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Gisborne: Planned outages Tue-WedWhy Alexander remains nervous over PNG's introduction into the NRL
Charles Goodsir • October 13th, 2025 1:28 pm
SEN’s Greg Alexander holds grave concerns for the future of the NRL’s PNG franchise following the PM’s XIII fixtures.
The Australian PM’s XIII side ran in seven tries to two on their way to a 28-10 victory over the PNG PM’s XIII after Australia’s women thrashed their PNG counterparts 50-0.
On the same day, PNG Prime Minister James Marape announced that the PNG franchise will be named the Chiefs.
The Chiefs are set to enter the NRL as the 19th team in 2028 but Alexander still holds significant questions as to how the side will attract players, be at a competitive standard and how games will be broadcasted.
“The PNG Chiefs will be the team that comes into the NRL in 2028,” Alexander said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Or will they? Because I was watching the game on Sunday and I was thinking to myself, are we really going to be having a team in Papua New Guinea?
“I don’t really care what they are named because I think the team has far bigger issues than what they are to be called.
“The bigger problem is who is going there? Who is going to live in PNG to play rugby out there?
“It’d be interesting to take a straw poll on some of the players that were there over the weekend. You have just played in PNG, would you then live there to play for the team?
“Would you also take your wife, partner or children to live there?” asked veteran broadcaster Matt Russell.
“Would you go into the compound?” Alexander added.
“I’m unsure of the safety in PNG because I’ve not been there but you read stories about incidents that happen.
“The fact you have to live behind high walls means that it mightn’t be that safe.
“If players are being based there, they have to live in a compound which also tells me that it isn’t that safe.
“The vision of the Port Moresby coverage was a scary reminder of how much work there is left to be done over the next couple of years.
“They have to make sure the screen doesn’t freeze and that the camera actually follows the ball.
“This might be a bit mean but it’s the third year in a row that the PM’s XIII have gone over to Port Moresby to play.
“They need to work a bit harder on their coverage. It needs to be better because we go over there in just two years.”
PNG’s national side will next play in the Pacific Championship on October 25 in Port Moresby against Cook Islands.
