'Change lives': Luai reveals vision behind Chiefs deal

Papua New Guinea Chiefs recruit Jarome Luai has revealed the chance to change lives in the developing nation was the deciding factor in his decision to join the expansion franchise.

The four-time premiership winner was unveiled as the club’s inaugural signing on Wednesday morning, Luai inking a two-year deal starting in 2028 with an option for a third season in 2030.

While the chance to earn tax-free dollars proved appealing, the 29-year-old said it was the Chiefs’ mission to use rugby league to facilitate positive social change that ultimately triggered his decision to join the team.

“Everyone wants me to say the tax-free and how appealing that is but that’s not what got the deal signed,” Luai said. “Being over there, you realise that it’s bigger than a game over there. When the time comes, we’ll be able to change a lot of lives with that.

“It’s a vision that I resonated with. Being Polynesian, there’s a lot of similarities to Samoa. What the team’s eventually going to do for the [Papua New Guinean] people, it’s growing a nation and that resonated with me.”

Luai’s decision to join the Chiefs shares many parallels with his recruitment by the Tigers more than two years ago.

A multi-premiership winner at the Panthers, Tigers coach Benji Marhsall pulled out all the stops to sign a genuine winner with the ability to transform a club’s culture.

Since joining the team in 2025, Luai has helped turn the Tigers from unappealing cellar dwellers into finals contenders other players are desperate to play for.

The Chiefs hope the playmaker will have a similar impact as they look to build their club from the ground up throughout the next 18 months.

Officials are now able to utilise their marquee signing as a lure when attempting to recruit other players, while they also have a powerful Polynesian voice desperate to change lives on and off the field.

Already Rabbitohs legend and Kumuls star Alex Johnston has expressed his desire to join the franchise, while a number of other players have been floated as potential recruits.

While Luai’s conversations with the Chiefs happened in the background throughout the past few weeks, the club’s recruitment bid became public when he flew to Port Moresby to experience life in the nation first hand.

The playmaker and his family were guests of PNG Prime Minister James Marape and toured the facilities the new franchise will utilise when they enter the competition.

While some players have expressed safety concerns about living in Port Moresby, Luai said the trip put to bed any worries about the move.

“Everyone’s got an opinion, a perception about something,” Luai said. “That’s why we went over there. My family and I decided to see what it was going to be like for ourselves and we left with a positive perception.

“It was all there and it’s all in the process of being completed. There’s a vision, there’s some really good people behind it all and it’s going to work.”

While most players are off limits until November 1, the presence of unique clauses in Luai’s contract provided the opportunity for Chiefs officials to negotiate with the playmaker 18 months out from their debut season.

The five-eighth will remain with the Tigers until the end of 2027 and reiterated his commitment to the club for the rest of his deal.

Luai kept Tigers officials up to date as the negotiations with PNG progressed and coach Benji Marshall said it was tough to see his star playmaker wrestle with such a difficult decision.

“It’s hard to see any player [go through that], especially given the relationship we have,” Marshall said. “At the same time, I took my coach hat off and put my dad, friend, son hat on and I can sympathise and resonate with what he’s going through, what he’s trying to do there.

“I’ve got no ill feelings towards what he’s decided to do and my message to our fans is to celebrate what he’s done for us so far and continue to celebrate while he’s here. Let’s get the most out of what he can do for us in the next 18 months.

“It’s a unique situation because you’re still here for another 18 months, which is quite weird. I feel like everyone feels like he’s leaving now. He’s not and he’s got a job to do still. I’m happy we’re getting this done quickly and out of the way so we can move on back into our season.”

Luai will get an early chance to take to the field at Santos National Football Stadium later this year when Samoa play Papua New Guinea during the World Cup.

Before then, however, the playmaker is desperate to help the Tigers continue their resurgence and end a 15-year finals drought.

Marshall’s side currently sits third on the ladder and is preparing to take on the Sharks at Ocean Protect Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Luai has been in this position before, signing with the Tigers with a year to run on his deal with the Panthers in 2024.

The playmaker finished that season with his fourth premiership ring. He knows a fifth would be a fitting way to cap his time at the Tigers.

“We won a comp that year,” he said. “Hopefully that’s a good sign for the boys.”