Luai’s private jet was paid for by PNG government

{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T01:53:29Z","datePublished":"2026-04-28T01:53:29Z","description":"The Wests Tigers, NSW and Samoa star has signed a $1.2 million-a-year, tax-free deal with the Chiefs.","headline":"Luai’s private jet was paid for by PNG government; Chiefs sign Alex Johnston","keywords":"NRL 2026, PNG, Wests Tigers, Papua New Guinea, Just in","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Christian Nicolussi","jobTitle":"Sports reporter","url":"/by/christian-nicolussi-h0yp7o"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Chris Barrett","jobTitle":"Senior sports reporter","url":"/by/chris-barrett-hveam"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Adrian Proszenko","jobTitle":"Chief Rugby League Reporter","url":"/by/adrian-proszenko-hveqs"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/luai-s-private-jet-was-paid-for-by-png-government-20260428-p5zrlp.html","@type":"WebPage"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"1322.6666666666665","url":"https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.3112874779541446%2C$multiply_0.7025%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_110/t_crop_custom/q_86%2Cf_auto/b07d375cd082a7bcb2b42b9b1394035cbca7f50a","width":"744"},"isAccessibleForFree":false,"hasPart":[{"@type":"WebPageElement","isAccessibleForFree":false,"cssSelector":".paywall"}],"publisher":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","height":"628","url":"https://www.smh.com.au/metro-assets/assets/static/smh.png","width":"1200"},"url":"https://www.smh.com.au"},"isPartOf":{"@type":["CreativeWork","Product"],"name":"The Sydney Morning Herald","productID":"smh.com.au:webonly"}}{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/sport","name":"Sport"},"position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl","name":"NRL"},"position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@id":"https://www.smh.com.au/topic/nrl-2026-6i10","name":"NRL 2026"},"position":3}]}AdvertisementUpdatedSportNRLNRL 2026Luai’s private jet was paid for by PNG government; Chiefs sign Alex JohnstonChristian Nicolussi, Chris Barrett and Adrian ProszenkoApril 28, 2026 — 11:53amSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.ShareAAAThe private jet that flew Jarome Luai to Port Moresby and sealed his signing for the Chiefs was paid for by the Papua New Guinea government, quickly reminding rival clubs how much they will struggle to compete financially with the team that will enter the league in 2028.The Wests Tigers co-captain on Tuesday accepted a $1.2 million-per-season, tax-free contract with the Chiefs that stands to make him the highest-paid player in the competition.Jarome Luai landed in Sydney on a private jet on Monday night after a visit to Papua New Guinea.Wolter PeetersThe deal was completed less than 24 hours after he returned from the PNG capital and on a day in which the NRL’s record try-scorer Alex Johnston also agreed to join the Chiefs in 2028.The Chiefs had gone all out in selling their dream to Luai over the weekend, hosting him at a domestic game in Port Moresby, a meet-and-greet with Prime Minister James Marape and other government officials, and transporting him, his wife and one of his three children in a luxurious private jet that costs upwards of $10,000 an hour.AdvertisementSources with knowledge of the situation, not authorised to…

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