NRL News · Team file

PNG Chiefs

News, contracts and player movement. A clear view of the squad taking shape for 2028.

Checked 29 October 20262028 squad2028 competition entry

Latest verified updates

2026-10-26 · ConfirmedInaugural kit partners secured — The Chiefs have announced the full set of playing-kit partners for their 2028 debut.
2026-10-21 · ConfirmedClub identity launched in Port Moresby — The inaugural logo and supporter jersey were unveiled ahead of entry to the NRL in 2028.

Contract values & cap context

Reported prices for the inaugural 2028 squad. Tax-free, gross-equivalent and differently described packages are not combined into a misleading total. Click each price for its source.

Unverified2028 maximum Top 30 cap benchmark

A$2.12mReported annualised subtotal

Not availableSubtotal as a share of the cap

3 / 7Listed players included in subtotal

5 players have a sourced price indication; 2 listed players have no verified amount. 2 historical, future, imprecise or non-comparable figures are displayed but excluded from the subtotal.

This subtotal is an indicative sum of public reports, not the full squad wage bill or an audited cap charge. The percentage compares this partial subtotal with the cap benchmark; it does not measure actual cap usage. Unpriced players remain unknown.

No verified 2028 cap is available in the NRL schedule consulted. The tax-free subtotal is shown without a cap percentage.

Subtotal covers two comparable reported tax-free salaries. Other package descriptions and the 2028 cap denominator remain unresolved.

Cap benchmark, calculation method & limitations · Checked 30 October 2026.

2028 Top 30 tracker

7 names identified · Inaugural squad in progress

This list is not a final registered Top 30. Unconfirmed places are left open; a missing name does not establish a vacant contract slot. Development and train-and-trial players are not counted as senior places.

Alex Johnston~A$325k/yr tax-freeReported tax-free salary · moderate confidence
Brian To'o~A$600k/yr tax-free · 2028–30Reported annual tax-free rate · moderate confidenceOther report
Connor WatsonAmount not verified
Jarome Luai~A$1.2m/yr tax-freeReported tax-free salary · moderate confidence
Joseph Manu>A$700k/yrReported annual rate · moderate confidence · excluded from subtotal
Matty LeesAmount not verified
Zac LomaxA$700k–A$800k/yrReported annual rate · moderate confidence · excluded from subtotal

Published contract source · Roster confidence: high.

Roster notes and source limitations

Seven senior signings explicitly named in the Chiefs' release. An incomplete inaugural squad, not a completed Top 30.

Signings & movement

Selected changes for 2028. Club announcements are confirmed; independent tracker entries are labelled as published movements.

Arrivals

Joseph Manu — two-year deal
Brian To'o — three-year deal from 2028
Connor Watson — joins after his 2027 Dragons season

Departures

No additional independently verified changes listed in this snapshot. This does not mean there have been no changes.

Signing announcement 1 · Signing announcement 2 · Signing announcement 3

Selected confirmed deals; Cooper Bai reports are not included as a confirmed signing.

Development & other contracts

Gairo Voro
Morea Morea
Finley Glare

The 21 October club release explicitly identifies these as 2028 development players.

Development contract source