Jarome Luai is the first official player for the Papua New Guinea Chiefs, and Alex Johnston seemed to confirm his own signing news this week, giving the NRL's 19th franchise a chance to hit the ground running.
The club have been widely panned as a bad idea, but two signings - a four-time premiership-winner and the game's greatest ever try-scorer - 18 months before they will meet for their first official training session in Port Moresby, rapidly legitimises the project.
While they will be unable to speak to other players out of contract until November 1, it means they will be able to hit the ground running on that date with the idea of immediate success and tax free money as their major selling points.
» EXPLAINER: Why the Chiefs could sign Luai and Johnston before November 1
But attention will now turn to who comes next - and there could be a long list of Luai and Johnston's former or current teammates who are interested in linking up with the duo and building what could be rugby league's toughest project in Papua New Guinea.
Here are eight potential targets for the NRL's 19th club, all off-contract at the end of 2027.
5. Brandon Smith (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Smith is, you would expect, unlikely to remain at the Rabbitohs beyond the end of his current contract.
It would be fair to say that, while injuries have impacted his stint at Maroubra greatly, things haven't quite gone to plan while he has been part of Wayne Bennett's squad.
Exactly what that means for him long-term remains to be seen, but another change of scenery, particularly given South Sydney have Peter Mamouzelos and Bronson Garlick, could be for the best.
He was believed to be in talks with the Dolphins before they entered the competition, and while his attitude remains a question, the pursuit of a dummy half has been a challenge for Perth.
There is no reason to think that will be any different for PNG, so Smith could well be an early target.
