Australia pushes sporting diplomacy to new levels in the Pacific

Notably, the importance of rugby league in Albanese's statecraft was on full display in July.

Key points

• That match was played between Australian soldiers waiting to be shipped home from jungle postings in World War II.
• The importance of rugby league in Albanese's statecraft was on full display in July.
• It wasn't the first time his administration had employed the State of Origin to deepen Pacific links.
• "The trophy was collecting dust in an army museum in Brisbane, " Conroy remarked.
• But it takes more than a love of rugby league to draft a treaty.

Notably, the importance of rugby league in Albanese's statecraft was on full display in July. The prime minister hosted a trio of Pacific Island leaders – Marape, Tonga's Lord Fatafehi Fakafānua, and Samoa's La'auli Leuatea Schmidt – at the State of Origin decider, the Australian equivalent to the Super Bowl, in Brisbane.

While plenty of Australians believe the State of Origin – an annual grudge match between New South Wales and Queensland, began in 1980 – it kicked off 35 years earlier in Bougainville, PNG.

When Conroy learned that "The captain from New South Wales was from Newcastle – my home, " his interest was piqued, and he set regarding locating the trophy, to apply as a prop for an significant diplomatic message. "The trophy was collecting dust in an army museum in Brisbane, " Conroy remarked.

For context, the start of the next move was PNG Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili – whose great uncle was the "ball boy" during the 1945 match – parading the original trophy. It was carved out of a Japanese artillery shell, alongside two Australian soldiers to 90, 084 adoring fans at Australia's largest stadium, the MCG, during the half-time show of a 2024 State of Origin game.

"We're using every lever of statecraft to be the partner of choice. That means picking things that are high-value to our Pacific partners that only we can offer, " Conroy remarked. "This is the first time in the history of the world a country's used sporting diplomacy to this level."

Taken together, the developments around australia pushes sporting diplomacy to new levels in the Pacific point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.