Gold Coast Titans forward Cooper Bai has flown to Port Moresby for talks with the PNG Chiefs, with the new NRL club reportedly weighing up a four-year offer worth about $3 million.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Wednesday that the Titans had given the 19-year-old permission to speak to rival clubs, and that the Chiefs were poised to hold meetings with him in the PNG capital.
Bai is contracted to the Titans until the end of 2027, but the Herald reported he has told the club he does not intend to extend his stay. He was prepared to test the open market when the NRL’s free agency window opens on November 1, before the Titans allowed him to fast-track talks with rivals.
The teenager was ruled out of the PNG Kumuls’ World Cup squad with a hamstring injury, but arrived in Port Moresby on Wednesday to discuss becoming the Chiefs’ eighth signing.
Why the Chiefs want Bai
According to the Herald, the Chiefs are considering an offer of up to four years worth about $3 million. Apart from English prop Matty Lees, all of the club’s recruits so far are backs, and Bai is seen as a player who could become a cornerstone of coach Willie Peters’ forward pack.
Read more: PNG Chiefs Unveil Logo and First NRL Jersey in Port Moresby
His PNG roots are another reason the club is considering a longer-term deal. Bai is the son of former Melbourne Storm winger Marcus Bai, and has made 24 NRL appearances since debuting in 2025.
The Herald reported the Storm and the Roosters, who both tried unsuccessfully to sign Bai when he was last off contract, are watching the situation with interest.
Marcus Bai steps back
In a twist, Marcus Bai sits on the PNG Chiefs board. He told the Herald he would step back from any involvement to avoid a conflict of interest.
Read more: ‘Much More Than Football’: PNG Chiefs Land Brian To’o in Massive Signing Coup
“Thank you to [Titans coach] Josh [Hannay] and [owner] Rebecca [Frizelle] for what they did for him,” Bai snr said.
“He came home and said, ‘Dad, I feel like I owe the club.’ I said, ‘You don’t owe anything to anybody. You do what’s best for you. The club does what’s best for them, and you do yours. If you’re not happy, why stay another year? If you’re happy, stay there.’”
“I have to step back,” he said. “I think the board is very supportive, and they’re dealing with it.”
The talks come on a big day for the Chiefs, who unveiled their logo and first jersey in Port Moresby on Wednesday ahead of their 2028 NRL debut. Neither the Titans nor the Chiefs had publicly commented on the reported offer at the time of writing.
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