Mana Pasifika bids for historic NRL spot

A Pasifika-centric franchise has bid to become the newest addition to the NRL (National Rugby League) competition.

Mana Pasifika officially launched their bid to be the NRL’s 19th team after years of preparation.

Mana Pasifika lead Paepaetele Geoff Brown says a Pasifika-centric team in the NRL is long overdue.

“Mana Pasifika was established as a sounding board for the Pacific Islands and also local iwi within New Zealand.

“It stems from a lot of work over the years with several organisations like Sāmoa, Tonga, the Cooks, Niue, Tokelau and the Māori Indigenous.

“Rugby league has been a strong part of our society for years, so we’re excited about the opportunity of bringing our people together.”

The Pacific playing population in the NRL has risen to nearly 50 per cent over the past decade, with many young players moving from New Zealand to Australia.

Brown says Mana Pasifika aims to retain players in New Zealand.

"We're losing, in terms of talent, about 150 kids plus a year to Australia to pursue a career.

Listen to the full interview on 531PI's Pacific Mornings:

“And those kids are not your average kids, these are talented kids who have been brought up in this system, and so we can't afford to lose them.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Brown said this would allow talented players to stay in Auckland, surrounded by their local communities.

“If we're going to grow the game, strengthen ties of rugby league in this country, we need to hold on to our talent, and essentially, this bid is part of that.”

With the iconic Eden Park slated as their home ground, Brown said he was proud to bring something Pasifika to the stadium.

“There's no park like Eden Park. I played at Carlaw Park as a young man. I also sprinted at Ericsson Stadium, now Mount Smart.

Photo/edenpark.co.nz

“So to be able to bring something to Eden Park - it’s historic for the game of rugby league, but more importantly, for our communities.”

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown expressed support for the initiative.

“Mana Pasifika embodies the heart and soul of Auckland, our diversity, our heritage, and our love for sport.

“This franchise will not only strengthen rugby league in the region but also serve as a symbol of unity for all our communities.”

Plans to launch Mana Pasifika in the 2027-28 season are underway, but the NRL Commission will decide.