![\"Adrian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/4ab4a6c753559951c26e831e823d71d29090f818.png\")
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November 1, 2026 \u2014 9:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n No gift articles left<\/p>\n You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.<\/p>\n Close<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The PNG Chiefs have declared that they will chase a marquee No.7 in a bid to reach the finals in its inaugural season as the franchise hits its first free-agency period armed with tax-free dollars.<\/p>\n November 1 marks the beginning of what is expected to be the most frenetic trade window in NRL history.<\/p>\n Newcomers the Chiefs and Bears will be jostling for the signatures of the game\u2019s most in-demand stars.<\/p>\n Penrith maestro Nathan Cleary tops that list and has yet to determine his future beyond next year. He is not alone with 11 Kangaroos \u2013 Jack Bostock, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, James Tedesco, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and David Fifita \u2013 also able to field offers from rivals.<\/p>\n The Chiefs have already made a start on their roster, securing Jarome Luai, Joey Manu, Connor Watson, Brian To\u2019o, Zac Lomax, Alex Johnston and Matty Lees before even reaching their first free-agency period.<\/p>\n The focus will now shift to luring a star halfback and putting together a strong pack for him to play behind. One of the Chiefs\u2019 potential targets, Zane Harrison, has recommitted to the Gold Coast, leaving Cleary and Walker as obvious targets to partner Luai.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to get a marquee No.7 because we want to be in a position where we can compete for finals from year one,\u201d Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas said.<\/p>\n \u201cHistory will show that if you don\u2019t have an elite No.7, you will struggle to do that, to at least be competing at the back end of the year.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see how it all plays out and then over the next couple of weeks we can get answers accordingly on whether guys are interested or not.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve done all the homework necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chiefs have put their rivals on notice after an early signing spree netted several stars who were given early permission to negotiate or were poached from rugby. The club has also tabled a four-year, $3 million deal for promising Titans forward Cooper Bai<\/a>, who was given permission to negotiate by his club, while Canberra back-rower Hudson Young will be a player of interest, if he can be secured at the right price.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need a seven and we need to complete the spine. Then we need to focus on the forward pack,\u201d Chammas said.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s been saying they\u2019re all outside backs, but the reality is we\u2019ve only signed what\u2019s been available. We decided out of the few forwards who have been available, we will wait, because the cream of the crop is available on November 1.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where we think we can bolster our team with some good forwards. It\u2019s a juggling act, we need to balance the fact that we need a seven and a nine and some forwards, but also juggle the fact we don\u2019t know what the cap will be in 2028.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s risk-reward at the moment; whether you go early on one, does it hurt you down the track? I\u2019m sure we will make some mistakes about the timing of things, because we don\u2019t know where the cap will land.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll do the best we can with it and make the right decisions on the players we believe will fit what we\u2019re trying to build. Hopefully those question marks around our forward pack will be gone in a few months.\u201d<\/p>\n Bai\u2019s father, Melbourne Storm legend Marcus, sits on the PNG Chiefs board. Bai senior said he would be prepared to step down from the position if negotiations with his son were deemed a conflict of interest.<\/p>\n \u201cThis country adores Cooper,\u201d Chammas said. \u201cWhen I was here 12 months ago, I was watching a game, I turned around for a moment to get a drink and I heard a roar.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI remember turning to [former NRL CEO] Andrew Abdo at the time and saying \u2018What just happened?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cHe said to me that Cooper Bai took his first hit-up in the country, that\u2019s all it was. I couldn\u2019t believe it, it was like someone had won a grand final, that\u2019s how loud it was.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cI saw how much he means to the people. It\u2019s a decision for him to make, but we want him to be part of it. He\u2019s the son of a Papua New Guinean legend, and there\u2019s no better fit to have him here for our inaugural season.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe he\u2019s everything we want this club to be. It\u2019s up to him to work that out. If it\u2019s not for him, that\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it works into his lifestyle and his football career, we\u2019d be grateful to get him. If not, we understand.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Nathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/be694cb26182e0e752e594c1b16ed9070e79a445.jpeg\")
Nathan Cleary is on the NRL market.Sam Mooy<\/p>\n![\"Rising](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/be3803822749996817b1299537c4af691fed34c6.jpeg\")
Rising star Cooper Bai is a Chiefs target.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Rising](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/1793491815_553_be3803822749996817b1299537c4af691fed34c6.jpeg\")
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