third in the list with 15 alongside another ex-Castleford forward from last season, Nixon Putt, now at Central Queensland Capras, where he is joined by former blockbusting Warrington centre Roderick Tai.
Lam’s team mate Edwin Ipape is set to wreak his usual havoc from dummy half, while Leopards’ new recruits Jacob Alick-Wiencke and Liam Horne – another with Cas in 2025 – are also set to feature.
Much travelled Dan Russell, currently with Bradford Bulls in their return to top flight action, is also set to come into contention.
With so many PNG representatives performing in the UK, Demetriou offered to play a mid-season international in preparation for the World Cup against England, which has so far fallen on deaf ears given the crowded domestic schedule.
“We wouldn’t have had our NRL players but we still would have put together a very strong side, and I thought off the back of a losing series (for England) it would have been a good opportunity,” he told rugbylreaguehub.com Long Reads.
“It would be a good opportunity for the game to put on an international in the summer. We’re still open to it if they are.
“It’s hard because Super League hasn’t put a weekend in, but I’m sure a few clubs could manage without a few of their players for a weekend. I just thought it would have been great prep for both sides, the offer is still there if they want it.”
Among the NRL stars Demetriou will be able to call on are twelve-cap South Sydney winger Alex Johnston, currently ranked second in the all-time list of try scorers in the elite competition with 210 in 243 appearances for the Rabbitohs over 11 seasons, who is their main strike weapon.
Former St George Illawarra loose forward and now some time prop Jack de Belin, who has signed for Parramatta for 2026, has played eight times for the Kumuls since 2023, eligible through his PNG-born grandmother Aileen Leary, and was in the Prime Minister’s XIII that played the Australian equivalent at the end of last season, losing 28-10.
Powerful winger Robert Derby signed a new three-year deal with North Queensland Cowboys this time last season, having been crowned their rookie of the year in 2025. He has crossed eight times in 10 games so far for the Kumuls.
Much is also expected of teenage Gold Coast loose forward Cooper Bai, son of PNG legend Marcus who starred in the UK for Hull, Leeds – where he won a grand final, having also done so for Melbourne Storm – and Bradford.
Cooper made his debut for the Titans in the final round of the NRL season last year and represented PNG in the Pacific Bowl.
Demetriou noted: “There are a few young guys at NRL clubs who are banging on the door to represent the Kumuls, so it is an exciting time leading into the World Cup,”
The Orchids, who have slipped down the world rankings to sixth behind Samoa, are on the lookout for a new coach for the World Cup after parting ways with Tahnee Norris, with former PNG and Catalans Dragons winger David Mead saying he would like to take charge and offering to bring another PNG legend, Justin Olam, with him as assistant.
Mead captained the Kumuls at the 2017 World Cup.
Going into the World Cup, the PNGRFL signed up digital payment leader Visa as platinum partners on a three-year agreement, another powerful endorsement of the direction of travel for the nation in the sport.
“For the first time in PNG sports history, rugby league has partnered with a global brand from outside of the country and Visa’s sponsorship of the Kumuls is a testament to the growth of the game from grassroots level through to entry into the National Rugby League in 2028,” said PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka.
“Rugby league is more than just a sport in PNG. It is a way of life, a path to a better future, a social cohesion tool to address other national issues, a platform to bring our people together and most importantly an opportunity to ensure that rugby league and education go hand-in-hand.
“All these ensure that we are true to our vision of ‘Better People, Better Sport, Better Nation’. We are delighted that Visa will join us on that journey.”