People feared the Chiefs would be a joke. The NRL might have created a monster instead

The PNG Chiefs’ recruitment strategy, with Joey Manu as signing No.7 , is canny on some levels.

Go for high-profile playmakers and outside backs first, to establish the brand as an NRL glamour club (thank you, Australian taxpayers). Then fill in the gaps – the workhorses, the middle forwards – later.

It’s pretty much the opposite of the patient, ground-up strategy that Wayne Bennett used at the Dolphins. We’ll see whether it leads to on-field success, but the PR intention is clear.

If the long-term PNG plan is going to work – getting through the first years while building recruitment from the local population – the short-term sugar hit of signing seasoned big names will grab attention.

As an unforeseen consequence of PNG’s tax-free salary advantage, however, the club is also playing one of the oldest tricks in the NRL book – inflating the market to damage their opponents.

If the Roosters are to keep Sam Walker and the Raiders to retain Hudson Young, for instance, they have to match the Chiefs’ offers.

This hurts those clubs and has ramifications throughout their salary cap. If the Chiefs want to inflict pain on a rival club, all they have to do is invite a star player for a visit.

After the initial doubts about whether the Chiefs would be viable, the fear now is that the NRL and Australian government have created a monster happily swinging a wrecking ball through the entire league, a year and a half before they make their first tackle.

Thirty-seven kilometres. That’s how far Josh Papalii’s frame has rolled forward, with ball in hand, during his time with the Raiders. Papalii is up with Corey Parker and Petero Civoniceva, who both ran for a little less than 40 kilometres.

It is difficult to compare them with fullbacks such as Billy Slater and Anthony Minichiello, who have similar records but gained cheaper metres by running back kicks.

But it also puts into perspective the record of Paul Gallen, the Bradman of running metres, who in his 348 games for Cronulla ran the ball for more than 50 kilometres, 25 per cent more than any other player.

Changes to the rules, speed and style of the game might wipe out these records, but there’s one word for the metre-eating middle forwards: respect. And another word in retirement: look after your brain health.

The wooden spoon is the least of the Dragons’ problems. What has happened to their mascot?

After decades of service, the Happy Dragon, with his green-clawed legs, was replaced in 2025 by a character called Scorch, who leads the team onto the field wearing figure-hugging red tights.