The Storm wish they had him and the Chiefs hope they’ll sign him, but for now Cooper Bai is loving life on the Gold Coast where there’s a sense of vindication that he re-signed after he starred in Sunday’s thumping win over the Eels.
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Still only 19 but with the physical attributes and the emotional intelligence of a seasoned veteran, Bai shapes as one of the most important players for the Titans going forward after he made the huge call to stay put despite initially agreeing to move to Melbourne earlier this year.
“It definitely was the toughest decision of my life I’ve ever had to make,” he said after his seventh game in the NRL.
“I’ve never had to make any decisions like that before to pick between two clubs like that.
“This is pretty much where I’ve grown up here on the Gold Coast, and obviously I’ve got relations down south. To be honest, it was the toughest decision I think I’ve actually had to make in my life.”
Bai’s father, Marcus, was a Storm legend in their early days, with Cooper chatting with influential figures at the club like coach Craig Bellamy and director of football Frank Ponissi who tried to get him to move down south.
“We just had casual chats about footy and life in general. It was really good to talk to them to see a different perspective on everything,” he said.
“I’ve pretty much grown up here my whole life, and this is all I’ve known. Being able to interact and see how things are done in other teams and other areas was a big insight for me.
“It came down to me making decisions for myself and what I thought was best at the time. I felt it was best to stay here with the new coaching staff and all of that. That was the main reason.”
Hannay: “We’re on a different journey” | 05:01
While Bellamy has the experience and long-term success, Bai is being coached by Josh Hannay who has youth on his side and is clearly changing things on the Gold Coast after years without success.
“He’s been amazing for me,” Bai said, with the Titans looking much better in defence this season, while their attack is also clicking after they posted 50 points for just the second time as a franchise.
“He’s been teaching me the basics around the game and continually helping me to improve in my craft, playing in my position, and just playing in the NRL.
“He’s been really good for me moving forward with my mindset, getting my mind ready for the game as well as my physical body, as the high-performance staff also do. He’s honestly been a game-changer for me.
“(He’s been big on me) switching on and playing upbeat from the very beginning and not having to wait for something to happen. He’s been really good in teaching me ways of doing that, to be able to go quickly with it and go straight away and not fall behind.
“Especially coming in the middle and being young, there’s a lot of noise, but (he’s helped with me) being able to focus on my role.”
The Titans are still building under Hannay, but Sunday’s win over the Eels is vindication for guys like Bai and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who decided to stay put.
“It really helps with all of that noise outside the footy world,” the young gun said.
“To be able to show ourselves and show the fans at home, this is the new brand of Titans that we are. We’re coming forward, and this is the footy that we want to play.
“Not necessarily just flashy, but we are willing to put the hard work in that we need to do to reframe that mindset around the Titans.
“I just always had a feeling (that I wanted to stay).
“With the new coaching staff, I was really enjoying myself in training, and I was happy just training. Those were probably the main reasons why I wanted to stay and see how this season would go.
“Not wanting to regret anything if stuff happened down the track. I’m still young, so decisions can happen down the track, but I felt it was best for me right now.”
The looming presence down the track will be when PNG enter the competition in 2028, with the Chiefs set to go after him hard.
Bai has played a couple of Tests for PNG and also came off the bench in last year’s Prime Minister’s XIII where he was treated like a god by the locals.
“I absolutely love everyone over in PNG,” he beamed.
“The support and love that I get from everyone over there is tremendous. I’ve never felt anything like it at all. To be able to play in those PM’s XIII games and the international games too, it was such a good feeling.
“Obviously, if they end up coming out in ‘28 (there will be noise) but I don’t really think of that right now. If stuff happens later, it happens later, but I’m staying around now.”
Kini FOOLS Parra with dynamic footwork | 00:45
DALEY’S SHOCK ORIGIN REVEAL
NSW coach Laurie Daley has dropped his first selection hint five weeks out from team announcements, revealing he will be selecting two hookers in his 19-man squad this season.
Roosters rake Reece Robson is the incumbent, while Connor Watson was deployed as a utility and a second option behind the ruck.
While Daley’s reveal doesn’t spell the end of Watson’s stint in the Blues side, he has made it clear two specialist No.9s will be in his side, opening a window for several players to be included.
Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast on Monday, a listener explained they believed Tigers skipper Api Koroisau was in the box seat for Origin selection due to his stellar form.
Without giving away his own stance, Daley explained he agreed Koroisau was in form and was in the frame to return to the Blues side after last featuring during the 2023 series.
“I think in today’s game, I think you can carry two hookers in a team,” he said.
“With six on the bench I’m assuming, without locking anything in, at this stage you’re probably thinking there’s going to be an opportunity for two hookers to be a part of that squad.
“Api is playing as well as anyone and the game is all about attack. It has swung more towards attack than defence, and as I keep saying you have to take your moments.
“When you have the football and everything is going your way, and you have got to be able to create points and that’s one thing we are looking at doing.
“Without locking it in, we probably will look to carry two hookers in the squad this year… one starting, one off the bench.”
Alongside Robson and Koroisau, Blayke Brailey is another contenders after his best season to date in 2025, earning himself a lucrative new contract at the Sharks.
Mitch Kenny is the remaining contender and arguably is the best defender of the bunch, enjoying a stellar stint at the Panthers’ No.9.
KNIGHTS CONFIRM KEY NEW SIGNING
The Newcastle Knights have confirmed the signing of Warriors forward Marata Niukore to a three-year deal in a big boost for the much-improved team.
The Knights have been an early surprise packet in 2026, with new coach Justin Holbrook producing immediate results in his first season in charge.
Now he has landed a key signing ahead of 2027, with Head of Recruitment Peter O’Sullivan saying in a statement that the club is “super excited” to welcome the experienced forward to Newcastle.
“He is a big athletic body, who can play in the middle or on the edge, with the same level of execution,” added O’Sullivan.
“Marata is one of the top edge defenders in the game and having played a lot of NRL in the centres, he adds genuine skill and versatility to our future stocks.
“Equally importantly, we know he is a great person, who cares about the club, the community and the teammates he represents, already committing to leaving the jersey in a better position than how he receives it.”
Andrew McFadden, the Warriors’ general manager of recruitment, pathways and development, credited Niukore for his “huge contribution” to the club.
“Both as a junior in his first term here and since coming home in 2023,” he added.
“We’re looking forward to him continuing to be a crucial part of our 2026 campaign as he looks to finish his time with the Warriors in the best possible way.”
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Holbrook:”Made it too hard on ourselves” | 03:36
MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR POTENTIAL BLUES DEBUTANT
Jacob Preston has already come mightily close to representing NSW and Australia, but a Blues debut is starting to gather momentum with the Bulldogs back-rower one of the leading candidates to replace Liam Martin if he’s ruled out of the State of Origin opener with a knee injury.
Martin left the field during Thursday night’s game against Preston’s Bulldogs, with reports suggesting he could miss six to eight weeks with an MCL injury.
The Origin opener on May 27 is roughly six weeks away, which would mean Martin wouldn’t have any footy under his belt even if he’s able to return at the lower end of the scale.
Losing him would be a massive blow for Blues coach Laurie Daley, given Martin has represented his state 15 times, but NSW has no shortage of options on the edge with Preston, Hudson Young and Haumole Olakau’atu all in scorching form.
While the others have played for the Blues, Preston is still waiting for his chance after he trained with them in Leura last year.
“That’s a massive dream of mine. It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was a little kid,” he told the NewsWire.
“All I can do is take it week by week playing good football for the Bulldogs. As long as we’re winning games, we’ll be in contention for those spots, and a lot of other boys will be too.
“So if I play good footy, then whatever happens from there, happens from there.”
‘They were getting ready for Origin’ | 05:11
Preston, 24, has been outstanding for Canterbury ever since he made his NRL debut back in 2023.
He was huge for them in their shock win over Penrith, with Preston scoring a try and setting up another with his hole-running to ice the game.
Rep coaches have taken notice of his form, with Preston included in the Australian squad for last year’s Ashes series.
“I learnt so much from that tour. It was a great experience, and I have heaps of lifelong memories I’ll cherish forever,” he said.
“I want to put on those (rep) jerseys. I just took what I learnt from all the elite players I was around, implemented it into my training, and hopefully it keeps showing on the field.
“It wasn’t necessarily a single person (who really helped me). It was more so the level they train at and the accountability they hold themselves to. I think that’s the two main things I took from the tour, and I’m just trying to bring that back to the Bulldogs in my own training.”
Bulldogs legend Josh Jackson has helped him at training over the past few years given he knows what it takes to make it at the highest level, while his partnership with halfback Lachlan Galvin is also pushing him towards a Blues debut.
Galvin had his best game for the club last week and seems in total sync with his back-rower.
Galvin steers Dogs to upset over Penrith | 02:59
“He was outstanding,” Preston said.
“He’s been doing it at training, it’s coming out on the field, and as long as he keeps going after it, I’m sure there are going to be plenty more performances like that.
“We’ve had a pre-season to kind of work on our combinations and learn each other’s little intricacies. It’s only going to continue to build.
Preston’s form has coincided with a newfound confidence which has seen him express himself on the field more this season, with the edge forward poking his tongue out after crucial tries against Canberra and Penrith.
“To be honest, I don’t even know (where it comes from) so it just kind of happens,” he laughed.
“I don’t even mean to do it, so I probably should stop doing it.”
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