Son of former Kumuls signs deal with Gold Coast Titans
Tuesday, 29 October 2024, 2:14 pm
PNG Kumuls prospect, Cooper Bai inks train and trial deal with Australia National Rugby League club - Gold Coast Titans.
The son of former Kumuls and Melbourne Storm premiership winner Marcus, will join the Titans full-time for the 2025 season.
Matt Keating, former NRL player and now Elite Pathways Head Coach at the Titans, said the experience of training full-time alongside NRL players will be a huge part of Bai's development, as a player.
"Cooper's open willingness to actively seek advice and engage with our coaches has significantly enhanced his on-field performances during his time within our Future Titans Program.
"His dedication and continuous efforts to improve during each session have been instrumental in his progression from our pathways to the NRL system [and] i am confident he possesses all of the qualities needed to succeed in his debut NRL pre-season and I'm excited to see how he develops throughout 2025," Keating said.
While his dad was a household name on the Melbourne Storms wing, his son preferred position is wearing the number-13 on his back.
He played lock for Burleigh in the Mal Meninga Cup grand final and was named in the Queensland Under 19's side, capping a big 2024 season.
Bai is keen to test himself alongside the club's NRL regulars.
"I'm just keen for the challenge of going into my first NRL pre-season [and] training with the top-30 squad [players] and learning off the NRL boys is something I'm really excited about and I can't wait to get to work.
"My goal (this pre-season) is to better myself and my game [and] i really want to get a feel of it, get my fitness and strength up to NRL standard and progress from the Future Titans Program to the NRL level.
"I want to say thank you to all of the Future Titans staff who have helped me since Under-14s and my family for guiding me along the way, allowing me to get to this point to take up this opportunity."