It is the second time that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has contracted Covid-19 (file picture). Photo: AFP
The Australian prime minister has given his full backing to a rugby league team from Papua New Guinea playing in the NRL in Australia.
Anthony Albanese, who is currently visiting Papua New Guinea, says it is something he has discussed with the NRL.
Last year Papua New Guinea launched a bid to join the NRL as the competition's 18th team with support of Prime Minister James Marape.
The Queensland-based Dolphins is to be the NRL's 17th team this year, and PNG wants to be the 18th.
The Post Courier reports that rugby league administrators and former and current players have all batted for a PNG side in the NRL, although work to actually set up a team will take a great deal of money.
"I'm very keen to see a rugby league team participate in the NRL that would be based in Papua New Guinea and involve our Pacific Island friends," Albanese told the newspaper.
"That's something that we've had discussions about, and I've discussed it with the National Rugby League.
"There are no greater friends than Australia and Papua New Guinea, and my visit will cement that."
The Post Courier reports Albanese's comments are the strongest yet by any sports or political leader from both countries about the future possibility of PNG's or the Pacific's direct involvement in the NRL, which is the biggest rugby league competition in the world.
It said rugby league administrators and former and current players have all batted for the idea, but added that initial work to set up a team will take millions of dollars, and a big shift in attitude.
In October, James Marape and Anthony Albanese watched the PM's 13 league clash between Australia and Papua New Guinea in Sydney, adding further weight to the notion.
Both leaders also watched the popular State of Origin match in Suva, Fiji, last year, and in Parliament on Thursday, Albanese made reference to that.
"When Prime Minister Marape and I watched the State of Origin together in Suva last year, he (Marape) said there are only three days your country stops - Game 1, Game 2 and Game 3 [of Origin]," Albanese said.
"That's something I think a lot of Australians can relate to. And it was great to see so many people getting off the Air Niugini flights in Brisbane to support the talent of the Kumuls and the Orchids in the Prime Minister's XIII matches," he said.
Photo: Facebook/Lae Snax Tigers