NRL to lead vigorously controlled search for inaugural PNG Chiefs coach

The National Rugby League [NRL] is set to oversee a rigorous selection process to appoint the first-ever head coach of the PNG Chiefs in the coming months.

Newly appointed General Manager Michael Chammas said that while the club is eager to move forward, they are in no rush to make an appointment.

Chammas insisted the franchise deserves a premier coach to guide the team ahead of its historic 2028 entry.

Unlike standard club appointments, Chammas revealed that the NRL will be heavily involved in the selection due to the unique nature of the Papua New Guinea franchise.

"The NRL has a large say in the coach. We want to go through the right process," Chammas said. "A lot of coaches want to coach in PNG. We've got to make sure that we get the best coach. It's a unique job."

The General Manager, a former Nines rugby league reporter, told local media that the organization is currently laying the groundwork to ensure the coach enters a conducive environment with strong support systems in place.

"It's not just coaching a footy team," he said. "It's also making sure the players, their families, their wives, everyone's happy. We're working out which coaches that we want to speak to and then in the next month we'll go and speak to those coaches."

Several high-profile names have already publicly expressed interest in the role, most notably current PNG Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou and Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam.

"A lot of coaches have come out already and said they'd love to coach PNG. I know Jason Demetriou is the national coach. He's come out in the meeting today and said he'd love to coach and Adrian Lamb last week, he said he'd love to coach PNG," he said.

"There's no shortage of quality coaches. We're just working out which are the best ones, sitting down with the ARL Commission and going through that process and speaking to them. I'm hoping we need a coach soon.

"We don't want to muck around and have a coach in six, seven months' time. We want a coach in the next year."

The goal is to have a leader in place early enough to begin the massive task of assembling a competitive roster before the 2028 debut.