Image: Vauighn Ridley/SWpix
By STEVE MASCORD
JASON Demetriou’s ambition to coach the new Papua New Guinea NRL franchise will not be impacted by his decision to take up a three-year contract with London.
That’s the position of the Broncos’ owner-elect, former Australia captain Darren Lockyer, who says he supports the 49-year-old’s aspirations to return to the NRL.
Some reports have claimed the English appointment means Demetriou, who was head coach at South Sydney between 2022 and 2024, is out of the running to head up the Port Moresby-based expansion franchise when it debuts in 2028.
“Jason’s been up front and said ‘look, I’d like to get back to the NRL as a head coach one day’,” Lockyer told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads in our long-form Q&A with him.
“So this is a stepping stone for him and we’re aware of that. So, look, if he’s going to be a target for an NRL coach, well, then he’s come over here and he’s been successful, which is a good thing for us.”
Overnight Tuesday, UK time, it was reported that former Australia and Fiji forward Reagan Campbell-Gillard was preparing to join the Twickenham-based club.