‘He could’ve got more’: Jarome Luai contract twist revealed as PNG Chiefs detail ‘shock’ signing

PNG Chiefs general manager Michael Chammas says he and the club are “still in shock” they were able to land Jarome Luai while admitting the star playmaker could’ve taken more money from the club despite signing for a reported $1.2 million per season tax-free.

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Chammas, CEO Lorna McPherson, chairwoman Catherine Harris and PNG Sport Minister Kinoka Hotune faced the media contingent at NRL HQ in Sydney with Chammas opening up the press conference with a statement.

“A player whose profile transcends the game itself and signing a player of his calibre sends a message to the competition that the PNG Chiefs are here,” Chammas said.

“His signing will attract other players and this announcement will open doors that would otherwise take several years to unlock.

“Off the field, the significance is even greater. Jarome Luai in a PNG Chiefs jersey is a cultural moment for our nation. It will inspire a generation.

“To Jarome, having the courage to be first. The strength to walk away from a club for an opportunity that transcends rugby league. We admire what you’ve done and you’ll be a hero in Papua New Guinea long after your days on a football field end.”

Chammas also thanked Luai’s current club and their coach Benji Marshall.

“Without their blessing, this deal would not have been possible. It’s a credit to him as a coach and the Tigers as a club that they would behave in such a way that is so considerate to their player.”

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Chammas recounted the “whirlwind” last few days, which started when Luai and his family visited Port Moresby on Sunday.

Just a day after landing back in Sydney, it was reported that Luai would be the club’s first signing for its 2028 NRL entry.

Chammas revealed that the deal was two years plus an option, rather than a straight three-season deal as initially reported. He also declared that the club was intent on building a roster around Luai that could play finals in season one.

“We were all sitting there thinking how did this just happen,” Chammas said.

“It was a whirlwind 72 hours. Getting into the country, everyone seeing Jarome and the nervous wait if we were going to sign him.

“We’re in shock still. Three months ago if you told us that Jarome would be our first signing, I wouldn’t believe you.”

Since, much has been made about the Chiefs’ ability to offer tax-free contracts to lure players to PNG.

Chammas, a former journalist, even noted that the “narrative” had shifted as the initial concerns about a PNG team would that they’d struggle to attract players

“We’ve been inundated with interest from people … We’ve been pretty confident as a club that we would put a competitive roster together and this confirms that,” Chammas said.

“It sends a message if it’s good enough for Jarome, it’s good enough for everyone and he has three young kids as well.

“I think the narrative has sort of shifted a bit. Even when I was a journo, people were saying ‘who will go there, it’ll be a rabble, it’ll fold’ and now we’ve signed Jarome, the narrative has shifted to it being unfair

“He could have got more money from us. His managers could’ve asked for more but the reality is, he wants to win and the more money he takes up, the less we have to put around him and that’s the kind of person he is.

“He’s unselfish and he wanted to come to PNG. It’s a legacy thing but he wants to win and I appreciate the way they handled it because now we’re in a position to build a team around him and compete for finals in year one.”

During the storm of Luai’s signing, a subplot developed involving tryscoring record holder and international Papua New Guinea representative Alex Johnston.

Johnston shared news of an announcement that he had signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs for 2028, but reports refuted that almost immediately and the club was said to be unhappy at the news leak; which trumpeted AJ as the team’s first signing, right when Luai was set to be announced as such.

Chammas was asked about the somewhat awkward situation, confirming that Johnston hadn’t been offered a deal yet.

“We have been in conversations with Alex for a little while now. Those conversations are ongoing, but we haven’t issued or signed a contract,” Chammas said.

“We have made it clear from the outset that we see him playing a pivotal role at the club so we hope we can do something with him in the coming days.

“We are in the process now of putting together the final pieces of that, so I’m confident that in the next few days things will be put in place.

“Alex knows how important he is to us, and how important he is to the country, so we hope we will get that done.”

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