PNG CHIEFS’ ADAMANT ON UNVEILING HISTORIC JERSEY DESPITE BRANDING ROW
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Chiefs are determined to unveil the historic club jersey, colour, logo and their brand in the coming month, despite ongoing branding and trademark war between an opposite code.
Chief will launch the official jersey and logo for its inaugural 2028 NRL premiership season and beyond on the 21st of October 2026 in Port Moresby, as a major step towards the NRL entry and preparations for the first pre-season trainings in November, next year.
Chiefs Chief Executive Officer Lorna McPherson says the expansion franchise is set to announce these important announcements that will truly identify who Chiefs are, where Chiefs are from and clear distinctions from other existing teams.
“PNG Chiefs will officially reveal its logo and jersey on the 21st of October 2026,” McPherson hinted before putting pen-to-paper to an eyewatering $20m jersey sponsorship with Bank South Pacific, last week.
“The PNG Chiefs will run out at the National Football Stadium in March 2028 and with BSP coming on board, this is a major partnership.
“Thankyou Bank of South Pacific, the principal partner of the PNG Chiefs 2028 NRL team and of course, it is the biggest jersey sponsorship in history of NRL, valued at around 20milllion dollars on shirt alone.”
However, for PNG-side making these landmark announcements into reality came under radar of an opposite code, arguing of possible branding, logo and name infringement.
The New Zealand-based rugby union club Waikato Chiefs already wrote to Australia Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and NRL, not to register the name (Chiefs) as yet, given the Waikato holds every right as a registered trademark and name.
Waikato further added that PNG Chiefs to do that is direct breaching of intellectual property law and infringement of registered trademark rights.
Meanwhile, Chiefs boss McPherson has not responded on it, adamant that PNG Chiefs will go on to officiate the jerseys, logo and official team colour on the schedule date in Port Moresby.
