Jarome Luai is poised to become the face of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs after agreeing to join the NRL's 19th team in 2028. The Wests Tigers five-eighth is expected to publicly confirm his move on Wednesday, following a weekend visit to Papua New Guinea where he met with Prime Minister James Marape and senior club officials.
The announcement comes on the heels of the Chiefs' historic first signing: South Sydney Rabbitohs try-scoring machine Alex Johnston. The 31-year-old winger, who holds the NRL try-scoring record, confirmed his commitment via an Instagram story on Tuesday, writing, "Yessssss sirrrrrrr."
Luai, a four-time premiership winner with the Penrith Panthers, is currently enjoying a stellar season with the Tigers, who sit third on the NRL ladder. However, the allure of being the marquee player for a new franchise, coupled with a tax-free $1.2 million per season deal, proved irresistible. The 29-year-old will activate an option to remain with the Tigers in 2027 on the same salary before relocating to Port Moresby.
Prime Minister Marape expressed gratitude for Luai's interest, stating, "To be the first high-profile player to come and show interest in our team is something we deeply appreciate. It sends a message that Papua New Guinea is ready, rugby league is strong here, and our future in the NRL is bright."
Luai flew on a private jet with his family, returning to Sydney on Monday evening to a media scrum. He is scheduled to hold a press conference at Wests Tigers headquarters on Wednesday morning to formalize his commitment to the Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Johnston's one-year deal with the Chiefs is understood to be worth a tax-free $325,000. The 250-game veteran, who will be 33 in 2028, passed Ken Irvine's longstanding NRL try-scoring record earlier this season, tallying 213 tries. He has since added to his career total, now standing at 219.
Johnston received the blessing of Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett to join the PNG franchise, given his strong ties with the country. The winger made his Test debut for the Kumuls in 2019, scoring four tries in 12 internationals. His Rabbitohs teammate Sean Keppie expressed support, saying, "You've got to be happy for the bloke. He's given so much to the game and to see him get that first position over there is pretty cool to see."
