PNG Chiefs official sparks talk after Reece Walsh mention in podcast

Papua New Guinea’s planned NRL franchise, the PNG Chiefs, has drawn attention after a senior club official unexpectedly mentioned Reece Walsh while discussing the team’s future preparations for its entry into the National Rugby League in 2028.

PNG Chiefs Football Manager Michael Chammas made the remark during an appearance on the The Bye Round Podcast hosted by former NRL player James Graham, where he was outlining plans for the club’s proposed Players Village in Port Moresby.

 PNG Chiefs official sparks talk after Reece Walsh mention in podcast/ NRL PHOTO

Chammas described a range of lifestyle and sporting facilities that will be available for players relocating to Papua New Guinea, including courts, swimming pools, gyms and a medical centre within the residential complex.

“They’ll have everything at their disposal; tennis courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, an international medical center, gyms, [and a] nail salon for Reece Walsh,” Chammas said during the discussion.

The comment appeared to catch him off guard moments later as he quickly clarified that he should not have mentioned individual players while speaking publicly about the club’s recruitment plans.

“So, actually, no, we can’t talk about players. I’m gonna get in trouble there,” he said.

Chammas also explained that despite Papua New Guinea offering tax-free incentives, the NRL would still regulate contracts to ensure the salary cap remains fair across all teams.

“The market value is still based on what we’re offering them before the tax,” he said. “If there’s a million-dollar player getting an offer elsewhere, the NRL isn’t going to let us register him for $700,000 just because it’s tax-free. It doesn’t work that way.”

He added that the club is working to address Port Moresby’s high rental costs by building a fully furnished residential village for players moving to PNG.

“The NRL will work out the average cost of a three-bedroom apartment in Sydney and Brisbane, and that’s what the players will pay to the village. They’ll come in and have everything at their disposal.”