3mins
Sport is part of who we are. We play it, we watch it, and we celebrate it together. From the Highlands to the Islands, every community has a field, a court, or a stretch of water where the game is always on.
Rugby league leads the way. It is our national sport, the one that fills stadiums, brings families together, and unites us behind our teams. But our sporting story is bigger than one code. Traditional games, passed down for generations, still thrive in villages and festivals across the country.
In this story, we look at the passion that drives our rugby league, the rise of the PNG Hunters, the traditional games that still connect us to our roots, and the facilities and athletes shaping the future of sport in Papua New Guinea.
Rugby league is part of daily life in Papua New Guinea. We play it in schools, on village fields, and in stadiums packed with colour and noise. It’s the game we follow every weekend, the one we talk about long after the final whistle.
When the Kumuls and Orchids take the field, the whole country is watching. These teams carry our pride onto the international stage, and every run, tackle, and try is shared with supporters from all four regions.
Here at home, the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup keeps that energy alive. Clubs from the Highlands, Islands, Momase, and Southern Region bring local pride to every match. Game days are more than sport; they’re community events, with markets, music, and the sound of supporters ringing across the field.
Plans for a PNG-based NRL team are now moving forward. When that team runs out for the first time, it will mark a new chapter, giving our players a direct path to the game’s highest level and bringing elite rugby league to our home grounds.
The PNG Hunters are our team on the international stage. Since joining Australia’s Queensland Cup in 2014, they have shown that PNG players can match it with the best. Their 2017 premiership win was a moment we will never forget; proof of what hard work, talent, and belief can achieve.
Home games at the National Football Stadium bring the Queensland Cup right to Port Moresby, with crowds as loud and passionate as anywhere in the competition. Every match is broadcast across the country, so even if you’re far from the city, you can follow every play.
The Hunters are also a pathway for our future stars. Players like Justin Olam have gone from the Hunters to the NRL, inspiring young players in towns and villages to dream bigger. With the team now linked to the Dolphins NRL club, more of our players have a direct route to the top level than ever before.
Our sporting story didn’t start with modern codes; it began with games created in our own communities. These traditions are still alive today, connecting us to our history and bringing people together, just as they always have.
In the Trobriand Islands, cricket has been reshaped into something uniquely ours. Trobriand cricket is played with large teams, dances, and chants that turn each match into a celebration. It’s as much about culture as it is about competition.
In coastal and river communities, canoe racing is a showcase of skill, teamwork, and tradition. At events like the Hiri Moale Festival, crews race lagatoi canoes, honouring the seafaring journeys of our ancestors.
These games may not fill the same stadiums as rugby league, but they carry just as much pride. They remind us that sport in Papua New Guinea has always been about community, connection, and culture.
The next few years are packed with moments for us to look forward to. In 2027, the Pacific Games in Tahiti will bring together athletes from across the region, with PNG ready to compete in athletics, weightlifting, and more. These events are not just competitions; they’re a chance for our athletes to test themselves against the Pacific’s best.
Our presence on the world stage continues, too. At the Paris Olympics, swimmers like Georgie Leigh-Vele and fighters like Gibson Mara are stepping up for PNG. Their journeys show the dedication it takes to compete at the highest level and inspire the next wave of athletes back home.
Local fans also have the return of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup and Hunters matches to look forward to, along with cultural festivals that bring traditional games back into the spotlight. Each event, big or small, adds to our sporting story.
Our passion for sport is matched by the places we play it. Across the four regions, stadiums, fields, and community venues give athletes and supporters spaces to gather, compete, and celebrate.
In Port Moresby, the National Football Stadium is home to the Hunters and the Kumuls, while Sir John Guise Stadium hosts athletics and other major events. The Bisini Sports Complex supports cricket, rugby union, netball, lawn bowls, and more, keeping a variety of sports active in the capital.
In East New Britain, Kalabond Oval is a local landmark, hosting Agmark Gurias matches with the Rabaul volcano in view. In other provinces, community fields and school grounds continue to be the heartbeat of local sport, proving that great games can happen anywhere, from major stadiums to village pitches.
Sport in Papua New Guinea is about more than results on a scoreboard. It is about pride, identity, and the moments we share from a packed stadium on a Kumuls game day to a canoe race in a coastal village.
Rugby league is our national heartbeat, but traditional games, rising athletes, and community competitions all have their place in our story. With new events ahead, improved facilities, and the dream of our own NRL team on the horizon, our sporting future is bright.
Join us at PNG50 as we celebrate every part of that journey. Follow the stories, support the teams, and be part of the moments that bring us together.
Many schools and community clubs run junior rugby league programmes. Talented players can progress to provincial teams, the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup, and development squads linked to the PNG Hunters.
While many Highlands communities now focus on rugby league, traditional contests like spear throwing, tug-of-war, and foot races are still held at cultural festivals and school events.
Yes. Many towns and villages have community fields or courts maintained by local councils, churches, or schools. These venues often host regional tournaments and cultural games.
Yes. PNG competes internationally in cricket, football, basketball, and other sports. The Barramundis (men’s) and Lewas (women’s) represent PNG in cricket at the international level.
Staff Writer
PNG50
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