Australia's National Rugby League says it's difficult to put a time frame on when Papua New Guinea could enter the NRL competition.
In its latest budgetary allocations, PNG's government provides for a scoping mission to assess whether PNG could enter a team in the NRL.
The Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has also held recent talks with his Australian counterpart with the aim of both governments working together toward PNG fielding a team.
The NRL's Chief Operating Officer, Graham Annesley, says PNG's potential involvement is a great idea but there are a number of factors that have to be considered first:
"Not least fo which is the impact on our existing clubs. But then you also have the issue of funding a NRL team, it's an extremely expensive exercise, playing facilities, a whole range of issues that would have to be examined. But in terms of pulling it all together, once you know the basics and requirements, there's not a lot more talking that needs to happen. It'sd a matter of going away and doing all your homework."
NRL's Graham Annesley
