Brian To’o is going to the PNG Chiefs — and his signing is bringing the real value of PNG’s tax-free recruitment concessions into sharp focus.

The Chiefs will enter the NRL in 2028 under the same salary-cap system as every other club. But eligible players and staff will be able to earn their employment income tax-free under arrangements involving the Australian and Papua New Guinean governments.

So what does that actually mean in practice?

Fox League estimates Brian To’o’s Chiefs contract at around $600,000 a season tax-free. Under current Australian tax rates, an Australian club would need to pay a player roughly $1.07 million before tax to generate similar take-home income.

Zoom out across an entire roster and the difference in purchasing power becomes even mo ...