Former Canterbury Bulldogs boss Ray Dib has been named chairman of the new PNG franchise, with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) announcing a seven-member board.
The expansion club is set to join the competition in 2028, with Dib leading a board that includes former PNG and Melbourne Storm star Marcus Bai and Stan Joyce, the chair of the PNG Hunters, who play in the Queensland Cup.
The other four members are finance and investment professionals Richard Pegum and Ian Tarutia, mining executive Wapu Sonk and sponsors representative Lorna McPherson.
An eighth independent director will be appointed by the board itself, after considering which additional skills the board requires.
Corporate entrepreneur Dib was Bulldogs chairman for eight years before he made way for Lynne Anderson in 2018.
ARLC chairman Peter V'landys AM and NRL boss Andrew Abdo made the announcement in Port Moresby, alongside PNG prime minister James Marape.
"The importance of this franchise goes well beyond winning games of football, it is about nation building and bringing our two countries closer together," V'landys said.
"The new NRL club will provide a pathway for young people in PNG to follow their dreams and it will help transform societal and economic outcomes.
"This is an important moment for the NRL as PNG is set up to become a nursery of talent in the region for the entire competition, not to mention the millions of fans that will now follow a new team entering the competition."
The prime minster also announced a competition giving fans the opportunity to vote for the name of the PNG franchise.
