LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Jason Demetriou, the favorite to coach the NRL's upcoming Papua New Guinea-based franchise, has publicly confirmed his interest in the position as he aims to return to the NRL.
Reports from zerotackle.com indicate that the expansion team is still over a year away from signing players and will not play its first game for at least two more years.
Despite ongoing concerns about the club's readiness for the start of the 2028 NRL season, the recently confirmed board is expected to prioritize hiring a coach by the end of this year.
While Wayne Bennett has been rumored to be a contender for the coaching role, Demetriou, who previously coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs and is currently the coach of the Papua New Guinea national team, has emerged as the leading candidate.
His recent statements mark the first time he has expressed interest in the head coaching job.