NRL sure PNG team can be strong despite November 1 rule

Peter V'landys insists the new Papua New Guinea-based NRL team will have enough time to put together a competitive roster, despite having to wait almost two years to approach players.

The Federal Government's $600 million announcement on Thursday ended almost two years of talks around a PNG franchise, with work to now begin on actually setting the club up.

But most on-field matters will have to wait, with NRL rules meaning the new franchise will have to wait until November 2026 to begin approaching contracted NRL players.

Players' union boss Clint Newton has told AAP he is open to working with the NRL and clubs to create exemptions for expansion clubs, to help them build competitive rosters.

But V'landys was adamant on Thursday the November 1 rule would work for PNG, and would not prevent them from forming a competitive team.

"Absolutely (it will be enough time)," V'landys said.

"I'm confident of the timeline. I think it's probably more than what we need. For it to be a success, we have to put the pathways in.

"That's the first port of call and that's why we need the lead time, is to go in and make that PNG Schoolboys team even more successful."

The Dolphins had similar restrictions ahead of their 2023 entry, but the fact they were only announced in October 2021 meant they could start recruiting almost immediately.

Even then their desire to land a big target early prompted issues and an eventual rule change, following their publicised talks with an under-contract Cameron Munster.

PNG, and a potential 2027 outfit based in Perth, would also have greater recruitment challenges, given the need to lure players either overseas or across the country.

One potential option would be to allow new franchises to approach players earlier than 12 months out from their first pre-seasons.

NRL rules already allow for clubs a right of reply before one of their players signs elsewhere and expansion teams would have no interest in inducing a player to walk early.

Any such change would require an amendment to the collective bargaining agreement between the Rugby League Players Association, NRL and clubs.

"Realistically the recruitment runway the Dolphins had was not ideal and you would think many lessons were learned which could prevent the same issues repeating this time around," Newton told AAP.

"So we believe amendments should be strategically explored and agreed upon well before an expansion team needs to start recruiting.

"For the current CBA, we worked proactively with clubs and the NRL to negotiate changes to the contracting restrictions that have helped to keep the current November 1 window really watertight.

"Amendments can be made to those current restrictions, but it takes the clubs and NRL coming together with the RLPA to work through the possibilities and ensure the amendments are mutually beneficial to players and current and expansion clubs."

Adding to the challenge is that, so far, Justin Olam is the only player to graduate to the NRL out of the PNG Hunters since their 2014 admission to the Queensland Cup competition.

Several of their products have however featured in England, while officials believe better coaching and pathways systems will open up a pipeline of talent with 720 players in elite PNG academies.