As Papua New Guinea prepares for its historic arrival in the NRL in 2028, the PNG Chiefs have an opportunity to use rugby league’s enormous influence to confront one of the country’s most serious social challenges: violence against women.
The PNG Chiefs are being built to unite a nation through rugby league. But as excitement grows around the club’s entry into the NRL, an equally important question deserves attention: how will the team use its national platform to help make communities safer for women and children?
For a country where rugby league reaches far beyond the playing field, the answer could define a legacy far greater than wins, premierships or the signing of international stars.
Domestic violence remains a critical issue in Papua New Guinea, where survivors face significant barriers to obtaining protection and support. A government study reported by ABC News found that 64 per cent of women surveyed had experienced intimate partner violence, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing the country.
Against that backdrop, the Chiefs’ arrival on rugby league’s biggest stage presents both an opportunity and a responsibility.
A NATIONAL TEAM WITH A NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Chiefs are expected to become one of Papua New Guinea’s most recognisable sporting institutions. Their players will carry the hopes of supporters across provinces, communities and generations.
That visibility gives the club a powerful platform to influence behaviour, particularly among young men who look to professional athletes as role models.
However, national pride alone will not address domestic violence. Nor will occasional awareness campaigns be enough without sustained education, community involvement and meaningful support for survivors.
The challenge is to ensure that the values promoted by the club — including respect, unity, discipline and responsibility — extend into homes and communities, not just the dressing room.
The Chiefs can help make it clear that violence against women is never acceptable, that controlling or abusive behaviour is not a sign of strength, and that seeking help should never be a source of shame.
THE RESPONSIBILITY EXTENDS BEYOND MATCH DAY
Rugby league has already been used as a platform for social education in Papua New Guinea.
The NRL’s Voice Against Violence program aims to challenge attitudes that contribute to domestic and gender-based violence, encourage respectful relationships and empower young people to speak out.
The arrival of the Chiefs creates an opportunity to build on that work with a more visible, long-term commitment tied to the new club.
That effort should reach beyond stadium advertising and messages delivered before kick-off.
Players, coaches, club staff and community representatives could participate in ongoing education programs, school visits and local campaigns promoting respectful relationships. Supporters could also be reached through match-day messaging and digital content that makes clear violence has no place in the game or society.
Just as importantly, the club could work with experienced domestic-violence organisations and local service providers to ensure its campaigns connect survivors with appropriate assistance.
The aim should be more than raising awareness. It should be to support meaningful changes in attitudes and behaviour.
A PROMISING COMMITMENT — BUT ACTION WILL MATTER
There are already indications that the issue is on the Chiefs’ agenda.
In October 2026, CEO Lorna McPherson said the club would work with SP Brewery through their three-year partnership to address domestic violence across Papua New Guinea. She described the relationship as one built around shared responsibility and community impact.
That commitment provides a starting point. The next test will be how it is translated into action.
Meaningful progress could include clear prevention targets, partnerships with specialist support organisations, regular community education, and transparent reporting on the work being delivered and the people being reached.
The club could also ensure women have a strong voice in shaping these initiatives, drawing on the experience of local advocates and organisations working directly with survivors.
No single sporting organisation can solve a crisis of this scale. Responsibility also rests with government, law enforcement, community leaders, businesses and the wider public. But a club with the Chiefs’ potential reach can contribute to a broader effort.
BUILDING A LEGACY THAT LASTS BEYOND 2028
Papua New Guinea’s NRL entry is a landmark moment for the nation. It represents decades of passion for rugby league and the ambition to see the country compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
But the Chiefs’ success should not be measured solely by results on the field.
The club also has an opportunity to show what a modern sporting institution can contribute to national wellbeing — by supporting young people, promoting respect, challenging harmful attitudes and working alongside organisations committed to protecting women and children.
When the Chiefs take the field in 2028, the country will be watching. Their influence will extend far beyond the scoreboard, and the standards they promote could resonate throughout communities across Papua New Guinea.
The challenge is clear: if the PNG Chiefs are to become a team that unites the nation, their legacy must also help build a nation where women and children can live safely, free from violence.
Because the greatest victory will not be measured in points or trophies, but in the lives made safer and the positive change that continues long after the final whistle.
Author: Michael B