Passion play
How rugby league became a national obsession
Rugby league isn’t just the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea, but something of a mania. The sport is part of the school curriculum, and the country’s official national sport. Over a thousand teams are estimated to be grouped into clubs and 40 leagues across PNG. As for rugby league’s fans, they’re widely regarded as among the most dedicated and enthusiastic in the world. Some of the country’s biggest television audiences gather to watch the national men’s team, the Kumuls, or Australian state-of-origin matches. Stadiums are regularly sold out when the Kumuls take to the field. Such fervour might seem surprising given the relatively youthful nature of rugby league in PNG. It was likely first introduced in the 1930s by Australian miners and settlers and reinforced in the 1940s by Australian troops stationed and fighting in PNG. The PNG Rugby Football League was founded in 1949. Still, until the late 1960s it was played mostly by expats, although it attracted growing spectator interest. Things started to change in the early 1970s. A national rugby league team took part in the inaugural Rugby League Pacific Cup in 1975, which was hosted by PNG.
It finished a reputable second, defeated in the final (38–13) by New Zealand Maori.
It was a long wait after that for the ultimate triumph, but in 2009 (with PNG again the host nation), the Kumuls took out the tournament with a resounding 42–14 victory over the Cook Islands.
In 1974, PNG became a member of what is now known as the Rugby League International Federation, which placed it on the international sporting stage. Although its first Test match saw a 40–12 defeat by England, its first Test win came shortly afterwards when the Kumuls beat French team Les Chanticleers (a thumping 37– 6) in Port Moresby.
In subsequent years, PNG further impressed with valiant – if ultimately losing – performances against France and New Zealand.
The growing confidence of the PNG national team saw it attend its first Rugby League World Cup in 1985–88, at a time when the tournament was formatted over a three-year period. The Kumuls again caught the world’s attention by beating New Zealand in a thrillingly close early- round match in Port Moresby.
Things didn’t go so well in subsequent World Cups, though PNG’s 28–28 draw against Tonga in England in 1995 saw it advance further than ever before in the competition.
The 2000 World Cup, however, would go down in the sporting history books when PNG opened the tournament with a sensational
PNG’s rugby league fans are widely regarded as the most dedicated and enthusiastic in the world.
23–20 victory over host nation France in Paris, and followed it up with wins over both South Africa and Tonga. Two million Papua New Guineans – about a third of the entire population – tuned in to the televised quarter final against Wales. Although the Kumuls were defeated 22–8 it was their best achievement in a World Cup. Tens of thousands of fans swamped Port Moresby airport to cheer the team’s return.
While rollercoaster losses and wins were unfolding internationally, the country was developing rugby league nationally, too. In 1990, the SP Inter-City Cup was established as the first national competition, modelled on the format of the Australian National Rugby League. After changes in sponsorship names over the year, it is now called the Digicel Cup, after a mobile-network supplier. Properly speaking, it has been the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (or PNGNRL) since 2005.
While this is the premier domestic competition, there are numerous others, including the Port Moresby League and the Nokondi Cup, created in 2007 to bring together local teams in Eastern Highlands Province.
In December 2008, the PNG Women’s Rugby League was founded, reaching its culminating achievement this year by placing a national team at the World Cup.
Many PNG players also compete – and have become big stars – in the Australian National Rugby League, particularly in Queensland, where 20,000 Papua New Guineans live, and to which others are prepared to fly for matches.
The Port Moresby Vipers and more recently the PNG Hunters have been prominent in the Super Cup tournament, the top level of rugby league club competition in Queensland, contested by 14 teams.
The Hunters joined the competition in 2014 and won the premiership this year. All their matches in Queensland are shown live on national television in PNG.
Rugby league hit a turbulent time in 2010, with clashes over junior development, control of the national team and governing body, and controversy about the numbers of Australian- based players being picked for the national team. Lately, though, things have been on the upswing again.
A team of very experienced players in the national squad in 2016 saw the Kumuls defeat Fiji 22–10 in a Pacific Rugby League Test final in Sydney, after a near-miraculous comeback in the second half of the match that drove the nation to a frenzy. It was the team’s first international away win since 2000. This year’s World Cup could be another moment to shine. But whatever happens, one thing is assured: PNG’s obsessive rugby league fans will be cheering from the sidelines.
For the schedule, viewing details, and the latest results in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, see rlwc2017.com.