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.
3. Terrell May (Wests Tigers)
One of the more powerful props in the competition, May came from nowhere in 2025 following his signing at the Roosters to turn into one of the game's best props.
A force at both ends of the park who can play big minutes, he could well be another big casualty of the Tigers.
His personality suggests he has no problem taking a risk, and looking at the state of the free agency market at the end of 2026, the Chiefs would be mad not to throw the kitchen sink at him.
