Chammas to prioritize ‘young guns’ in PNG Chiefs recruitment drive

Junior Kumuls outfit with head coach Joe Grima during the 2025 PMs XIII challenge in Port Moresby (Image: Supplied)

The newly appointed General Manager of the PNG Chiefs, Michael Chammas, has revealed that emerging talent from domestic competitions and the NRL Bid Academy will be the top priority in the franchise’s recruitment process.

While the club acknowledges the need for star power, Chammas is determined to ensure that local players see the Chiefs as their home team.

"When you talk about recruitment and who we’re going to get, that is an important part, but we also want local players to feel like there’s a home for them here," Chammas said.

A cornerstone of this strategy is the PNG NRL Bid Academy, led by Coaching and Pathways Manager Joe Grima. The academy has already established development systems across several regions in Papua New Guinea to identify and nurture elite talent.

"We are going to take the time to make sure we know exactly who the best young kids are," Chammas said. "Joey Grima and the team here have done a phenomenal job setting up all the development pathways. We want to capitalize on that groundwork."

PNG Kumuls and London Broncos five-eight Gairo Voro diving for a try during round 2 of Challenge Cup (Image: Mediapac Sports / Paul Cowan)

While local youth are the priority, the Chiefs are expected to assemble a diverse maiden squad using three primary sources in homegrown talent, international Kumul players and NRL marquee stars.

Graduates from the PNG NRL Bid Academy and standout performers from the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup as well as the Hunters will potentially be considered.

PNG internationals in the likes of Nene Macdonald, Dan Russell, Liam Horne, Morea Morea, Gairo Voro, Finley Glare, among others, currently contracted to Super League clubs and Challenge Cup franchises in the United Kingdom, are also some of the recruitment targets.

The Chiefs will also rely on elite players from NRL to provide leadership and top-grade competition amongst the established clubs.

However, Chammas insisted that focusing on fresh talent is essential for the long-term stamina of the core lineup. He said the Chiefs have a unique advantage.

"Look at other expansion teams, they usually start with only six months of preparation. We have years," Chammas said.

"While I understand the media excitement around 'big names,' there is more to it than that. If we only worry about big names, we might get a 'sugar hit' where we have a good couple of years and then fall away. The bottom [foundation] is the most important part, and that’s why we are spending so much time on it."