Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has unveiled the name of the NRL’s 19th franchise at a board meeting in Port Moresby on Sunday.

After months of deliberation between the PNG government, Australian government, NRL, and the new team’s board, key parties agreed on the Papua New Guinea Chiefs.

PNG prime minister James Marape unveils the team name at a club board meeting attended by NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Sunday. Credit: NRL

“Before there was a prime minister, and a King or Queen in England, the sovereign head within the tribe was the chief,” Marape told the PNG board and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo on Sunday morning.

“In our country, about 30 per cent [of tribes] are matrilineal, so it fits in well when girls run on as Chiefs because there is a traditional context in our history.

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