Why Willie Peters was picked for PNG Chiefs role as Michael Chammas explains appointment

PNG Chiefs General Manager Michael Chammas has explained why Willie Peters is the perfect head coach for the soon-to-be NRL side.

Peters was confirmed to be the Chiefs’ new boss at the end of March, and will start the position in 2027, departing the Robins at the end of the season.

That will allow him to have a full 12 months to prepare before the Port Moresby-based side enters the NRL competition, with tasks such as building a squad high on the agenda.

The Chiefs have already locked in their first two signings, with Jarome Luai and Alex Johnston making the switch for 2028. Players from both the NRL and Super League have been linked with a switch to join the new franchise, with the tax-free salary a huge incentive for most players.

Chammas believes that Peters’ experience at Hull KR, and the way he has transformed them into title winners, will be key to helping the Chiefs thrive too.

PNG is the only country in the world where rugby league is its national sport, and Peters has shown he has an ability to bring people and communities together, although this will be on a much larger scale.

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Michael Chammas explains Willie Peters’ PNG Chiefs appointment

A guest on Sky Sports’ broadcast during the Robins’ win over Wigan Warriors, Chammas explained why Peters was chosen to be the inaugural head coach.

“I think the results speak for themselves,” he explained. “What he did last year with the treble and then backing it up like they did against the Broncos in the World Club Challenge, no doubt he’s obviously got the runs on the board from a football perspective.

“Off the field as well,  you guys will know what he brings and our club is going to be really unique. We’re all living together in an environment 24/7, and you need a coach who is going to bring not only the players together but the families together, and everyone here at Hull KR speaks very highly of what Willie has done.”

Asked how easy it was to tempt Peters into departing the Robins, he said: “Not easy, I think you can’t walk away easily from what he’s achieved here.

“I also think he saw something similar in Papua New Guinea, definitely on a larger scale with 10 million people in the country, (to Hull). What he’s done over here is unite the community and bring them on the journey, I felt like that experience he’s had here will put him in good stead with what he’s going to do in Papua New Guinea.”

Peters has the opportunity to do something incredibly special at his new club, and with a whole country behind him, Chammas believes the former Australian assistant coach is more than capable of being successful in PNG’s rugby league revolution.

“I think that’s what attracted Willie to the job,” Chammas said. “It’s more than just footy, it transcends rugby league. It’s an opportunity for the country to be united by one thing and that’s rugby league.

“I know everyone will talk about the difficulties and the social issues in Papua New Guinea but the one thing that unites the country is rugby league.

“Being over there and seeing the people, the passion, and how much it means to them, someone like Jarome Luai, I don’t think he was going to sign for us until he went over and saw what it meant for the people. Once you feel that, you never lose it.”