'Can't compete': Super coaches weigh into PNG Chiefs debate
Two of the NRL's most successful modern coaches weigh into the debate about the concessions afforded to the league's forthcoming PNG franchise.
Super coaches Trent Robinson of the Roosters and Ivan Cleary of the Penrith Panthers have spoken out on the perceived inequity in the NRL following the formation of the upcoming PNG Chiefs club. Cleary, who expressed emotion upon learning that his teammate Brian To'o would join the Chiefs, believes that the tax-free wage concessions given to the PNG Chiefs give them an unfair advantage over other teams.
Robinson also pointed out that teams cannot compete with the PNG Chiefs' financial resources, which will be available from 2028. The PNG Chiefs plan to join the NRL in 2028 and have been attracting talent with their tax-free wages. Critics, such as South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett, argue that the NRL's open market is no longer a level playing field due to the advantages provided to the PNG Chiefs.
The salary cap, which has traditionally been an equalizer of talent, is no longer effective in preventing the Chiefs from outbidding other clubs. Both coaches acknowledge that while they understand the situation, they also believe that expanding the league to include more teams, such as the Pacific Islands, could help grow the game and create a more level playing field.
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