Broncos veteran Ben Hunt has revealed how Papua New Guinea prime minister James Marape tried to poach him and two teammates to join the Chiefs during Brisbane’s trophy tour of PNG last year. The NRL‘s newest franchise announced the massive signing of Jarome Luai on Wednesday, and Souths winger Alex Johnston is expected to be the next.
A number of top players will undoubtedly look to follow them, especially with the added incentive of tax-free contracts. On Wednesday, Hunt lifted the lid on how he, Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam became recruitment targets for Marape when they were in PNG in October.
The PNG prime minster tried to ‘sweet talk’ Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds (R). Image: Getty
The Broncos trio were in Port Moresby during Brisbane’s premiership trophy tour, which followed their victory in the grand final. It was then that Marape saw his opportunity to try and sweet talk the star halves.
“We met the prime minister and he was trying to sweet talk us all,” Hunt said on 4BC radio. “He was saying to come over for the tax-free cash and whatnot – and he was offering ‘Reyno’ a job to come over as coach and everything. He was really wheeling and dealing.”
Since that time Reynolds has announced his retirement and will call it quits at the end of 2026. Hunt is keen to go around again in 2027, and PNG might not be out of the question once 2028 rolls around.
“There’s always a little bit of talk around the club about different things, especially when you see players sign like that (Luai and Johnston),” Hunt said. “You always hear a bit from guys that are off contract saying, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll probably talk to them, I’ll probably talk to them.’
“It’s nothing like there’s never been before. Players are always talking about different clubs and what’s going on with their contracts and things like that. It’s nothing new.”
Adam Reynolds, Ben Hunt and Ezra Mam were in PNG last year.
(Getty Images)Isaah Yeo addresses Panther links to PNG
Speculation is rife that Luai could help recruit players from both the Tigers and Panthers (his old club). Penrith have a swathe of stars coming off contract including Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o, Moses Leota and Liam Martin.
“I’m understanding as I’ve gotten older that rugby league is a business and opportunities are never a bad thing,” Yeo said on Wednesday. “You have to think of your family. I’ve got three young children now and this will probably be my last contract. There’s a big long list of us off-contract and myself personally, I’ve got to be open-minded.”