Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has praised the Penrith Panthers Rugby League organisation in Western Sydney as a world-class model of sporting excellence and commercial sustainability, saying Papua New Guinea can learn from its systems to strengthen the country’s rugby league development pathway.
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League (NRL) and are located 55 kilometres west of central Sydney, at the foot of the Blue Mountains.
Penrith were admitted into the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition in 1967 and endured nearly two decades of struggle before reaching their first finals series. They made their first grand final appearance in 1990, narrowly losing to the Canberra Raiders 18–14, before returning the following year to claim their maiden premiership with a 19–12 victory over Canberra in the 1991 Grand Final.
The club won its second premiership in 2003 before entering a historic period of dominance. After losing the 2020 grand final to Melbourne, the Panthers became only the second club in the NRL era to retain the premiership — and the first to win three, then four— consecutive titles, lifting the trophy in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, including a 14–6 triumph over the Melbourne Storm in the 2024 Grand Final.
Prime Minister Marape toured the Panthers’ high-performance facilities in Penrith on Monday evening, where he was hosted by Chairman Peter Graham, Group CEO Andrew Hill, and CEO (Football) Mat Cameron. The visit comes as the Papua New Guinea Chiefs prepare to enter the NRL in 2028.
Andrew Hill previously served as CEO of the PNG NRL franchise company, having led the PNG bid for entry into the NRL over the past three and a half years.
The Panthers’ leadership briefed Prime Minister Marape on the systems behind the club’s sustained success — both on and off the field.
Prime Minister Marape said he was impressed that the Panthers operate as a fully integrated sports enterprise, generating strong commercial returns while investing heavily in junior and elite player development.
“We are not looking at them from a competition point of view, but as partners in development,” Prime Minister Marape said.“Tonight, we saw a very efficient club— not only the run-on team but the entire clockwork of systems behind them.”
The Panthers’ business ecosystem — spanning game operations, membership, community facilities, entertainment venues and hospitality services — turns over millions of dollars annually, demonstrating how a professional sports organisation can build sustainable revenue streams.
The club also boasts a 150,000-strong membership base, among the largest in the NRL, providing a deep community foundation. Its junior development pathways are linked directly with schools and grassroots competitions, ensuring a constant pipeline of home-grown talent.
Prime Minister Marape said this model offers valuable lessons for Papua New Guinea as it strengthens and modernises its own rugby league systems.
“Their junior programmes connect straight into schools — that is something we must build strongly in Papua New Guinea,” he said.“The Panthers are one of the most successful clubs in the NRL, and they are opening their character and systems to us. That cooperation is invaluable.”
He thanked Chairman Graham, CEO Hill and CEO Cameron for their hospitality and willingness to share knowledge with Papua New Guinea.
“This engagement helps us see how to grow ourselves — how to build clubs that support players from the grassroots to the elite level,” Prime Minister Marape said. “We commend their willingness to work with PNG and look forward to deeper collaboration.”
The visit forms part of Prime Minister Marape’s wider efforts to strengthen international sporting partnerships, enhance athlete pathways, and prepare Papua New Guinea for increased participation and success in elite rugby league competitions.