The Australian government is set to spend $600m as the NRL gets set to expand into international waters.
Plans for an 18th team into the competition have long been in place with Papua New Guinea now reportedly confirmed as the winners of a new license.
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On Wednesday morning, 2GB’s Ben Fordham confirmed the deal was done and the venture would be funded by the taxpayers.
“The deal is done,” Fordham said.
“Australian taxpayers are about to spend $600m on a rugby league team in Papua New Guinea.
“We’ve got some exclusive information about when all of this is going to be announced. It’s $60m a year over 10 years.”
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys reportedly held discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in early May regarding the PNG venture.
The NRL and the Federal Government have reportedly agreed on a funding package with almost half of the $600 million to go towards pathways and programs in the Pacific region.
They will be the first of potentially two new sides added to the competition, with the aim to see PNG begin their NRL tenure in 2028, potentially with Wayne Bennett at the helm.
The master coach is reportedly set to sign a three-year deal with the Rabbitohs, meaning he’d be a free agent for the 2028 season.
“Naturally, we would love to have Wayne Bennett involved with an 18th team,” V’landys said.
“He is a genius and if he is available for the next expansion bid, absolutely we want him … Wayne shares our vision on expansion and he wants to be part of that vision absolutely.”
Fordham stated an official announcement on the move to make PNG the NRL’s 18th team could come in September during PNG’s 49th independence celebrations.