PNG: "Cheating rort" slur a "badge of honour" amid tax debate

PNG Chiefs GM of Football Michael Chammas has called criticisms from former Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson “a badge of honour” as debate rages around the fairness of the franchise’s tax exemptions.

On Tuesday, the PNG Chiefs announced their inaugural signing in four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai, with the realities of the power of PNG’s tax-free salary cap setting in.

Under a deal with the Papua New Guinea government, players and staff will earn tax-free money for the first 10 years of the new franchise, providing the club with a major advantage over other clubs.

Richardson slammed the club’s exemption, calling it a “complete and utter rort”.

“It’s like cheating the salary cap by 48 per cent. It’s a complete and utter rort,” Richardson told The Daily Telegraph.

“At the end of the day, this tax-free rule was always going to cause problems and it makes it even worse for Perth who can’t do it – and they come in one year earlier.

“Jarome Luai didn’t go for the challenge. He went for the tax-free money in PNG.”

Richardson was the man responsible for bringing Luai to the Wests Tigers in 2025, but also responsible for the clauses that ultimately allowed PNG to negotiate with the Samoan superstar.

Luai had to inform the Wests Tigers before April 30 every year if he intended to stay with the club for the following season, technically making him a free agent each year between November 1 and April 30, allowing Chammas and the Chiefs to swoop.

Chammas shrugged off the criticism, jokingly firing back at Richardson’s comments on SEN.

“I think it's a badge of honour for us, to be honest with you, because I think a year ago people were saying… who's going to go to Port Moresby? Why would you leave to go there? It'll be a rabble, it's a disgrace,” Chammas said on SEN 1170.

“All these comments were being made around PNG, and all of a sudden after signing Jarome Luai, people are saying, ‘it's unfair now’.

“So, the narrative has shifted in the space of 24-48 hours, and that's just on the back of Jarome (Luai), and that's obviously we've got Willie Peters there as well.

“So to us, it's a badge of honour, that's sort of a reflection of the person that we've brought in, that people are now sitting back and taking notice.

“I didn't have an issue with what Gus (Gould) said. I don't know what issue's been made of what he said, so no issues whatsoever there.

“And look, Richo (Richardson), we're thankful because I guess there was a clause there that allowed us to get involved and have a chat with Jarome before April 30th.

“So it's great that we were able to do so.”