As Brian To’o ran away to score a try and seal victory for the Panthers in Sunday’s qualification final against the Roosters, rugby league fans in Papua New Guinea had almost as much reason to celebrate as those from Penrith. The 28-year-old winger showed he was back to his best in a high-pressure clash between teams many predict will contest next month’s grand final. Within two years, however, expansion club PNG Chiefs – boasting To’o and an all-star backline – hope to be in the same position after a recruiting spree that has drawn envy from other clubs.
Thanks to the work of McPherson and her staff – as well as tax breaks for Chiefs players – those claims have proven off the mark. To’o was the sixth signing secured by McPherson, coach Willie Peters and general manager Michael Chammas, a former journalist. To’o followed his close friend and inaugural signing Jarome Luai, winger Alex Johnston – holder of the NRL tryscoring record and a Kumuls representative – former Blues utility Connor Watson, England prop Matty Lees and Zac Lomax, who will return from a stint in rugby union still in his prime.
Joey Manu, the skilful former Rooster who returns to the NRL from French rugby, became the club’s seventh signing three weeks ago. It is a handbrake on the Chiefs’ signing spree rival clubs have been calling for. McPherson declined to comment specifically on the Young situation, underscoring the sensitivity around the impact of a club which has become the NRL’s new market maker.
They cannot rely on their PNG-based fans to deliver the kind of revenues earned by the likes of the Broncos. The NRL’s biggest club brought in $31m in membership, ticketing and game day revenue in 2025. The Chiefs’ stadium seats just 15,000 (although upgrades are planned), a capacity less than half the Broncos’ average home crowd.
The club also wants to ensure tickets are affordable to those in Port Moresby, which has a minimum wage of approximately A$1.55 an hour, highlighting a potential income disparity. Affordability is also the basis for the club’s approach to their official merchandise, which will come in multiple quality tiers starting at approximately $30 for fans in PNG. The club’s logo and jersey will be unveiled next month.
The Chiefs will receive approximately half of the contentious $600m, 10-year grant from the Australian government for rugby league in the Pacific. McPherson believes commercial partners will help ensure the club can survive without another taxpayer handout, quoting $20m a year revenue from sponsors on the club’s jersey, led by last week’s announcement of principal partner Bank South Pacific. By comparison, the Broncos reported sponsorship revenue of $18m in 2025.
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