Canterbury Bulldogs middle forward Max King has been linked with a surprise departure from the club at the end of 2027 where he could land at the PNG Chiefs.
King is off-contract with the Belmore-based outfit at the end of next year, and while he has become one of the club's most consistent performers, the stretched nature of the salary cap for the blue and white could see him become a retention casualty.
Speaking on Triple M Radio both former head coach Shane Flanagan and former journalist Phil Rothfield said they had sources telling them King would be in Port Moresby come the start of the 2028 pre-season.
King has played 158 games at NRL level, having debuted with the Gold Coast Titans in 2017, and moved to the Melbourne Storm in 2019.
He didn't play 20 games in any season before joining the Bulldogs in 2022 though, and, provided he plays this weekend, has only had one season with less than 20 - when he played 19 games in 2024 - since his arrival at Belmore.
That has seen him become something of a quiet achiever at the Bulldogs, with King going about his work strongly again this year despite the overall demise of the blue and white, averaging 122 metres per game and tackling at almost 95 per cent while he has also added 21 offloads.
King's potential exit from the club will leave alarm bells ringing at the Bulldogs, but following the recent signing of Jacob Preston, and given some of the other big money they have out around the club, there may also be little they can do to talk King into remaining at Belmore.
The Chiefs, with their tax free advantages, will be able to get away with offering less to the forward if he does indeed want to join, and it could see him become something of a leader in Port Moresby.
While the Willie Peters-coached side have a number of marquee signings already, led by Jarome Luai, Zac Lomax and Joseph Manu, only Connor Watson and English prop Matty Lees have been signed for the engine room at this stage.
With plenty of money already out the door, it does likely mean forwards are the next target, with the Chiefs also in talks with Hudson Young over a potential seven-figure deal.
King would be a logical choice given his work rate and no-nonsense attitude, which is something the Chiefs will need to balance out some of the flash and style signed so far.
King would be able to negotiate with rivals from November 1 if he is not re-signed by the Bulldogs at that stage.
