Xavier Coates not keen on PNG move as Melbourne open talks on new deal

He is born in Port Moresby and made his Test debut for Papua New Guinea at age 18. But while Maroons flyer Xavier Coates hopes the new team is a success he has no interest in joining them.

Xavier Coates has addressed speculation he could be Papua New Guinea’s first signing as the Queensland winger opens talks on a contract extension with the Storm.

This masthead can reveal Melbourne bosses have kicked-off negotiations with Coates’ management in the lead-up to the Origin decider at Sydney’s Accor Stadium this Wednesday night.

The ARL Commission unveiled Papua New Guinea’s inaugural board a fortnight ago and another critical step is finding NRL stars to head-up the Pacific team’s entry to the big league in 2028.

Coates is a prime target given his links to Papua New Guinea.

The Maroons flyer was born in Port Moresby and made his Test debut for Papua New Guinea against Samoa just months after his 18th birthday in 2019.

SUNSHINE COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 12: Xavier Coates looks to pass during a Queensland Maroons State of Origin squad training session at Sunshine Coast Stadium on June 12, 2025 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The former Broncos ace is off-contract at the end of next year, making him available for a PNG poaching raid.

But Melbourne are moving quickly to prevent Coates going to free agency.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Storm in 2022, scoring 52 tries from 66 games, and says he has no plans to walk out on Melbourne mentor Craig Bellamy.

“I am happy with my time at Melbourne,” Coates said ahead of Origin III.

“I don’t know the whole gist of the new NRL team (Papua New Guinea) coming in, but I am happy down in Melbourne so I’m not focusing too far ahead.

Xavier Coates played one Test for Papua New Guinea in 2019. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I like my time there.

“They (the Storm) are a great club and they have helped me out so much, they have done a lot for me.”

The ARL Commission is offering tax-free dollars in a bid to lure NRL top-liners to Papua New Guinea, a massive incentive that can be worth an extra $500,000 a season for a player on a $1 million contract.

Security fears for players have been raised in a country that has the second worst crime rate in the world, but Coates believes PNG can be a huge success story for the code.

Coates believes the PNG NRL team can be a huge success. Picture: NRL Photos

Asked if Papua New Guinea will have appeal for NRL players, Coates said: “I don’t know how it’s going to work to be honest.

“I know rugby league is a massive sport in PNG, it’s the national sport, so getting a massive fan base around them won’t be a trouble at all.

“It would be great to see a lot of players go to PNG and play for them.”

Ironically, it’s NSW coach Laurie Daley’s advisor in this series, Bellamy, who has played a key role in Coates stamping himself as a Queensland Origin wing force.

Coates has been forced to switch roles for the Maroons — he started on the right wing in Game One before shifting to the left in the return bout — and paid tribute to Bellamy’s unrivalled mentoring at Melbourne.

“I wouldn’t be the same player without him. That’s definitely fair, you hit the nail on the head there,” Coates said.

“He has stern conversations with everyone, not just one player.

“He doesn’t hold a hierarchy there at the Melbourne Storm, everyone is the same and if you are doing your role you will hear about it.

“He is a really great coach. If you want to be a consistent player, you have to be performing consistently in training sessions and that will follow suit into games.

Coates has flourished under Craig Bellamy’s coaching at the Storm.

“That’s the main thing I take away from ‘Bellsa’.”

Coates will forge another new left-side partnership in the decider alongside Maroons debutant centre Gehamat Shibasaki.

The Blues have torn apart Queensland’s right edge in this series, scoring six tries, but Coates is confident the Maroons have superstar NSW centre Latrell Mitchell under control.

“It’s not a concern,” he said.

“We just focus on ourselves, we don’t worry about the media or any talk that goes on there (about their leaky right-edge defence).

“We want to get better and there’s opportunities to get better.

“We have spoken about that so we just need to practice that in camp and hopefully we play well on Wednesday.”

Originally published as Xavier Coates not keen on PNG move as Melbourne open talks on new deal