The inaugural coach of the PNG Chiefs has declared he has no interest in signing mercenaries looking for a payday as he left the door open for some of the NRL’s biggest names to join the start-up franchise.
Willie Peters was officially confirmed as the Chiefs’ foundation coach on Monday and will begin assembling the club’s inaugural roster when the Australian finishes up with Hull Kingston Rovers at the end of the current Super League season.
The 47-year-old has spearheaded a period of unprecedented success with Rovers, winning the Challenge Cup, the Super League grand final and minor premiership last year as well as upsetting Brisbane in last month’s World Club Challenge.
Now Peters is looking to translate that into PNG’s first year in the NRL in 2028 and wants to put together a squad that can make an instant impact.
Peters was on the coaching staff of last year’s Kangaroos tour alongside Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, who are both off contract at the end of 2027.
Asked if the Penrith duo were attainable targets, Peters said: “I have to be mindful not to talk too much around recruitment now that they are contracted to other clubs.
“I spent time with them in the Ashes with the Kangaroos and they were exceptional.
“I don’t want to talk specifically about those two players, but more in general around the mentality of the players we want.
“We want guys always seeking to be a better player and to want to be a leader and those types of things … At the right time, if players want to talk to the Chiefs, then I’m sure (PNG football manager) Michael Chammas will be on the phone.”
Penrith’s Isaah Yeo and Nathan Cleary come off contract the year before the Chiefs’ debut season. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster also comes off contract at the end of the 2027 season.
Peters insists he wants people joining the Chiefs for more than just the tax-free salaries on offer given players and their families are expected to live together in a resort village in Port Moresby.
Peters admired how Penrith built a tight bond during the COVID-19 bubble in 2021 that led to their first premiership under the stewardship of Ivan Cleary.
The clock is rapidly counting down to when PNG fans can watch their own side play in the NRL. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
“My wife wouldn’t be coming over and being all-in just because of tax-free money,” Peters said.
“It’s because of the impact that we believe that we can help have on the country and the rugby league team over there.
“The players and staff we get, we want them to be similar … We want those final decisions not based around what you’re making, it’s going to be based around how we impact the country in a positive way.”
Peters is eager for his squad to have a local flavour, adamant the Chiefs cannot hope to enjoy sustained success if they do not recruit Papua New Guineans.
Justin Olam scored 52 tries in 117 NRL games for the Storm and Wests Tigers since debuting in 2018. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)
Since the inception of the Queensland Cup side the PNG Hunters in 2014, only one player – ex-Melbourne and Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam – has played regularly in the NRL.
“I always said when I got an opportunity with an NRL club, I want to have a junior base,” Peters said.
“I want to be able to have a development pool of players where there is talent coming through. It’s untapped over there from what I believe.
“There’s players over there that don’t get seen and our job now is to make sure that we’re getting the eyes on every young Papua New Guinean player to give them a pathway to play for the Chiefs.”