A private island and tax-free wages: This is the NRL’s master plan for the PNG Chiefs

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The NRL and the PNG Chiefs have begun selling the tax-free dream, revealing their plans to lure players and their families to Papua New Guinea from the end of 2027.

The Chiefs name was unveiled in Port Moresby last weekend, with the Herald invited to sit in on key meetings, tour potential accommodation and interview key stakeholders.

There are bold ambitions to begin talking to players in the coming weeks, plans to pursue Ivan and Nathan Cleary, and predictions of what could be the most valuable jersey in the NRL.

However, before they can do that, one of the greatest obstacles confronting the Chiefs will be convincing players and their families they will be safe within the country.

The NRL and PNG franchise are considering two main accommodation options for the Chiefs Village.

Option A: Airways Hotel & Residences

Airways Hotel is the current preferred option of the NRL.

Complete with its own private island and overwater bungalows just 15 minutes off the coast of Port Moresby, the Airways Resort is the preferred player village of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

The resort is next to the international airport and fenced off from the outside world.

The appeal of the 11-hectare facility is the available green space and facilities that would be more appealing to families than high-rise apartment and hotel complexes.

The facility has a tennis court, basketball court, playground, swimming pools, beauty salon, squash courts, restaurants, gym and its own medical centre.

There is an undertaking from the resort owners to build 80 villas that would house the NRL players and their families before they arrive for pre-season training at the end of 2027, ahead of their entry into the competition in 2028.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people in PNG and the reputation is bad, but the reality is not like that,” Chiefs board member and former ARL Commission director Catherine Harris said.

“Everybody is so conscious about security, it’s almost safer because everyone is so conscious of it. It’s like working in a workforce where safety is really important. You feel safe. It’s the same here in PNG.”

As part of the deal, players and their families will have access to the Loloata Island resort.

“I think this island can work two ways,” Chiefs chairman Ray Dib said.

Loloata Island is privately owned by the Airways Resort and will be available to players and families.

“One is for families to come out here during the week. The mothers can take the kids and come out for the day. It’s also a great overnight island, so they can come here with their partners or when family members come over to visit during the season. It’s a great place to break the monotony of staying in the players’ and staff village.”

Option B: Marriott Executive Apartments, Port Moresby Harbour

The other option the NRL is considering is the harbour front Marriott apartments. There is vacant land on the water for a purpose-built accommodation facility.

The harbourside site owned by the Marriott which is being considered as the site for the Chiefs’ accommodation village.

While the harbour front precinct has a heavy security presence, it’s not separated from the outside world.

This is a concern for the NRL despite the appeal of a waterfront location and new facilities adjacent to a fast-developing CBD.

“Look, safety is a priority,” Dib said. “Some years ago, I took my wife and my daughter there when we built a school with the Bulldogs there. They never had a concern.

“Since I’ve been going there, I’ve never witnessed or experienced any concerns. But there’s obviously places where you don’t go after dark, or you [don’t] drive down certain streets.”

The pool overlooking the harbour in the existing Marriott building being offered to the NRL.

The other major appeal of the Marriott Apartments is the indoor-outdoor mezzanine level, which is being dubbed “NRL House” and is being offered as a private facility for players and their families.

The third option is the Hilton Hotel; however, a lack of green space and its location are expected to be deterrents.

Will the PNG franchise be a success?

Most see this venture as a geopolitical power play.

It is viewed in some quarters as a $600 million gift from the government to the NRL, leaving some pundits sceptical of the PNG team’s place in the competition.

But NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo hit back at suggestions the league was out of its depth with this project.

“It is going to diversify, strengthen, and grow the game’s whole of game revenues,” he said.

“There’s no question about that. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be doing this. But it’s long term, and it requires investment now. And the long-term gains are that as this country develops and as the ecosystem develops, there are a number of revenue drivers or spin-offs from it.

Papua New Guinea fans at PM XIII game in Port Moresby.

“One thing we do know about sporting clubs is that they are becoming increasingly more valuable. So, we are creating a franchise that will one day in the future, in the near future, have a value of somewhere between 50 and $100 million.”

Dib echoed that sentiment, predicting high sponsorship revenue.

“We have been inundated with sponsorship over in PNG and in Australia,” Dib said.

“You’ll be surprised by the number of international brands that will be on our jersey. Money won’t be an issue for us. I’m confident we’ll be at the top.”

How will the Chiefs attract big-name players?

Dib held the role of chairman at the Canterbury Bulldogs during a successful period when they reached grand finals in 2012 and 2014.

He knows players are unlikely to sign long-term contracts to join the Chiefs, but believes the financial perks could represent the opportunity of a lifetime.

“We have to be realistic. I’m confident once we get them there, and they see the facilities and what we have in mind, the vision that Peter [V’landys, ARL Commission chairman] and Andrew have got for the franchise ... that they’ll be able to enjoy the period and also gain financially and academically,” Dib said.

Ray Dib and Andrew Abdo on their way out to visit Loloata Island.

“Not just the players but also their families. They will come back in a better financial position and ready with their next career move in mind. Let’s be honest, the players have got a limited lifespan in rugby league.

“If you’re a young bloke starting out, you want an opportunity to play in the NRL and maximise your minimum [early career] salary, that’s got to be an attraction. If you’re a player coming towards retirement, if you haven’t really established a great asset base, it’s a place that might help you in the last couple of years of your career.”

Has the tax-free incentive been signed off?

The Australian government is yet to sign off on the promised income tax exemption, but Abdo says the players have nothing to worry about.

“It’s completely tax-free in PNG,” Abdo said. “And we’re in the process of confirming the exemption for ensuring that non-resident Australians aren’t taxed in Australia.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo addressed the PNG Chiefs board last week.

“The legislation exists already, and it’s really just around formalising that through the actual package that will be offered to these individuals.”

Residents of other countries will not be entitled to the exemption as the deal is between the Australian and PNG governments.

As a result, New Zealand and England residents will not be financially advantaged by joining the Chiefs, reducing the potential player pool.

Which players are the Chiefs chasing?

The Chiefs are set to approach the NRL to request that they be allowed to sign players from November 1 this year.

The club doesn’t want to wait until this time next year to begin building its roster and is keen to try and convince players to join the Chiefs two years before they enter the competition.

That would require a player to agree to a contract for 2028 and sign a one-year deal for 2027 with another club.

Payne Haas is a free agent as of November 1.

“We would be crazy not to engage [with players], but I just need to speak to the NRL about it and whether we’re allowed to sign future contracts if they are free agents,” Dib said.

“That’s something we’re going to have a discussion very soon about. That would be an ideal position [to talk to players from November 1 this year]. If we can do that then yeah, absolutely we should be doing that.

“If the NRL say we can do that and the player is willing to play with someone else in the interim, we’d be crazy not to see what’s available.”

That would put Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Payne Haas, Luke Metcalf, Jayden Campbell, Harry Grant and Liam Henry firmly on the Chiefs’ radar.

V’landys has also made no secret of his desire to lure Wayne Bennett to Papua New Guinea.

Nathan Cleary celebrates with his father and coach Ivan Cleary.

He may get his way because, under its constitution, the ARLC has the final say on whom the coach and chief executive will be.

Other potential targets could include Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, who is off contract at the end of 2027.

It’s also Nathan Cleary’s final year on contract at Penrith. His partner, Mary Fowler, has Papua New Guinean heritage.

The stadium and centre of excellence

Santos National Stadium will be the Chiefs’ home base, with plans in place to upgrade the venue’s capacity from 15,000 to 20,000.

The site for the PNG first grade training field and centre of excellence is right next to the existing stadium that will be used as the team’s home ground. Construction is expected to commence in the new year.

Outside the $600 million Australian government investment that goes to the NRL, the PNG government has pledged to invest in the upgrade of the stadium and a nearby centre of excellence.

The Chiefs are building a temporary office inside the stadium grandstand, but will move to the centre of excellence which is expected to rival the facilities used by the Parramatta Eels and North Queensland Cowboys.

What are some of the other challenges?

Given the year-round high temperatures and humidity, night matches would provide more suitable conditions when the Chiefs play at home.

Fans at the match between the PM’s XIII and PNG in Port Moresby.

The lack of public transport in Port Moresby after 6pm is another hurdle.

By the second half of last week’s PM’s XIII game in Port Moresby, thousands had left the ground.

It wasn’t due to a lack of interest or disappointment with the scoreline, merely because public transport was the only way many could make it home that night.

Participation and development programs

The NRL has invested in development programs to try and establish a pathway for aspiring players.

Most children don’t have access to a grass field, so they play on roads and roundabouts to get their fix of rugby league in a country of 22 provinces and 89 districts.

PNG pathways and development guru Joey Grima presents to NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and the PNG Chiefs board.

In 2023, under the watch of Joey Grima – affectionately nicknamed “Boss Man” by the locals and Bigpela Dog (Big Dog) by Prime Minister James Marape – Tony Archer and Scott Barker, the NRL embarked on a pilot program in Port Moresby with 60 of the best young players.

Given 80 per cent of the estimated 12 million people in PNG live outside Port Moresby, the following year the program expanded to six regions, only accessible to each other by plane.

Invites had to be hand-delivered to the most remote parts of the country.

“We want to be the Brisbane Broncos here,” Grima said in his presentation to Abdo and the board.

Local fans swarm over Jason Saab after the PM’s XIII game in Port Moresby last weekend.

It is estimated that by 2026, when they expand into eight locations, the PNG academy will have a total of 960 participants – three times the size of the Parramatta Eels academy. The program will run over 22 weeks.

There are no structured competitions available for children between the ages of six and 12, and they rely on schools to provide the opportunity for gameplay.

NRL players are mobbed during a trip to PNG for a PM’s XIII match a few years ago.

It is estimated that an Australian child would be exposed to close to 1000 extra hours of rugby league development than the average PNG child before they reach adulthood.

The shortfall is the focus of the PNG pathways leaders, who are seeking to bridge this divide by expanding access, enhancing training structure, and delivering consistent, high-quality coaching and competitions.

That’s why the government has invested close to $60 million into the initiative over the next five years, hopeful that the Chiefs will one day be predominantly made up of locals and not rely heavily on Australian players seeking tax-free contracts.

“We’ll be bigger than the Penrith Junior Rugby League,” Dib said. “We will be the biggest nursery of rugby league in the world.”

The Herald travelled to Papua New Guinea courtesy of the NRL.

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