The PNG Chiefs have declared that they will chase a marquee No.7 in a bid to reach the finals in its inaugural season as the franchise hits its first free-agency period armed with tax-free dollars.
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franchise → declare → dollars
November 1 marks the beginning of what is expected to be the most frenetic trade window in NRL history.
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what → mark → history
Newcomers the Chiefs and Bears will be jostling for the signatures of the game’s most in-demand stars.
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Newcomers → jostle → stars
Penrith maestro Nathan Cleary tops that list and has yet to determine his future beyond next year.
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Cleary → top → year
He is not alone with 11 Kangaroos – Jack Bostock, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, James Tedesco, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and David Fifita – also able to field offers from rivals.
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He → field → rivals
The Chiefs have already made a start on their roster, securing Jarome Luai, Joey Manu, Connor Watson, Brian To’o, Zac Lomax, Alex Johnston and Matty Lees before even reaching their first free-agency period.
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Chiefs → make → period
The focus will now shift to luring a star halfback and putting together a strong pack for him to play behind.
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him → shift → pack
One of the Chiefs’ potential targets, Zane Harrison, has recommitted to the Gold Coast, leaving Cleary and Walker as obvious targets to partner Luai.
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One → recommit → Luai
“We want to get a marquee No.7 because we want to be in a position where we can compete for finals from year one,” Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas said.
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Chammas → want → football
“History will show that if you don’t have an elite No.7, you will struggle to do that, to at least be competing at the back end of the year.
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you → show → year
“Let’s see how it all plays out and then over the next couple of weeks we can get answers accordingly on whether guys are interested or not.
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guys → let → answers
“We’ve done all the homework necessary.”
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We → do → homework
The Chiefs have put their rivals on notice after an early signing spree netted several stars who were given early permission to negotiate or were poached from rugby.
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who → put → rugby
The club has also tabled a four-year, $3 million deal for promising Titans forward Cooper Bai, who was given permission to negotiate by his club, while Canberra back-rower Hudson Young will be a player of interest, if he can be secured at the right price.
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he → table → price
“We need a seven and we need to complete the spine.
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we → need → spine
Then we need to focus on the forward pack,” Chammas said.
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Chammas → need → pack
“Everyone’s been saying they’re all outside backs, but the reality is we’ve only signed what’s been available.
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what → say → ?
We decided out of the few forwards who have been available, we will wait, because the cream of the crop is available on November 1.
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cream → decide → November
“That’s where we think we can bolster our team with some good forwards.
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we → ’ → forwards
It’s a juggling act, we need to balance the fact that we need a seven and a nine and some forwards, but also juggle the fact we don’t know what the cap will be in 2028.
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cap → ’ → 2028
“It’s risk-reward at the moment; whether you go early on one, does it hurt you down the track?
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it → ’ → track
I’m sure we will make some mistakes about the timing of things, because we don’t know where the cap will land.
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cap → ’m → things
“We’ll do the best we can with it and make the right decisions on the players we believe will fit what we’re trying to build.
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we → do → what
Hopefully those question marks around our forward pack will be gone in a few months.”
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marks → go → months
Bai’s father, Melbourne Storm legend Marcus, sits on the PNG Chiefs board.
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father → sit → board
Bai senior said he would be prepared to step down from the position if negotiations with his son were deemed a conflict of interest.
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negotiations → say → interest
“This country adores Cooper,” Chammas said.
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Chammas → adore → Cooper
“When I was here 12 months ago, I was watching a game, I turned around for a moment to get a drink and I heard a roar.
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I → watch → roar
“I remember turning to [former NRL CEO] Andrew Abdo at the time and saying ‘What just happened?’
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What → turn → time
“He said to me that Cooper Bai took his first hit-up in the country, that’s all it was.
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it → say → country
I couldn’t believe it, it was like someone had won a grand final, that’s how loud it was.
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it → believe → final
“I saw how much he means to the people.
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he → see → people
It’s a decision for him to make, but we want him to be part of it.
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him → ’ → it
He’s the son of a Papua New Guinean legend, and there’s no better fit to have him here for our inaugural season.
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He → ’ → season
“We believe he’s everything we want this club to be.
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club → believe → ?
It’s up to him to work that out.
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It → ’ → that
If it’s not for him, that’s fine.
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that → ’ → him
“If it works into his lifestyle and his football career, we’d be grateful to get him.
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we → work → him
If not, we understand.”
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we → understand → ?
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News → send → sport
The Aporia
