Chiefs or Pythons? Marape unveils name of Papua New Guinea NRL team

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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.

“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.

“In East New Britain and New Ireland, women were chiefs. They hold land rights, they make the final decisions, so the name is fitting.

‘Everyone felt Chiefs were more appropriate on the basis that we are a sovereign nation of many tribes.’

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape

“The name just blends in well with the authenticity of where we came from as a nation of so many tribes, united into one nation in 1975, and gifted by Australia. It has a strong meaning to our authentic identity.”

The people of Papua New Guinea were asked to submit their preferred team name before a shortlist was compiled. The name was announced to the crowd shortly before kick-off at Sunday’s match between Papua New Guinea and the Prime Minister’s XIII in Port Moresby.

Some of the most common names included the Angels, Crocodiles, and Wantok, but the list was reduced to two before Marape decided.

“Two names were shortlisted - Pythons and the Chiefs,” Marape said.

“Everyone felt Chiefs were more appropriate on the basis that we are a sovereign nation of many tribes - about 850 languages, 1000 tribes. It wasn’t my pick - I wanted Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels. I wrote the name down, but my name came 12th in the ranking.”

PNG Chiefs chairman Ray Dib proposed the motion at the meeting, which was passed by former Melbourne Storm and PNG international Marcus Bai, who also sits on the board.

“It’s a reflection of cultural significance for the people of Papua New Guinea,” Dib said.

“This name reflects the cultural identity, leadership, and tradition of honouring the people in Papua New Guinea. A Chief’s name embodies wisdom, unity, courage, and community.”