Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has hailed the unveiling of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs’ identity and inaugural jersey as a historic milestone for national unity, youth empowerment and the enduring partnership between Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby today, attended by Australian Foreign Minister Senator Hon. Penny Wong, visiting Australian ministers, rugby league officials and corporate sponsors, Prime Minister Marape said the PNG Chiefs’ entry into the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028 represented far more than a sporting achievement.
“This is not just another sports business. This is about uniting the most diverse nation on the face of planet Earth,” he said.
“Sports and music unite society. Rugby league is our national sport, and through the PNG Chiefs, we have an opportunity to bring our people together behind one team, one nation and one common purpose.”
Prime Minister Marape thanked the Australian Government and Australian taxpayers for their decisive contribution towards making PNG’s long-held NRL ambition a reality.
He said the initiative reflected the deep historical relationship between the two countries, built upon shared geography, sacrifice and common aspirations long before PNG’s independence in 1975.
“We are bound by geography, we are bound by history, and what we are doing today is securing that future for our children,” he said.
“I want to thank the Australian Government and every Australian taxpayer for making this dream possible. Without Australia’s contribution, we would not have come this far.
“Your investment is not in vain. It will be returned many times over through stronger relationships between our governments, businesses and, most importantly, our people.”
Prime Minister Marape recalled a conversation with an elderly village chief at Isurava along the Kokoda Track, who explained that Papua New Guineans assisted Australian soldiers during the 1942 Kokoda campaign because they were defending their own homeland.
He said that shared history continued to underpin the relationship between the two countries.
“As it was during the war, we will always be there for Australia. Our two nations must continue walking together into the future,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape paid special tribute to Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys and the NRL leadership for embracing PNG’s vision and helping secure the country’s entry into the competition.
“Peter V’landys caught the vision very early — the vision of uniting the most diverse nation on earth behind rugby league,” he said.
“We are not coming into the competition to take away from anyone. We are coming to complement the NRL and add value to this great sporting competition.”
Reflecting on PNG’s earlier attempts to secure an NRL franchise, Prime Minister Marape recalled being part of the Government in 2008 when the country first pursued the ambition.
He acknowledged founding Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare’s vision of using sport to strengthen national unity, saying the PNG Chiefs represented the realisation of a dream pursued over many years.
Prime Minister Marape particularly welcomed the involvement of children in selecting the team’s identity and jersey design, saying the franchise was being established for the next generation.
“It was not James Marape deciding. It was not the older generation deciding. It was the very children for whom we are building this team,” he said.
He congratulated PNG Chiefs Chair Catherine Harris, Chief Executive Officer Lorna McPherson, inaugural Head Coach Willie Peters and the entire franchise leadership for their commitment to establishing the team.
Prime Minister Marape also paid tribute to Papua New Guinean artist Tabu Pelei Warupi, whose artwork features on the inaugural jersey, reflecting the country’s rich cultural identity and heritage.
He thanked the corporate sponsors supporting the franchise and acknowledged the sacrifices being made by coaches, players and management relocating to Port Moresby.
“No amount of money can equate to leaving your comfort zone and relocating to another country to help make this dream a reality,” he said.
Prime Minister Marape also shared his personal journey from a remote part of Papua New Guinea, encouraging children to pursue their ambitions regardless of their backgrounds.
“I learned to speak English in Grade Eight. Where I started in life did not hold me down,” he said.
“To every child in Papua New Guinea, this is your moment. Where you start in life does not matter as much as how you finish the race.
“Find a sport, find a passion, find a purpose in life, and contribute to uniting this beautiful diversity of more than 800 languages that we call Papua New Guinea.”
Prime Minister Marape said the PNG Chiefs would help strengthen national identity and bring together Papua New Guineans across provincial, cultural and linguistic boundaries.
He said successive prime ministers had carried the responsibility of maintaining national unity since independence, and the Chiefs could help make that task easier for future generations.
“One nation, one people, one country, one team. That spirit will live on forever,” he said.
“To the people of Papua New Guinea, this is your moment. The PNG Chiefs belong to you and to the generations who will follow.”