The NRL will welcome it's 19th team to the competition in 2028, as the PNG Chiefs enter the Australian game for the very first time.
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Andrew Moore, Michael Carayannis and Luke Lewis are in the chair for a big afternoon of rugby league as Round action continues across the NRL. The team take a look at the key storylines from the weekend so far, what’s still to come, and the major talking points making headlines around the game...
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Pat Carrigan puts Broncos on notice over potential big-money PNG Chiefs switch
Pat Carrigan has refused to rule out joining Papua New Guinea’s new NRL team, admitting the lure of tax-free dollars and leading a rugby league revolution would appeal to him.
PETER BADEL
@badel_cmail
3 min read
March 8, 2026 - 9:56AM
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Pat Carrigan says he wouldn’t rule out considering a move to Papua New Guinea as the Broncos face a looming battle to keep Brisbane’s captain-in-waiting.
While Carrigan’s preference is to stay at the Broncos, the champion lock spoke of the potential appeal of not only tax-free dollars at the Chiefs, but the greater purpose of leading a rugby league revolution in Papua New Guinea.
The Broncos were last month rocked by Payne Haas’ decision to quit the club at season’s end to be coached by Wayne Bennett at South Sydney, and Brisbane cannot afford to lose his midfield partner-in-crime Carrigan.
The Queensland Origin star is off-contract at the Broncos at the end of 2028, meaning he will be a free agent from November 1, 2027.
Newly-appointed PNG football boss Michael Chammas is already drawing up a hit list of potential signings with a view to the Chiefs ramping-up their recruitment drive in the coming months.
Pat Carrigan won’t rule out a shock move to the PNG Chiefs. Picture: NRL Imagery
The Chiefs will enter the league in 2028 and while Carrigan would be contracted to Brisbane for PNG’s foundation year, the Broncos lock would be available for their second season.
Carrigan is happy at the Broncos. Chances are he will finish his career at Red Hill, but the Haas bombshell is evidence no player is guaranteed to be a one-club servant in the NRL’s salary-cap environment.
Brisbane bosses will do everything possible to ensure Carrigan is a Bronco for life but the premiership-winning No.13 says he is keeping an open mind on PNG.
“No. You never rule it out,” he said of playing for the Chiefs.
“It’s a business, mate … you learn how this game goes.
“I will say, when I grew up, the only jersey I ever saw myself wearing was a Broncos jersey. I’m happy doing that at the moment and I’m loving that.
“But I think there’d be a fair list of boys trying to join that PNG crew if it’s tax-free dollars, that’s for sure.”
A frustrated Carrigan during their round one loss to the Panthers. Picture: NRL Imagery
A veteran of 131 first-grade games, Carrigan will be 30 when his current Broncos contract expires in 2028.
That means the next contract Carrigan signs could be his last and for that reason alone, the Australia World Cup winner would have to explore the huge tax-free dollars on offer with PNG.
Carrigan is on around $800,000 this season, but he could earn upwards of $1 million – tax free – if he chased one final monster payday with the Chiefs.
The two-time Broncos player of the year says while the financial incentives with the NRL’s 19th team are attractive, another factor would be the humanitarian aspect of improving the quality of life for PNG people.
“I think if you ask any working Australian if tax-free dollars would be attractive to them, they would say the same, too,” he said.
“Outside of the financial gains that you can have, there’s a lot of cool things to be said in going to start a franchise in a country like PNG where they live and breathe rugby league.
“For me that’s probably something that would appeal more if I was ever in that position.
“It’s a national game in PNG. People love rugby league there and you would get to provide a smile to millions of people that are a little bit less fortunate than us in Australia.
“I think the financial gain would probably speak to a lot of players, but outside of that I think a lot of boys could see the upside in that (promoting the game to PNG people), too.”
Carrigan playing for the Kangaroos in the first Ashes match against England. Picture: NRL photos
Chammas cannot comment specifically on recruitment targets due to the NRL’s new anti-tampering rules, but says the Chiefs won’t build their roster around money-hungry players.
“Let’s be fair dinkum, the big drawcard for the players will be the tax-free money,” Chammas told NRL 360.
“I’m not going to sugar-coat it, we’re not naive, that’s going to be a large chunk of their reasoning behind coming to the PNG Chiefs.
“But if it’s the only reason, it’s not going to work. They have to come for more than that.
“The players coming just for the pay cheque, it’s not sustainable.
“What we want are guys who genuinely want to make a difference to the country and be an inspiration to the PNG kids.”
Asked what type of player he wants to sign, Chammas added: “Unselfish, driven by things like changing that country.
“It sounds airy fairy but this is a great sense of purpose for me.
“I’m confident about the football side of things and our roster will be competitive.”
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