Formerly sacked South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has revealed his interest in returning to the NRL, emerging as a top contender for the open PNG Chiefs coach position.
After being appointed as head coach of the PNG Kumuls in 2024, Demetriou has shown passion for the side and is excited about the chance to lead them when they enter the NRL in 2028.
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“If there’s an opportunity to be involved with PNG, then I’d love that,” Demetriou told Code Sports.
“I’m passionate about PNG and about the people of PNG and, more importantly, what rugby league can do for that country.”
After leaving the NRL in 2024, Demetriou took time away from the game before receiving a call in November from Brisbane legend and London Broncos’ new majority owner, Darren Lockyer.
Despite taking the London head coaching role, he remains devoted to PNG as the national coach.
He is set to remain at the helm through to the 2026 World Cup, and is currently on a three-year contrct with the Broncos.
But Lockyer said he won’t stand in the way if a chance to lead PNG arises.
“I coach the Kumuls, so they know where my interest is, as does the London club,” Demetriou said.
“I’m focusing on what I can control at the moment and that’s here with London, but when the right opportunity comes down the track, I will look at it.”
Papua New Guinea coach Jason Demetriou. Picture: NRL ImagesSource: Supplied
Having worked alongside PNG players over recent years, Demetriou is confident the NRL side will not take long to become a powerful force.
“It’s scary how much potential there is in PNG,” he said.
“It’s a huge job (for the head coach). If the NRL gets the development right, in five or six years time every NRL club will be going to PNG to find talent. They will be in the shop window.
“Everyone says why don’t PNG guys get picked up from NRL teams … well no-one sees them because they aren’t playing in Australian competitions.
“I have brought a couple of PNG guys to the London Broncos and they are living on their own, adapting to a big city and doing it easy.
“This will make a cultural difference. If the right people are in place for the right reasons, it’s a club that can have a massive impact on the NRL. In five or 10 years time, there could be 50 legitimate, PNG-born players playing in the NRL.”
Demetriou’s NRL coaching career took off in 2022 after taking the reins from Bennett at South Sydney where he delivered a preliminary final campaign.
However, things quickly soured as 2023 saw a mid-season slump, leading the team to miss the top eight.
Demetriou was then sacked in early 2024 after the side lost six out of their first seven matches.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 13: Rabbitohs coach, Jason Demetriou speaks to the media following the round six NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks at Accor Stadium, on April 13, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
This finish has left the Kumuls coach with unfinished business, and is hopeful that a PNG Chiefs call up could give him the chance to redeem himself.
“That’s an aspiration — to get back into the NRL,” he said. “I’m not content with how I finished.
“I showed early on in my stint at Souths that I’ve got more to offer. It’s about finding the right club. I’m looking forward to doing what I need to do here at the Broncos and earning the right to get that shot again in the NRL.
“It’s not until you go through it where you take your real lessons. I’m without doubt a better coach for it. I’ve been fortunate in my career in the first 10 years of coaching to have a lot of success, you know, coaching finals nearly every year at every level and winning some premierships as well.
“So it was probably the first time that I’d hit that kind of hurdle. The NRL is brutal. It doesn’t miss you, but it hasn’t deterred me.”
The Chiefs have been active in club movements over recent weeks, appointing Lorna McPherson as their inaugural CEO and journalist Michael Chammas is set to become their general manager.
19/08/23. The Daily Telegraph, Sport / News. Heffron, Sydney, NSW, Australia. South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou pictured at a press conference at the clubÃs Heffron Training Centre this morning. Picture: Julian AndrewsSource: News Corp Australia
The appointment of a PNG head coach will become one of the NRL’s most important hires, with the Chiefs emerging as the most ambitious expansion project in NRL history.
Although they are yet to recruit a coach or any players, there are a few names circling that could topple Demetriou for the spot.
A few Super League coaches have emerged as options including PNG-born, Leigh Leopards coach Adrian Lam and former Eels coach and current Leeds Rhinos coach Brad Arthur.
Former NRL player and another current Super League coach, Willie Peters is another name gaining a lot of buzz throughout the UK.
South Sydney’s Wayne Bennett has also been mentioned as a possibility alongside Panthers’ Ivan Cleary.
Code Sports have reported the side’s dream target would be Cleary with son Nathan also a hopeful prospect.
With both their contracts up at the end of 2027, a linkage to PNG is a possibility for these huge targets.
BULLDOGS STAR ADVICE TO TIGERS ROOKIE
So just how does an 18-year-old rookie rock up to training on a Monday morning after grabbing all the headlines with a 16-minute hat-trick in the NRL trials.
“He had a good game on the weekend and then came in this morning like everything was normal. That was great to see,” Wests Tigers winger Sunia Turuva told the NewsWire when asked about teen sensation Heamasi Makasini.
Talent and desire are no issues for Makasini, who earnt his NRL debut in the final round last year and scored a try to give Tigers fans something to be excited about all off-season.
That hype only intensified on Saturday when the powerhouse outside back scored three tries in the 42-26 victory over the Roosters, although there are no guarantees he’ll even be in the first grade squad to start the season.
And that’s fine for a young man who still has so much learning to do, with Turuva – the 2023 Dally M Rookie of the Year winner – urging people to keep a lid on things.
“He’s still 18 and still has a lot to learn. He’s a big boy so it’s crazy to know that he’ll only get bigger and stronger,” he said of his 192cm, 105kg teammate.
Wests Tigers youngster Heamasi Makasini.Source: News Corp Australia
“He had a pretty big pre-season, so what he dished out on the weekend was no surprise. It was pretty cool knowing that he killed it in the pre-season and was able to reap the rewards.”
Turuva got to play with Stephen Crichton in the 2023 premiership side, with the now Bulldogs skipper earning similar hype when he burst onto the scene.
That hysteria proved warranted, with Crichton reaching out to Makasini to give him some advice on what’s about to happen to him on and off the field.
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Sunia Turuva says former teammate Stephen Crichton reached out to Heamasi Makasini. Picture: NRL PhotosSource: The Daily Telegraph
“His idol is ‘Critta’ (Crichton) and believe it or not, Critta sent him a message a few months ago,” Turuva revealed, with Makasini already earning comparisons to the Bulldogs skipper.
“He went through the same thing and reminded him to stay grounded and stay humble. Critta was a bit skinnier when he started, and I don’t think he had as much hype as ‘Masi’ does now.
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“For Masi, it’s about not buying into all the stories about him. But that should be fine because he’s a humble kid and does tend to stay away from that stuff.
“He knows he doesn’t want to fall into the trap of listening to the media and then him losing his head, because that’s the last thing you want for an 18-year-old. You don’t want to be at the top and then have a massive drop, but he’s been really good at it.”
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Players are confident the Tigers will end their finals drought under Benji Marshall.Source: Supplied Source Known
The Tigers will look to build on last week’s encouraging win when they face the Panthers on Friday night in another trial, with the real challenge to start next month when they look to end their finals drought.
They haven’t featured in the finals since 2011, but there’s a confidence in the group that the spine of Jahream Bula, Jarome Luai, Adam Doueihi and Api Koroisau can execute coach Benji Marshall’s game plan to end the drought.
“Every team can say it now because every team wants to be there in September, but I honestly believe we’ve got the right group to do it,” Turuva said.
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“Our spine has had another year together, and for us, knowing that we’ve got Jahream, Api, Jarome and Adam there (gives us confidence).
“We’ve got to keep everything the same in our squad and then perform on game day and be consistent with that. That starts here at training, and that’s something that Api, Jarome and Benji are really strong on.”