Papua New Guinea Government reveals stadium plan for new NRL franchise

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has advised that the country’s new NRL team franchise will play its home matches at Port Moresby’s 25,000-capacity Sir Hubert Murray Stadium when it enters the competition in 2028.

Prime Minister Marape made the announcement when signing the official documents confirming that the new PNG team will enter the NRL competition - alongside outgoing Australian High Commissioner to PNG John Feakes.

While the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (SHMS) has been confirmed as the team’s primary home ground, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged that if upgrades at the venue are not complete by 2028, the Santos National Football Stadium could serve as a temporary alternative. However, he emphasised that SHMS remains the permanent venue for the team’s future matches.

The venue announcement follows on from Papua New Guinea being awarded an NRL franchise as part of a wide-ranging 10-year deal involving the Australian Government.

It was confirmed at the time that the team would be based in the capital city of Port Moresby, but no plans for the franchise’s home venue were detailed.

With SHMS requiring a range of upgrades to meet NRL standards, Port Moresby Governor Powes Parkop advised that efforts are underway to ensure that the venue is fully prepared before 2028, confirming that discussions with investors and stakeholders are ongoing to accelerate the necessary upgrades and meet NRL requirements.

Explaining that work set to be carried out in two phases, Parkop stated “stage one will see the stadium fully completed and ready for NRL matches, while stage two will introduce a high-rise hotel and car park, integrating with Harbour City’s infrastructure. This is a defining moment for Papua New Guinea. We are ready for the big stage.”

First opened in 1969, and having hosted football, rugby union and rugby league matches over the years, the decision to designate SHMS as the PNG NRL team’s home stadium was reportedly based on key factors, including its historical significance and larger seating capacity of 25,000, compared to 15,000 at Santos National Football Stadium.

Additionally, SHMS features a permanent concrete and steel structure, unlike the scaffold-based setup at Santos.

Prime Minister Marape added “Sir Hubert Murray Stadium is more than just a venue - it’s a symbol of PNG’s passion for rugby league. This redevelopment will not only provide a world-class home for our NRL team but also create jobs and boost tourism.”

PNG will also be hosting the 2026 Rugby League World Cup alongside Australia.

Images: The Sir Hubert Murray Stadium from the air (top), last week's ceremony confirming that the new PNG team will enter the NRL competition (middle) and the concept for the upgrade of the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (below, credit: Jim Fitzpatrick Architects).