'Contagious': Suaalii says more players may follow Luai

"Jarome has a special ability to amplify people around him, bring out the best of them. He has an energy that's contagious," Suaalii said on Thursday.

"Once I've seen that signing, it's probably the best thing for the PNG Chiefs.

"I feel like for him to go across, for his family to go across, it's a huge signing."

Chiefs football manager Michael Chammas has warned rivals of the NRL's 19th team that no player in the game is beyond the Chiefs' reach - and Suaalii tends to agree. 

The NSW State of Origin star turned Wallabies game breaker suspects Pacific Islanders will be especially keen to follow Luai to the Chiefs.

"PNG has a strong cultural sense about them, and I think a lot of Pasifika or, you know, anyone with PNG background would want to play for the PNG Chiefs," Suaalii said.

"I can't speak for myself, but I know a lot of people would want to go across and represent them."

Off contract himself at the end of 2027, the Chiefs' entry to the NRL in 2028 could also prove perfect timing for Suaalii to jump on board and return to rugby league after next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia.

"To be fair, I haven't really thought about it," the 22-year-old said ahead of his NSW Waratahs' Super Rugby Pacific clash with the Western Force in Sydney on Friday night.

"I'm loving where I'm at, loving the Waratahs. I'm loving every day, enjoying living in Sydney. Yeah, I don't really look too far, to be fair."

Fellow ex-NRL star-turned-Super Rugby player Zac Lomax also hailed Luai's signing as a major coup for the Chiefs.

Like Suaalii, the 26-year-old is also off contract with the Force and Rugby Australia at the end of 2027.

But he was not considering any potential move to the Chiefs.

"Nah, nah, nah, nah, mate," Lomax said.

"I'm worried about a game at a time at the moment and Western Force have been really good for me, and Rugby Australia.

"It's exciting times moving forward with rugby union."