To celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence in Papua New Guinea, for the month of September Australian Policy and History is publishing policy briefs written by students studying at Honours, Masters or Doctoral levels who attended a June 2025 intensive workshop on Papua New Guinea and Australia, sponsored by DFAT and run by Deakin’s Centre for Contemporary Histories, at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

 

Attention: Minister for Sports and National Gaming, Papua New Guinea  

Executive Summary
 

The inclusion of a Papua New Guinea (PNG) team in the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) presents a significant opportunity to advance sports development and foster national pride. To address concerns regarding player welfare, security, and long-term housing, a centralized rugby village has been proposed in Port Moresby. While this solution addresses immediate logistical and security needs, it may unintentionally isolate players and their families from PNG’s diverse cultural and geographic landscape and could limit the visibility of this investment. This policy brief advocates for a decentralized infrastructure approach, recommending development in strategic regional centres such as Rabaul, Kavieng, Alotau, and others. Such a model would enhance player well-being, promote national unity, and increase public visibility and engagement with the investment. 

 

The Problem 

The proposed NRL Village in Port Moresby is a cornerstone of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) entry into the National Rugby League (NRL), designed to address critical concerns around security, player welfare, and infrastructure. While the village addresses immediate logistical and safety needs, centralizing rugby infrastructure in Port Moresby presents broader challenges: 

  • Uneven regional development: Concentrating investment in Port Moresby risks reinforcing its dominance while neglecting other regions, reducing national visibility of the initiative. By contrast, China has been expanding its presence across PNG through strategic funding in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. According to Ms Booth, founder of the Grass Skirt Project, who is a former athlete (represented both Australia and PNG) stated that “China is embedding itself in PNG’s grassroots sports infrastructure, investing in local stadiums, training centres, and community-driven programs that are strengthening its regional influence.” She questions whether Australia can recalibrate its sports diplomacy strategy to effectively fill this gap and create tangible benefits for communities across PNG. 
  • Risk of social isolation: Players and their families may experience social isolation, particularly if confined to a secure compound with limited access to PNG’s diverse cultural and natural environments. Over time, this could undermine their well-being and hinder long-term integration and community engagement beyond Port Moresby. 
  • Negative media portrayal: Port Moresby’s reputation in Australian media continues to raise concerns among sports commentators. Ongoing negative coverage may deter non- PNG citizen elite NRL players from joining the PNG team, potentially impacting its development and competitiveness. 

 

Current Proposal 

Centralized Rugby Village in Port Moresby 

This approach involves constructing a centralized Rugby Village in Port Moresby, equipped with comprehensive amenities. While major funding will also support engagements in other parts of the country and across the Pacific, the primary focus remains on Port Moresby. The benefits of this will be: 

  • Serves as a cornerstone of PNG’s entry into the NRL, addressing key concerns around security, player welfare, and infrastructure. 
  • Simplifies logistics and management through proximity to government agencies, sponsors, and administrative bodies. 
  • Centralized operations can facilitate efficient resource allocation and foster strong institutional oversight. 
  • Additional regional and Pacific engagements may be supported through separate funding streams. 

However, the disadvantages are: 

  • Risk of social and geographic isolation for players and families, with limited access to PNG’s cultural diversity. 
  • Potential overcrowding and restricted recreational opportunities within a confined compound. 
  • Long-term outcomes for players and their families remain uncertain. 
  • Does not encourage tourism or stimulate infrastructure development in other regions. 
  • Lack of clarity about the village’s exact location and operational framework raises concerns. 

 

Policy Alternative and recommendation 

  1. Completely Decentralized Regional Rugby hubs:

This policy brief recommends adopting a decentralized model: Central Base with Rotational Regional Access. This model is anchored by a central rugby village in Port Moresby and complemented by strategic regional hubs in Rabaul, Kavieng, and Alotau. These locations offer rich cultural diversity, strong tourism potential, and historic significance—especially as sites linked to World War I and II.  Under this model, scheduled rotations for family retreats, training camps, and community engagement will be implemented across the regional hubs. Local businesses, schools, sports teams, and community groups will collaborate to provide services and infrastructure. A structured community engagement program will empower players and their families to contribute to grassroots development projects, such as: 

  • Health facility upgrades addressing gender-based violence 
  • School library development 
  • Improved water supply systems 
  • Livelihood initiatives tailored to local needs 

Key benefits of this approach: 

  • Enhanced Player Welfare: Exposure to varied cultural and natural environments supports holistic wellbeing. Flexible relocation options for families help mitigate long-term isolation risks. 
  • National Unity: Celebrating PNG’s geographic and cultural richness fosters stronger national identity and cohesion. 
  • Regional Development & Tourism Growth: Early visibility of the investment is amplified not just through sports, but through impact in health, education, and other vital sectors. 
  • Community Integration: Embedding players and families into local contexts empowers them to contribute to grassroots development, becoming true ambassadors of change 

Implementation Considerations 

While the model offers transformative potential, it requires significant investment in coordination, logistics, and infrastructure. Geographic dispersion and the complexity of managing transport, accommodation, and regional operations will demand robust planning and sustained funding. 

 

Contact: Elly Solomon Kambiam

Australia Award PhD candidate, University of Queensland

Email: ellysolomon7@gmail.com

 

Source Consulted 

  1. Australasian Leisure Management. (2025, February 22). NRL and Papua New Guinea Government agree $150 million rugby league ‘village’ plan. Retrieved from https://www.ausleisure.com.au/news/nrl-and-papua-new-guinea-government-agree-150-million-rugby-league-village-plan/ 
  1. Fox Sports. (2025, February 20). NRL 2025: PNG government to build $150 high-security compound in Port Moresby to house NRL players and families. Fox League. Retrieved from https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2025-png-government-to-build-150-highsecurity-compound-in-port-moresby-to-house-nrl-players-and-families-centre-of-excellence-expansion-team-peter-vlandys-rugby-league-news/news-story/56b6ae331152f35f7d4f8af597fa49f1 
  1. Ministry of Sport. (2025). NRL and Papua New Guinea Government Finalise $150M ‘NRL Village’ Deal. Retrieved from https://ministryofsport.com/nrl-and-papua-new-guinea-government-finalise-150m-nrl-village-deal/ 
  1. SBS News. (2024, December 12). Australia and Papua New Guinea announce $600m NRL deal. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australia-and-pngs-600m-nrl-deal-comes-with-a-security-condition/95sgz67nt 

 

Elly Solomon Kambiam

Originally from Enga Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG), I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) in 2010 in PNG, and later earned a Master of Science in Animal Science from Massey University, New Zealand, in 2022 through the Manaaki Scholarships, supported by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I’m currently based in Brisbane, pursuing a PhD at the University of Queensland under the Australia Awards Scholarships. Before pursuing my PhD, I have 15 years of experience working in the agriculture sector, I specialize in poultry nutrition and health, and have contributed to projects focused on improving climate change (prolonged droughts) resilience and livelihoods in remote communities across PNG.