‘It’s great for the game’: Cameron Munster backs decision to bring PNG team into the NRL, lists possible targets for 2028 squad

Storm star Cameron Munster says the decision to add a team from Papua New Guinea to the NRL in 2028 is “great for the game” and will only help the sport grow in the region and internationally as local players get their chance to shine on the big stage.

The NRL will announce on Thursday that PNG will join the competition, but it remains unclear whether they will be the 18th or 19th team.

The Australian government is set to tip in $600m over the next 10 years to ensure the team is viable, with plenty of burning questions to be answered at a crucial press conference where key decisions will hopefully be outlined like where players will be based.

There are major security concerns that have led to speculation that the team could be based in Cairns, although the preference appears to be to have the players living in Port Moresby.

The international game has grown tremendously over the past few years thanks to players choosing to represent Tonga and Samoa, and Munster is confident this move will only help build on that.

“I just think it’s great for the game,” Munster said, with PNG losing to New Zealand last month for a spot in next year’s Pacific Cup.

“You see the Prime Minister’s XIII game and the Papua New Guinea team in the Queensland Cup, when teams go up there to play games, you see the passion and how much love they have for their club and nation.

“I’m not too sure how that’s all going to pan out or work, but there’s going to be a lot of fans in PNG who are going to be very excited.

“I’m sure the game is going to grow even more. You see nations like Tonga and Samoa when they played those games in the Pacific Championships against Australia and New Zealand, it was massive.

“For PNG to get an NRL team in the competition in four years’ time is massive. The game is growing, and hopefully we can grow it even more.”

The biggest question is whether established NRL stars will want to move to PNG, but a tax-free concession should help the newest team attract players who are off contract in 2027.

It’s why NRL clubs are looking to sign their players to long-term deals now to avoid a bidding war in the coming years, with guys like Xavier Coates and Justin Olam looming as obvious targets.

“It’s probably one of those things when the team eventually gets named at the back end of 2027 when they do all their infrastructure and start looking at their team, staff and the coaching squad,” Munster replied when asked if players would want to go to PNG.

“I’m sure they’ll go over there and look at the facilities as a group and as players and make a decision. I’m sure there will be some players who want to play for PNG.

“You’ll be able to see some local talent from PNG who have never had the opportunity to play rugby league in big games.

“You see guys like Xavier Coates, Justin Olam and guys coming through like Kyle Laybutt and Lachlan Lam and Nene Macdonald.

“They’ve got some great players that have come from there, and it’s probably only to grow even more when they get that opportunity to build pathways and develop.”