Marape: ‘Name Your Team’

Prime Minister James Marape has launched a nationwide campaign inviting Papua New Guineans to choose the official name for the country’s National Rugby League team.

The initiative comes as the country prepares to compete in the soon-to-be a three-country professional rugby league competition involving Australia, New Zealand, and PNG. Marape said the team’s name should not be decided by government or the franchise board but by the people themselves through a transparent, public process.

“This team must be owned by the people of Papua New Guinea,” Marape said. “It must tell our national unification story and resonate with the idea of one people, one nation, one country.”

All citizens in the country will be given the opportunity to submit a name via an online portal [https://yourteamnamehere.co/], which will be shared on social media platforms including NRL.

PM Marape said the guidelines require that proposed names reflect national unity, positive growth, and PNG’s place in the international community. Submissions must be made online by 31 August, after which a board will shortlist entries for public voting.

The five most popular names will be reviewed by the PNG NRL franchise board, and advertised for public voting. The board will further deliberate on the five names with the final two going back to the people for a decisive vote. Marape said more than 50% public approval would be needed for the winning name to stand.

"We felt that the team must be named by the people of Papua New Guinea who have a fair, transparent process, and the process starts now," Marape said.

"We did indicate that the country would be involved in the naming of the team. Today I've been asked to indicate to the country that you have the opportunity now to name your team."

Marape said this is a rare opportunity to make history, in naming the 18th NRL franchise. He said the name will not just represent a rugby league team, rather it will represent PNG's identity and unity on the world stage.

"It's not just really a rugby league team and sports business. For us it's a national unification story."

PM confirmed that the person with the winning name will be awarded.