A PACIFIC franchise spanning five nations including the US will lodge a bid to become the NRL’s 20th franchise.
The consortium would forever change the rugby league landscape by becoming the first NRL club to play home games in Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
Known as Mana Pasifika, the team would be based in Auckland and play home games in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Hamilton and Whangarei, with two matches a year taken to Pacific nations.
The team would play between four and six games annually at Auckland’s Eden Park, which was sold out for a finals game this year between the Warriors and Newcastle.
The two Pacific games would be played at either Teufaiva Stadium in Tonga, Apia Park in Samoa, BCI Stadium in the Cook Islands capital of Avarua, or a reconstructed Aloha Stadium in Hawaii.
Temporary seating would be required at some venues. Hawaiian authorities have already spoken about offering Mana Pasifika a temporary site at the 15,000-seat University of Hawaii. Playing in Hawaii after the NRL’s hugely successful intrusion into Las Vegas would further boost rugby league in America.
If the bid were successful, the NRL would expand to seven countries – Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and the US – by 2029.
Dunedin is interesting given the South Island city has never previously been linked to rugby league. Mana Pasifika’s general manager is Geoff Brown, a New Zealand businessman involved in commercial retail and property, while former NRL chief operating officer and Integrity Unit boss Jim Doyle is a senior adviser.
Mr Brown has already done the numbers on what it would cost to play NRL games in the Pacific, including Hawaii. “The franchise is designed to connect New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and the wider international Polynesian marketplace through rugby league,” Mr Brown, who has been involved in rugby league for 15 years, said.
“The ambition is to establish a powerful new NRL franchise with Auckland as its home base and a broader regional footprint spanning Northland, Hamilton-Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch, alongside strategic connections with Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Tokelau, Niue and Hawaii.
“Mana Pasifika believes this model offers the NRL an opportunity to strengthen its presence across New Zealand while developing deeper relationships with Pacific nations and the global Polynesian diaspora.
With 16 clubs based in Australia and one in New Zealand, Mana Pasifika sees an opportunity to further expand the NRL’s geographic reach and commercial potential.
“A franchise anchored in Auckland and connected throughout the Pacific could provide the NRL with a distinctive identity, an expanded international audience and a platform for long-term commercial and community development.
“Mana Pasifika is not simply proposing another team. It is proposing a new way to connect the game, its people and its markets.
“NSW remains the competition’s largest concentration of clubs, while New Zealand and the Pacific offer opportunities to deepen the game’s international footprint.
“The model will focus on youth development, athlete pathways, education, community engagement, commercial partnerships and international collaboration.
“A game in Hawaii isn’t impossible. I can tell you that right now.”
The franchise claims to have investors in America and New Zealand who are ready and willing to inject serious money into the bid. NRL executive chairman Peter V’landys has insisted all bid candidates secure at least $100m in funding.
Mr Brown first discussed his bid privately with Mr V’landys last year but has now gone public with his plans.
Mana Pasifika would no doubt offer enormous appeal for Pasifika players.
Samoa and Tonga have emerged as genuine rugby league powerhouses over the past decade and remain among the favourites to claim the Rugby League World Cup currently being played in Australia, PNG and New Zealand.
“The proposed franchise would be based in Auckland, with the ambition of sharing selected matches and community initiatives across multiple New Zealand cities to strengthen regional participation and engagement,” Mr Brown said.
“This approach would allow Mana Pasifika to build a broad supporter base while creating opportunities for local businesses, tourism operators, sporting organisations and community partners.
“By connecting sporting ambition with long-term social and economic outcomes, Mana Pasifika aims to create opportunities for the next generation of Maori and Pasifika athletes while building a sustainable platform for regional growth.
“Mana Pasifika is continuing to progress its investment strategy and franchise planning, with a further announcement on its intentions targeted before December 2026.”
Mana Pasifika will be the eighth expansion bid in the race to become the NRL’s 20th team in 2029.
There are already four candidates from Queensland and three in New Zealand, with the Graham Lowe-led Southern Orcas based in Christchurch.
Tonga
