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St Helens have announced that their captain and England assistant Matty Lees will join new NRL franchise PNG Chiefs from 2028.
The PNG Chiefs will enter the Australian competition in 18 months and become the 18th team. The Perth Bears joined in 2027 as the 17th.
After making a statement with their first signing of four-time premiership winner Jerome Lui, the franchise has now pulled off another huge coup in Lees, who is renowned as one of the biggest names in the Super League.
St Helens said Lees had activated an NRL break clause in his contract.
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Highlights of Castleford Tigers v St Helens in the Super League
“Matty has had ambitions to play in the NRL for some time, and we respect that, especially after putting his body on the line for us for so many years,” St Helens CEO Eamon McManus said in a press release.
“He had an NRL break clause in his existing contract for 2028 and as such, he has shown us respect by fully honoring his contractual obligations.
“When the time comes we wish him and his family every success in his new adventure in Papua New Guinea, but that is still some time away.
“Matty has a lot to achieve with the Saints before that, and I’m sure he will.”
Matty Lees has signed for new NRL franchise Papua New Guinea Chiefs
Lees has played for St Helens since 2017 and was a key figure in the team that won four consecutive Super League Grand Finals from 2019 to 2022. He was also involved in the monumental World Club Challenge win against the Penrith Panthers.
He has since taken over the Saints captaincy from the 2026 season but suffered a knee injury in the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Wigan which could keep him out for the rest of the campaign.
The PNG Chiefs will be coached by current Hull KR head coach Willie Peters, who achieved a historic treble for the Robins before adding a World Club Challenge win over the Brisbane Broncos in 2025.
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Highlights of the Super League match between Huddersfield Giants and St Helens
“Playing for this club for the past 10 years has meant absolutely everything to me,” Lees said in a press release.
“This club is a family one. It has seen me grow from a youngster coming through the academy, to the first team, to the glory of captaincy.
“Sometimes in life, when an opportunity comes along, you have to take it. Playing in the NRL has been a dream of mine for a long time, and the opportunity presented to my family and I was one I couldn’t turn away from.
“I will forever be grateful to the club, the fans, my teammates and everyone who has supported me on this journey.
“That said, I still have one more season to play here, and my focus remains on doing what I can to help bring more success and silverware to this great club.”
2026 Super League – Key dates and what to look out for
- Super League in Paris: Sat June 6: Catalan Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris)6.30pm UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-5 July
- Rival Round Reverse: July 23-July 26
- Playoff Elimination: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: 3 October, Old Trafford
Sky Sports Every game in the Super League will again be shown live this season – with two matches from each round exclusively live, the remaining five matches will be shown every week. Sky Sports+
