The competition, which runs until 31 August 2025, invites all Papua New Guineans to submit their suggestions for the side set to join the NRL in 2028. The winning name will be the first badge of identity for what is expected to be one of the most passionately supported teams in the league.
Marape said he had already lodged his entry but was determined not to sway public opinion. “I don’t want to influence the mindset of the country,” he told reporters, hinting that the eventual choice should be a reflection of the people’s imagination and pride.
The naming contest is part of a broader push in the PNG–Australia partnership to cement rugby league as a symbol of national unity and international presence. No one, however, appears more fired up than Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG, Ewen McDonald, who has vowed to ditch his long-held allegiance to the Melbourne Storm in favour of the new PNG side.
The yet-to-be-named team will be PNG’s first in the NRL – a landmark for a country where rugby league is the national obsession. From villages to stadiums, the announcement has already sparked debate about what name could best capture PNG’s spirit: fierce predators, powerful cultural symbols, or perhaps something entirely unexpected.
Submissions can be made online via yourteamnamehere.co. For now, though, Marape’s choice remains under lock and key.