The sports minister of Papua New Guinea has expressed a strong desire for the historic NRL expansion team to gain worldwide recognition when it joins the league in 2028, predicting it will captivate a generation in the growing Pacific nation.
Kinoka Feo arrived in Las Vegas on Thursday (Friday, AEDT) for discussions with Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, as well as to witness the round-one double header alongside an English Super League match at Allegiant Stadium.
In an interview, he stated that Wayne Bennett would be a perfect choice as the inaugural coach for the new team, known as the Chiefs. Feo also addressed worries regarding player accommodations, reassuring that the government aims to revitalize downtown Port Moresby, allowing players to explore the area freely.
PNG will have its own NRL team as part of a decade-long, $600 million sports diplomacy initiative from the Albanese government, and local leaders believe this endeavor will unite and transform the nation of 12 million residents.