‘Not for tax-free dollars’: New Chiefs boss issues blunt reality check to NRL stars

The PNG Chiefs might have the backing of a $600 million [about K1.8 billion] Australian government war chest and the allure of tax-free mega-deals, but foundation coach Willie Peters has drawn a line in the sand.

If you are just coming for the cash, don't bother packing your bags.

Speaking on NRL 360 with Queensland legend Gorden Tallis, Peters addressed the massive elephant in the room regarding the NRL’s 18th franchise: how do you convince prime footy talent to move to Port Moresby?

The incoming coach didn't shy away from the unique financial leverage his club will wield when the scrubbed-up expansion team officially enters the open market.

"Naturally, the tax-free dollars… let's talk about that," Peters said. "That's going to be an interest to people initially, or some people initially. But after that, it needs to be bigger. You know, much bigger than that."

With players slated to live in a high-security resort and pocketing pure, untaxed take-home pay, the Chiefs have the ammo to blow rival NRL club offers completely out of the water.

But Peters is adamant that building a club from the ground up in a footy-mad nation requires a very specific type of warrior. He isn't looking for mercenaries looking to coast on a tropical payday.

He wants buy-in.

"It was for myself and my family," Peters said of his own decision to take the historic gig.

"My wife wouldn't be coming over if it wasn't something bigger than money. So, what I'm getting at there is we need to make sure that we get the right people over. People that want to be there and players that want to be there for the right reasons."

The reality of playing in PNG will be unlike anything else in the NRL. While players will be treated like absolute rockstars by the local population, the cultural shift and security environment are vastly different from the coastal bubbles of Sydney or Brisbane.

Peters warned that any player making the jump purely for the financial perks will find themselves quickly found out.

"Because if they're coming over for tax-free dollars, they're not going to have an enjoyable time at all," Peters said bluntly.

"It's about winning rugby league games. It's about building a culture and, as I said, uniting a nation through this team. So for me, mate, it's about getting the right people involved that want to be there."

The Chiefs have already been heavily linked to massive foundation targets. But as Peters prepares to officially begin his roster build, his message to player managers across the game is crystal clear.

Culture comes first. The cash is just a bonus.