Gold Coast Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui explains why he rejected Mal Meninga’s Perth Bears
Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was one of the NRL’s hottest free agents, but he has rejected Mal Meninga’s cashed-up Perth Bears to stay loyal to the Gold Coast. WATCH the video and find out why.
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February 5, 2026 - 1:50PM
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NRL: New Gold Coast Titans coach Josh Hannay has reacted to Tino Fa'asumaleaui's commitment to the Titans, extending until the end of the 2030 season.
Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has shifted his focus to
keeping rising star Cooper Bai on the Gold Coast after rejecting Immortal Mal Meninga’s cashed-up Perth Bears.
Fa’asuamaleaui has left the door open for a World Cup switch to Samoa after speaking for the first time about
his decision to commit to the Titans until at least the end of 2030, bringing an end to one of the NRL off-season’s biggest contract sagas.
The Kangaroos and Maroons enforcer had an option in his 10-year Titans contract that allowed him to quit the club at the end of the upcoming season.
Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui signs on with the Titans until 2030.
Fa’asuamaleaui, 25,
received formal interest from the Bears ahead of their 2027 launch, while a number of Sydney clubs and Melbourne were also believed to be keen on luring the towering forward south.
Bears coach Meninga, formerly with the Titans, helped bring Fa’asuamaleaui to the Gold Coast from Melbourne at the end of 2020.
However Fa’asuamaleaui put an end to the speculation this week by committing to the Titans despite last year expressing frustration at the club following four consecutive bottom four finishes.
“I’m relieved – I’ve been probably the most popular player over the last two months around my contract,” he said.
“To be able to clear that up for myself, my family, the club and all the boys has been really relieving. I’m just glad that everyone knows where my future lies and that it’s over.
“Look, there were a lot of frustrations (last year) and the light in the tunnel did flicker at times. But every time I really looked into it, I definitely didn’t want to leave this place. I came here for a reason.
“I definitely want to still turn that around and with Josh (Hannay, new coach) at the helm it’s definitely helped out a lot.
“The changes that he’s made and the culture that he is forming here with us boys, it’s been so good and I just can’t wait to build with him and hopefully bring success here.
“I was on the market obviously, but I didn’t look at anywhere else to be honest.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Mal. I’m staying here and I still respect Mal so much – he gave me my Aussie jersey too.
“I’m just glad that I’m a Titan and I’m here for a long time.”
Securing Fa’asuamaleaui is an
early win for Hannay as he embarks on his first full-time NRL head coaching role.
But the challenges for the Titans are not over.
Rookie Bai, son of Melbourne great Marcus Bai, is being courted heavily by the Storm following his impressive NRL debut last year.
Fa’asuamaleaui hopes his decision helps
convince Bai to remain with the Titans beyond 2026.
“He’s a good kid,” he said.
“Since I met him and he’s come into the grade, he’s set the standard for a young kid that you don’t really see often.
“He’s one that I really want to be with for the rest of my career here at the Titans. Hopefully we can build something pretty cool because he’s only really young.
“I went through that when I was younger and I’ve got to let him make his decision, but hopefully he stays because we’ll definitely build something nice here with him.
“I’m speaking to him all the time. He’s going through his situation, but I’m just there for him to lean on with questions or if he needs to talk to people or talk to someone, I’m there for him.
“I’m talking to him all the time. Even today I said ‘mate, you’re next’.”
While Fa’asuamaleaui has made a decision on his NRL future, there is still another big call to be made.
The 10-Test Kangaroos representative is
being courted by Samoa to defect to the island nation for the end-of-year World Cup.
Unlike allegiance swappers Payne Haas and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Fa’asuamaleaui rejected Samoa’s advances last year, opting to tour England with Australia for the Ashes.
But he is yet to make a call on the World Cup.
“I’m really happy with the series last year and really proud of what we did over there,” he said.
“I had a lot of fun and learnt a lot under ‘Kevvie’ (Kevin Walters, Kangaroos coach) and the boys around me, but I haven’t made a decision.
“It’s a long way away and I just want to get on the field and make sure my body’s right, I’m playing good football and put myself in a position where I’m selected to play in the World Cup.
“I had unfinished business (with the Kangaroos). The last time I played before the ACL we got a hiding from New Zealand (2023 Pacific Championships final) and it didn’t sit well for me. I just don’t think my time is over yet with the Kangaroos.
“I’m only still young and hopefully have a long career in the international arena. I felt like the time wasn’t right to jump over and I don’t regret it.
“I had a lot of fun over there and playing for the Australian jersey was pretty cool.”
