Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has put himself up for sale after activating the high-profile ‘get out’ clause he had boiled into his Gold Coast Titans contract that was available should Justin Holbrook ever be sacked.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s agents have informed Titans management he intends to trigger the clause.
That means, from today, every single one of the 17 clubs in the NRL can talk to the Gold Coast captain and formally offer him deals for 2024 and beyond. The same rings true for David Fifita too, should he hit the buzzer on his own clause, though as far as The Sporting Base has heard, Fifita has yet to follow Tino’s lead.
The clause being activated this week doesn’t necessarily mean Fa’asuamaleaui will leave the club though. The Titans have a huge pile of cash in their chest already set aside for their star prop to the tune of $1,000,000 next year and $1,100,000 once the 2025 NRL season rolls around.
That means should any other NRL club want to bring Tino into the fold—and why would any outfit be uninterested, salary cap dance aside—they’ll have to beat the Gold Coast pay pile. That, or Fa’asuamaleaui will have to actively turn down a six-figure offer and take less to play for another challenger.
Six clubs have already formally registered interest in signing Tino.
The Roosters waded into the mix almost immediately, but have already softened their recruitment plans after learning Fa’asuamaleaui is looking for at least $1,000,000 a season. Similarly, the Dolphins have already all but ruled themselves out of the battle.
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Two clubs lead the chase right now; the Bulldogs and Dragons. Gus Gould and Canterbury’s powerbrokers are most eager to add the Queensland enforcer to their roster, but incoming St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has already fired away an early pitch for the 23-year-old on why the Dragons should be his home for the rest of the 2020s.
The Broncos, who may soon lose Payne Haas, are also keeping a close eye on proceedings.
Gold Coast is expected to bring Des Hasler in to talk to Tino too, with a pitch about why he should stay loyal to the club that he already captains and has played 58 games for already.
