PNG Chiefs manager hints at Reece Walsh pursuit

PNG Chiefs Football Manager Michael Chammas has inadvertently linked Brisbane Broncos superstar Reece Walsh to the club’s 2028 NRL entry, following a slip of the tongue during a recent podcast appearance.

Speaking on the Bye Round Podcast with James Graham, Chammas was detailing the world-class amenities planned for the Players Village in Port Moresby when he mentioned a specific luxury intended for the Maroons fullback.

"They'll have everything at their disposal; tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, an international medical center, gyms, [and a] nail salon for Reece Walsh," Chammas said, before quickly realizing the implications.

"So, actually, no, we can't talk about players. I'm gonna get in trouble there," he added, moving away from specific names.

Beyond the accidental mention of Walsh, Chammas provided the most detailed look yet at how the Chiefs intend to lure NRL talent to Papua New Guinea. Chammas clarified that the NRL would still monitor market values closely to ensure salary cap integrity regarding the tax-free incentive.

"The market value is still based on what we're offering them before the tax," Chammas said. "If there’s a million-dollar player getting an offer elsewhere, the NRL isn’t going to let us register him for $700,000 just because it’s tax-free. It doesn't work that way."

A major hurdle for the franchise has been the high cost of living in Port Moresby. Chammas said that rent in the PNG's capital can be triple that of Sydney or Brisbane. To combat this, the club is developing a fully furnished residential resort.

"The NRL will work out the average cost of a three-bedroom apartment in Sydney and Brisbane, and that’s what the players will pay to the village," Chammas said. "They’ll come in and have everything at their disposal."

The Brisbane Broncos premiership winning fullback is currently contracted to the club until the end of 2029 season.

While high-profile recruits like Walsh are high on the agenda for the initial 2028 roster, Chammas said the long-term goal is a home-grown pathway similar to the Penrith Panthers' system.

"We need senior, experienced players to come over in the initial phases… but the long-term vision is to have the majority of players from PNG," he said. "We need to make sure that over five to ten years, we're not relying on recruitment or tax-free dollars, but on the kids we’ve generated and produced."

Chammas acknowledged the geographical challenges of scouting a country where most regions are only accessible by air, stating the club must establish academies across the nation to identify elite talent in the Highlands and beyond.