The PNG Chiefs have made a massive move in their transition into the NRL, locking in a key part of their franchise on Wednesday.
The Australian Rugby League Commission has confirmed the appointment of Lorna McPherson as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the PNG Chiefs, a key step in the franchise's build towards its NRL debut.
McPherson brings more than 16 years of commercial and sports leadership experience in Papua New Guinea, having played a central role in the growth of rugby league across the region.
She has previously served as Director of the PNG Rugby Football League and most recently as Director of the PNG Chiefs, while also holding senior executive roles with Digicel PNG, where she oversaw government relations, sales, distribution, retail and marketing.
McPherson was instrumental in the expansion of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup into a nationally unified competition and played a key role in the establishment of elite women's rugby league in PNG through the Santos Cup.
ARLC chairman Peter V'landys said McPherson's appointment was crucial to laying the foundations for the new franchise.
"Lorna has an outstanding track record of success in business and has been deeply embedded in rugby league in PNG for over 16 years," V'landys said.
"Securing a leader with a reputation for driving commercial growth and strong connections across PNG is an important step in building a strong administration for the Chiefs."
The appointment marks another major milestone as the PNG-based franchise continues preparations for entry into the NRL competition.
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Inclusion of the PNG club into the NRL was announced in mid-Dec 2024. It’s now mid-Jan 2026.
It is a worry that it has taken them 13 months to appoint a CEO – especially if this lady has been such a stand-out success with league in PNG.
I assumed that a CEO had been appoint a long time ago, and the CEO was working on the set-up of the club. However, it sounds like nothing useful has happened for a year.