PNG Chiefs Carry Hopes of Future Generations, Says PM Marape

Prime Minister James Marape has urged Papua New Guineans to embrace the PNG Chiefs as a team that belongs to the whole nation, saying its arrival in the National Rugby League in 2028 will give the country a new platform to promote unity, national pride and opportunities for young people.

At the unveiling of the club’s identity and inaugural jersey in Port Moresby yesterday, Mr Marape said the project represented years of ambition and cooperation, with support from Australia helping PNG prepare for its entry into one of the region’s leading sporting competitions.

 PNG Chiefs Carry Hopes of Future Generations, Says PM Marape

The event at the Hilton Hotel brought together Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, visiting ministers, rugby league officials and corporate sponsors.

Mr Marape said the Chiefs would give people from different backgrounds a common team to support, particularly in a country where hundreds of languages and diverse cultural traditions shape everyday life.

“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,” he said.

He described the Australian Government’s financial contribution as an important part of bringing the franchise to life, thanking Australian taxpayers for supporting the initiative.

The Prime Minister said the relationship between PNG and Australia was built on more than modern diplomatic and commercial ties, pointing to the shared experiences that connected the two countries before PNG became independent in 1975.

He recalled a conversation with an elderly village chief at Isurava on the Kokoda Track, who told him that Papua New Guineans assisted Australian troops during the 1942 campaign because they were also protecting their own country.

Mr Marape said the story demonstrated the depth of the relationship and the need for both nations to continue working together.

“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,” he said.

He added that the benefits of the partnership should be measured through stronger relationships between citizens, governments and businesses.

The Prime Minister acknowledged Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL officials for backing PNG’s application to join the competition.

He said earlier attempts to establish a PNG-based NRL club, including the Government’s efforts in 2008, had laid the groundwork for the current development.

Mr Marape also credited founding Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare for championing national unity and recognising the role sport could play in bringing people together.

He said the Chiefs were now taking that vision forward, with children involved in decisions about the club’s identity and jersey.

“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.

Mr Marape congratulated PNG Chiefs chair Catherine Harris, chief executive officer Lorna McPherson, inaugural coach Willie Peters and other officials responsible for setting up the franchise.

He also acknowledged the contribution of Papua New Guinean artist Tabu Pelei Warupi, whose work features on the first jersey and reflects the country’s cultural heritage.

The Prime Minister thanked the sponsors who had committed resources to the club and recognised the coaches, players and staff who would leave familiar surroundings to help establish the team in 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.

In a message directed at children, Mr Marape drew on his personal experience to show that a person’s beginnings should not determine how far they can go.

“I learned to speak English in Grade Eight. Where I started in life did not hold me down,” he said.

He encouraged young people to find their talents, pursue meaningful goals and play a part in strengthening their communities and the nation.

“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,” he said.

He said the Chiefs could help reduce divisions across provinces and cultural groups by giving Papua New Guineans a shared source of pride.

Mr Marape added that the responsibility of preserving national unity had rested with successive governments since independence, but the new franchise could help carry that responsibility into the future.

“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.”