It is an exciting time in the world of Rugby League, with the NRL ambitiously adding a 19th NRL franchise in 2028, and the first outside of Australia and New Zealand.

The Papua New Guinea Chiefs will be the third expansion team in six years, accompanied by the Dolphins (2023) and the Perth Bears (2027). 

It is part of a $600 million package deal from the Australian government to strengthen their relationship geo-politically, which will certainly boost the PNG economy, creating plenty of new business opportunities and jobs for the people of Port Moresby.

There have been plenty of questions surrounding how the NRL will incentivise players to move to a developing part of the world. 

These encouragements include tax-free salary benefits, accommodation in gated communities, and visa-travel advantages.

The same goes for coaches and staff, and the biggest task for general manager Michael Chammas is getting a coaching staff that will make the side competitive from November 2027. 

With Chammas expressing his desire for the side to be playing finals football in their maiden year, here are the best coaching candidates to bring his dream to fruition. 

4. Brad Arthur

Arthur is a candidate for the Chiefs who will be extremely beneficial from starting a side from scratch. He has coached 264 NRL games and was the longest-standing Parramatta coach, which stretched from 2014 to 2024. In between those times, Arthur has seen the club in all different circumstances, off-field indiscretions, salary cap dramas, and so on. 

His experience in managing off-field situations is critical, with all he has seen through the lens of head coach of the Eels. It would come in very handy for the Chiefs if disaster were to ever strike in that nature. 

Arthur also got his Eels side to reach the 2022 NRL Grand Final, in which we saw him get the best out of Mitchell Moses since his arrival in the blue and gold in 2017, and who is now widely regarded as one of the best players in the game.

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