LEADERSHIP styles differ and it is up to the people of Papua New Guinea to decide whether they support Prime Minister James Marape’s strong involvement surrounding PNG Chiefs development and recruitment processes, says East Sepik Governor Allan Bird.
“Well, I’m not a micro-manager, so I operate very differently,” Bird told The National. “Everybody operates differently. That’s the way the PM likes to do things. I don’t have a particular criticism. If it works, it works. If there are issues with it, then there are issues with it.”
The Chiefs project has continued to dominate rugby league discussions across Australia and PNG, especially after the signing of West Tigers playmaker Jarome Luai as “Chief Player 001”.
While many fans welcomed the move as a historic moment for rugby league in the country, critics and opposition leaders have questioned the way the project is being managed and promoted.
Bird explained that his own leadership style focuses more on setting direction and allowing others to deliver results.
“I come from a school of management where I set the high-level agenda and I let others below me deliver on that agenda,” he said. “We all operate differently, but that’s what I studied and that’s the way I operate.”
He also avoided making direct political attacks, saying the public should judge the prime minister’s leadership style for themselves.
“I can’t comment on how the prime minister prefers to operate. I think it’s up to the people of PNG to judge whether they like that style of management or not,” Bird added.
The comments are expected to fuel more debate around the Chiefs project, with supporters praising Marape’s hands-on involvement while critics argue the Government should allow rugby league experts and administrators to lead the process independently.
Another major talking point remains the decision to sign Luai as the face of the franchise ahead of all-time leading try scorer and PNG’s very own son, Alex Johnston.
“Things have already happened. We can’t do much about it,” Bird said. “But the fact that he’s in the team, I think it’s good because he’s (one of) the first players to sign on.”
