The proposed **PNG Chiefs** NRL franchise is already generating strong discussion across the rugby league world, and one of the biggest voices shaping the conversation is former Papua New Guinea international **Marcus Bai**. The Kumuls legend has urged the new club’s leadership to aim high in the player market, suggesting that superstar duo **Nathan Cleary** and **Patrick Carrigan** would be the perfect “statement signings” to launch the franchise into the **National Rugby League**.
Bai believes that a new team entering the competition must immediately command respect, both on the field and in the player market. According to him, signing proven NRL leaders like Cleary and Carrigan would instantly give the PNG Chiefs credibility, leadership, and elite-level experience. Cleary, widely regarded as one of the best playmakers in rugby league, would bring tactical brilliance and big-game composure, while Carrigan’s work ethic and leadership in the forward pack could set the standard for the club’s culture.
Importantly, Bai also made it clear that the PNG Chiefs will operate very differently from development pathways such as the **PNG Hunters**. While the Hunters have played a major role in developing local players through the “wantok” system and regional pathways, the Chiefs will be built as a fully professional NRL franchise designed to compete at the highest level from day one.
The franchise will reportedly be owned and overseen by the **National Rugby League** itself, meaning recruitment decisions will prioritize elite talent from both the NRL and the **Super League**. Local players will still have opportunities, but only those who prove they can match the intensity, discipline, and skill required at the top level of the sport.
For many fans in Papua New Guinea, the dream of a competitive NRL team is closer than ever. The message from Bai and the early Chiefs management is simple: wearing the PNG Chiefs jersey will be an honor earned through performance, not handed out through reputation or nationality. If the franchise succeeds in attracting global rugby league stars while nurturing the best of Papua New Guinea’s emerging talent, the Chiefs could quickly become one of the most exciting additions to the NRL era.
