After withdrawing from the Newcastle Knights coaching gig, Willie Peters will be the inaugural mentor of the NRL’s Papua New Guinea expansion team.
The 47-year-old beat fellow candidates Adrian Lam, Jason Demetriou and Brad Arthur in the race to take charge of the Chiefs when they enter the competition in 2028.
Peters became one of the most sought-after coaches in world rugby league after an inspirational stint with English Super League side Hull KR.
He was named among the candidates to replace Adam O’Brien at Newcastle at the end of 2025, however he extracted his interest, paving the way for Justin Holbrook to step into the position.
English media reported overnight Thursday (AEDT) that Peters had told his players he would be stepping down at the end of the season to take the Chiefs role.
But, his likely acquisition would allow the NRL’s forthcoming 19th team to begin building its roster for 2028, though they can currently only target players whose contracts expire after 2026.
Tanah Boyd, Billy Walters, Toby Rudolf, Connor Tracey and Tyrell Sloan are among the stars in that category.
A journeyman halfback of the 1990s and 2000s where he played for South Sydney and St George Illawarra, Peters found enormous success since taking the reins at English battlers Hull KR in 2023.
He guided the club to its first grand final of the Super League era in 2024, before winning both the Challenge Cup and Super League title last year.
Peters also led Hull KR to victory over NRL premiers Brisbane in the 2026 World Club Challenge.
He became an NRL assistant under Wayne Bennett at the Rabbitohs in 2019, before joining the Knights in 2020.
The Chiefs’ impending entry into the NRL is considered a landmark step for rugby league’s growth in PNG, where the sport already enjoys fanatical support.
The Australian Government is tipping in $600 million over 10 years to prop the team up, with the PNG ministry securing housing for players and staff.
Earlier this month, the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) confirmed players and staff would be based at 67 newly-constructed units on the grounds of the Airways resort in Port Moresby from November 2027.
They will enjoy tax-free salaries in an attempt to lure Antipodean talent to the project, which is seen as a method for the Commonwealth to strengthen ties in the Pacific.
- With AAP
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