PNG Chiefs land NRL star Alex Johnston as first signing

Papua New Guinea’s push into the National Rugby League has taken a major step forward, with PNG Chiefs securing Australian rugby league star Alex Johnston as their inaugural signing.

The deal places the South Sydney Rabbitohs winger at the centre of the country’s long-awaited entry into elite club competition, following closely on the heels of Jerome Luai’s recent visit to Port Moresby which stirred excitement among fans.

 PNG Chiefs land NRL star Alex Johnston as first signing/Photo PNGRLF

Johnston, 31, has agreed to a one-year contract for the 2028 season and will be officially recognised as the franchise’s first registered player.

The announcement comes weeks after the prolific try-scorer rewrote NRL history, surpassing Ken Irvine’s long-standing record to become the competition’s leading try scorer of all time.

With family links to Lumi in West Sepik, Johnston has long enjoyed strong support from Papua New Guinea fans. He has represented the Kumuls on 12 occasions and is widely regarded as one of the nation’s adopted stars.

Reports from Australia indicate the contract is valued at about K770,000 tax-free. Johnston is expected to remain with South Sydney through the 2026 and 2027 seasons before making the move to Port Moresby for the Chiefs’ debut campaign.

The signing is seen as a major coup for the new franchise, giving the club immediate profile and experience through one of the game’s most accomplished finishers.

It is understood Johnston informed Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett and teammates of his decision earlier this week, with Bennett backing the move.

Recruitment efforts are now expected to intensify as the club builds its first squad, while preparations for key facilities, including the Players Village at Airways, continue.

The Chiefs are yet to issue a formal statement on the signing.