NRL Chairman Peter V’landys has publicly stated that the league intends to defend itself against court action initiated over the naming of the upcoming Papua New Guinea expansion team. The franchise, which is slated to join the competition as the 18th team, has faced opposition regarding its branding, specifically the use of the name 'PNG Chiefs.'

While the NRL has been moving forward with its expansion plans to include a team based in Papua New Guinea, this legal challenge introduces a hurdle for the league's branding strategy. V’landys indicated that the NRL is prepared to fight the claim in court, signaling that the organization is committed to the current name or is at least unwilling to concede the naming rights without a legal battle. The specific details regarding the identity of the party bringing the action and the legal grounds for their objection remain limited in current reporting. The NRL has not yet provided a detailed timeline for how this litigation might impact the team's official launch or commercial preparations.