Tragic footy Anthony Albanese is calling on NRL to base a Pacific Islanders team in Papua New Guinea

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly acknowledged Papua New Guinea’s passion for the NRL during his visit to the South West Pacific nation – and urged the country to build a team based on its soil.

Mr Albanese used his historic speech to PNG Parliament on Thursday to reiterate his support for a Pacific Islanders team that will one day compete full-time in the NRL, saying Australia and PNG share a “common passion for rugby -League”.

“Today I am reaffirming my view that I would like to see a Pacific Islanders team from PNG compete in National Rugby League competition,” he said.

“Sport is such an authentic and powerful way to build strong and lasting bonds between our peoples, at code, club, community and family levels.”

It comes as Mr Albanese told reporters in Australia on Wednesday he was “very keen” to see a PNG-based team play in the NRL one day, revealing he had taken the proposal to the league’s administrators.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with his PNG counterpart James Marape (right)

The PNG Hunters began playing in the Queensland Cup just under a decade ago and won a Premier League in 2017 (pictured: players watch Brisbane Broncos practice in 2021).

He later told ABC Radio he would discuss the idea with fellow PNG, James Marape, during his visit to the Pacific island nation.

“Of course these connections are so important that we have these cultural connections and our common interests,” said Mr. Albanese.

“And obviously one of our shared interests is our passion for rugby league.”

Mr. Albanese first supported the idea of ​​a Pasifika NRL team after meeting Marape at the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji last July.

It’s understood PNG would likely join forces with Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Fiji to form a full-time Pacifica squad.

The PNG Hunters have played in the second-tier Queensland Cup for almost a decade – they won the Premier League in 2017 – and the nation is pushing to become the 18th team to enter Australia’s national competition.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets players of the XIII

Rugby league is the most popular national sport in Papua New Guinea – and PNG Hunters won Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup title in 2017

There has also been talk of Perth or possibly another New Zealand team eventually securing their 18th franchise spot in the NRL, which is expected to be in 2025.

Brisbane’s Redcliffe-based Dolphins – who are coached by Wayne Bennett – will be their 17th NRL this season.

Mr Albanese and Mr Marape also met to welcome their countries’ teams to the XIII. Watching Prime Minister Rugby League clashes at Suncorp Stadium.

Additionally, over the past year, leaders have been keeping an eye on the country of origin in Fiji, which Mr Albanese referred to in his speech to PNG’s parliament on Thursday.

“When Prime Minister Marape and I watched the State of Origin together in Suva last year, he said there are only three days your country stops – Game 1, Game 2 and Game 3,” Mr Albanese said.

“I think a lot of Australians can identify with that.”