Papua New Guinea may have lost its three qualifying matches in the rugby league world cup but its visit to Australia for the championship has been anything but disappointing. Not only has the side won plaudits for its style and tenacity of play but it now looks like winning a ride into the Australian national competition, with prime minister Kevin Rudd agreeing to establish a Port Moresby-based team.

In a stirring pre-game speech before PNG played Australia last night, PNG prime minister Michael Somare said his Government had committed $20 million to the project. He also revealed details of a recent meeting with Mr Rudd at which the Australian PM pledged his Government's assistance for the project.

"You'll be very pleased to know that Kevin Rudd, my brother from Australia, has spoken and Mr Rudd has agreed that the Australian Government will support us with the upgrade of sporting facilities," Somare said. "You can rest assured we will have the facilities required for us to have a team, a professional team, that people can devote their time to, who will represent our country.

"It is very important for you to know the prime minister, the high commissioner to Canberra and everyone back in PNG, we are all with you."

It is likely any PNG-based NRL team would play at least three seasons in the Queensland Cup competition before being admitted to the premiership.

Source: ‘PNG has support of Rudd’ by Dan Koch, The Australian, 10 November 2008