NRL clubs are coming to terms with the new reality and the major advantage the Papua New Guinea Chiefs have to attract star players.
The Chiefs don’t join the NRL until 2028 but Jarome Luai’s signing as the franchise’s marquee player has opened the floodgates of possibility as players contemplate the lure of tax-free money.
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With PNG’s first signing officially confirmed, clubs are now looking to lock down star players who are out of contract from November 1, with Luai’s current and former teammates surely at the top of PNG’s wish list.
Panthers premiership winners Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Mitch Kenny are off contract at the end of 2027 and have been strongly linked with a potential move to PNG for the final chapter of their careers.
Yeo has said he will probably test the open market and is “open-minded” about contract negotiations.
“It’d be smart to target some of his teammates from Penrith because they know what it looks like and feels like to win and they’ve got a great culture there and a good work ethic,” NRL 360 host Braith Anasta told news.com.au.
“They’re going to be in somewhat of a confined environment in PNG and you’ve got to create an environment where they’re familiar to each other and they enjoy each other’s company as well.
“I would think Penrith are the biggest dangers because they’ve got so many players off contract and they’re a successful club.
“So if I’m the GM, I’m definitely targeting a few there. I look at players like Mitch Kenny, who has been great for them. PNG could get him at good price, even though it is tax free.
“I’m sure he’s not on huge dollars at Penrith, so they could pretty much counteract any offer that Penrith make.
“You would get Liam Martin because he’s won so many premierships, he’s done it all, and he’s probably looking now at setting his family up.
“It’s one of his last big contracts, if not his last. He is a tough bastard and ultra-competitive and, again, has high standards. So they’re two that I would think are going to be on their list and two that I’d go for.
“If you could jag a Brian To’o even him, he’s great mates with Jarome. He’s a fair target.
“Isaah Yeo maybe would go. I’m not sure about Nathan Cleary. I’ve got a feeling they have already inquired about Nathan.”
Players at the Wests Tigers including Terrell and Taylan May, Sunia Turuva, Latu and Samuela Fainu are also seen as targets for the Chiefs and re-signing them could cost the Tigers.
“There’s obviously a host of players at the Tigers, but I think the players there are so happy there,” Anasta said.
“They’re a team on the rise that can see success ahead of them.
“I think they’d be more inclined to stay. But unfortunately for the Tigers, it’s going to cost them more because there will be interest from the Chiefs.
“The Tigers will have to pay more for the likes of Turuva and the May brothers.
“They’re the obvious ones, being ex-teammates and experiencing success would be very appealing.”
There has already rumblings about backlash to the tax-free element of the PNG Chiefs creating an uneven playing field.
Under Australian tax rules, Luai takes home around $650,000 of his $1.2 million contract at the Tigers. He would pocket the entire $1.2 million at the Chiefs.
Code Sports reported clubs are “pissed off” about the tax-free dollars PNG can offer, with once CEO predicting: “This will turn into a sh*t fight.”
NRL boss Peter V’landys has confirmed the Chiefs won’t pay tax for at least their first 10 years, as part of the federal government’s $600 million investment to set up a team in PNG.
“I don’t see it as unfair because all the clubs were pre-warned about it and all the clubs were compensated $4 million each for it to be approved and for them to be on board,” Anasta said.
“So you can’t really say it’s unfair. But do I think that it’s a distinct advantage? Of course.
“Do I think that over time it could become a problem? Yeah I do.
“These other clubs will feel the impact at some point now because of the Jarome Luai signing and if that turns into a snowball effect and you see some you know some really high quality players leaving clubs and not being able to compete with tax-free dollars then it’s going to become an issue.
“I think it’ll be an issue for the NRL moving forward.”
PNG making a splash by recruiting Luai has only highlighted the fact the Perth Bears haven’t managed to sign a marquee player of note and will struggle when they enter the NRL next year.
“I feel sorry for the Bears,” Anasta said.
“The Bears have had no concessions or compensation. The Bears actually have to pay extra for players because players have got to relocate their whole family. It’s a six-hour flight.
“It’s probably hard to attract players and get their inaugural side kicked off the ground and get some momentum and some success.
“It’s going to take longer, I believe, because they don’t have the concessions that PNG do.
“It’s a tricky one, but it’s one that everyone was aware of and every club was aware. I just think reality has hit now because of the Luai situation.”
