Chiefs target off-contract NRL stars as recruitment drives heat up

The PNG Chiefs are already proving to be a highly attractive destination for top-tier talent, with General Manager Michael Chammas revealing that several off-contract players have directly approached the club to be part of the inaugural squad.

While the club maintains it is premature to officially confirm any marquee signings from the NRL or Super League, Chammas confirmed that chief talks are actively underway. The recruitment strategy is heavily focused on securing top players who are either currently off-contract or whose deals are set to expire by the end of the 2027 season.

However, Chammas emphasized that the club is strictly abiding by the NRL’s stringent anti-tampering and negotiation rules regarding players currently under contract with other clubs.

"I know everyone's really excited about what we're going to do player-wise," Chammas said. "It's really hard with the NRL's new rules to go into specifics around who those might be. But I will say that a lot of players have reached out to me in the last six weeks, and I've met with many agents."

"There's really no shortage of quality players who want to come in. While we have to be mindful of the rules and not doing the wrong thing, this team will be competitive from the outset. That is clear from the conversations I'm having."

Following the highly anticipated confirmation of Hull KR boss Willie Peters as the PNG Chiefs' maiden head coach, the club is widely expected to secure a strong contingent of star players from the Northern Hemisphere.

Chammas said the probability of landing talent from both the Super League and the Championship is incredibly high, largely thanks to Peters’ deep-rooted connection to the English game.

"That’s one of the things Willie spoke to CEO Lorna McPherson and me about his knowledge of the Super League and the players over there is going to be a massive asset for us," Chammas said.

"While our eventual head of recruitment will have a strong understanding of the NRL, Willie’s understanding of the Super League is second to none. He will also be keeping a close eye on the Championship, looking at those young players and seeing what they can offer to an NRL team."

Interest in the expansion franchise is already skyrocketing among established NRL heavyweights. Brisbane Broncos enforcer Patrick Carrigan and Cronulla Sharks front-rower Toby Rudolph are among the big names who have publicly expressed a strong interest in joining the Chiefs.

Chammas also addressed ongoing speculation regarding a potential move for the NRL's greatest try-scorer, Alex Johnston, though he was careful not to breach league guidelines.

"See, that's where I might get myself into trouble because he's one of those players who is contracted for a long period of time," Chammas said about Carrighan. "I will say, though, the fact that people are coming out and saying that they'd like to play for the Chiefs is fantastic."

"Toby Rudolph is off-contract at the end of this year and has come out and said it, and there have been a number of players who've reached out to me privately saying they want to be there when this team takes the field. It sends a message that this is the place you want to be."

The Chiefs' management is banking on the unmatched passion of local fans and top-tier facilities to turn the club into a sustainable powerhouse.

"Lorna and I have been very proactive in speaking to the media about what a unique opportunity and adventure this is for players and their families," Chammas said. "The more people speak positively about Papua New Guinea, the more other players hear that and want to be a part of it."

"The most important recruitment tool we are going to have is word of mouth. Yes, year one is going to be the unknown. But for years two, three, and four, we're going to rely on the positive experiences players have living at the Airways complex and playing here in PNG. If they are happy, this team will become an absolute powerhouse."