Brisbane Broncos receive heros welcome at Wigmen Stadium in Tari

The newly established Wigmen Stadium, located just outside Tari Town in Hela Province, was filled to capacity today as diehard fans gathered to welcome the Brisbane Broncos, who arrived with the prestigious NRL Premiership Trophy today.

The excitement began at Tari Airport, where the supporters greeted the team as soon as their plane touched down. A lively performance by the Hela Wigmen dancers added cultural flair to the warm reception.

Former Broncos star David Mead, who represented Papua New Guinea in the 2008 and 2013 Rugby League World Cups and captained the PNG Kumuls in 2017, played a key role in the event. He introduced the players to the crowd and invited them to share their reflections on Papua New Guinea and the significance of their visit.

Hela Governor Philip Undialu in welcoming the Broncos to the province, said the event united fans, families, and communities from across the province in a celebration of both sport and culture, emphasizing the deep ties between Papua New Guinea and Australia through rugby league.

“To honor the occasion, one of the stadium’s wings will be named the 'Brisbane Broncos Wing. Although the turnout was impressive, more fans would have attended had the visit not fallen on a Sunday,” the Governor said.

He congratulated the Broncos on their 2025 NRL Premiership victory and reaffirmed that Wigmen Stadium will serve as the official home ground for the Hela Wigmen club.

Andy Hetra, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, said he hopes the visit will change how people see Hela Province, which is often shown wrongly in the media. He thanked the Broncos for accepting the invitation to visit Tari and for making Hela their first stop before going to other provinces.

PNG international Edwin Ipape spoke to the crowd about how rugby league can unite people. “Today, we gather in the name of rugby league,” he said. “Young people must respect their parents and elders. Discipline and humility are essential for personal growth.” He also encouraged parents to guide their children with strong values to help raise responsible and law-abiding citizens.

After hours of speeches, gifts, and photos, the Broncos left to continue their Trophy Tour across the country.