Given comments from Albo and Vlandys, you can lock in PNG for the 18th team (likely being based in Cairns)
reports are that the Albanese Government will commit to funding the new team for $60 million per year for 10 years. Vlandys believes even if Albo loses an election that the LNP would not pull the funding.
Vlandys said:
“We are absolutely expanding the competition to 18 teams,”
“Yes, we’re having expansion talks right now,”
“We’re analysing the data as we speak and we’re working on the strategy for an 18th team in the NRL.
“We’re looking at 2027, but possibly earlier in 2026, if we can put the pathways in and implement the necessary programs with the support of the government.
“Anthony Albanese is a great man and a great supporter of rugby league.
“I won’t speak about figures, but the Prime Minister is a big supporter of expansion, he is a driving force behind it.
“Now that we’re committed to playing games in Vegas, we’ve begun talks with the government on expansion.”
V’landys stressed other bid consortiums from Perth and the Brisbane Tigers have not been dismissed, with the NRL open to expanding to a 20-team competition by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
“The Prime Minister has a vision for soft diplomacy and what a new NRL team can achieve with the support of the government,” V’landys said from America.
“I totally support that stance.
“I can’t say right now the 18th team is 100 per cent going to be a PNG team, because we are going through all the figures.
“There’s negotiations to go through with the government and there’s a lot of hard work to be done.
“Eventually we want to get to 20 teams, so there’s a long-term strategy in place and Anthony (Albanese) and the government are playing a key role in it.”
Vlandys again on the plan for a PNG team
We have a multifaceted plan. This is not just a benefit for the NRL,”
“The investment from the government will encompass not only the NRL team, but funding competitions in Papua New Guinea, having ex-rugby league players working as development people.
“As Phil Gould (Bulldogs football boss) told me, one of the reasons they are so keen on it is because a lot of kids in PNG don’t go to school, but if they have rugby league to play at school, they will turn up.
“Anthony Albanese sees the benefits and it’s only going to be as successful as the manner in which it’s executed and implemented.”
Vlandys on Federal Government funding
“The government will be committed to this for a decade and beyond.
“The team would not be full of just PNG players. It will be an 18th franchise with a mix of players just like any of the existing 17 teams.
“Naturally, you could have an Australian coach.”
Vlandys wants Bennett involved
“We absolutely would want Wayne involved in the new franchise if he is available,” V’landys said.
“He has done an incredible job with the Dolphins this season, they were very unlucky not to make the top eight and it was quite remarkable what the Dolphins achieved in their first seasons.
“Wayne is one of rugby league’s greatest assets and why wouldn’t you use him?
“There’s no point leaving him in the garage.
“Wayne Bennett is a genius. He has 40 or 50 years of rugby league knowledge and he would be the perfect person to have involved in setting up an 18th team.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:
“I am very supportive of an 18th NRL team in PNG,” Albanese told News Corp on Saturday following his return from the White House.
“This is a game changer for the relationship with Papua New Guinea.
“We’re definitely behind the NRL bid and, importantly, Prime Minister (James) Murape in PNG is very much behind an NRL team.
“This is a country that will celebrate its 50th year of independence in a couple of years (2025).
“Having PNG participate in the NRL, I can’t think of any better way to get that ongoing relationship and engagement between our two countries.”
“I was in PNG in January and you see kids and adults all wearing State of Origin jumpers and jumpers of NRL clubs. The support there is fanatical,” Albanese said.
“Samoa made the World Cup final last year. If you develop a pathway for young people to come through, Papua New Guinea is a potential powerhouse in global rugby league.
“We haven’t landed on exact figures. It’s a bit premature. That’s a matter for discussions, which are taking place at the moment.
“We put $7 million into the recent Pacific Championships and we are prepared to have talks with the NRL on funding.
“The aim would be for any government funding to be aimed at economic development in schools. It’s not just for the NRL team and to pay Alex Johnston (Souths winger) to play for PNG.
“To have a PNG NRL team, we would need to get the pathway and infrastructure right.
“It’s an important part of economic development and getting young people engaged in PNG.
“This is not just about sport in itself, it’s building people-to-people relations and economic development for PNG.
“That’s the way the government sees it.”