Rogers sets record straight around Fa'asuamaleaui comments

SENQ Sportsday host Mat Rogers has set the record straight around controversial comments about the retention of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui at the Titans.

On Tuesday, Rogers said that, in a hypothetical situation, the Titans should prioritise the re-signing of young gun Cooper Bai over Fa’asuamaleaui, due to him being younger and urging the Origin star to formalise his commitment to the Gold Coast club.

Fa’asuamaleaui’s agent Simon Mammino called Rogers’ comments “disgraceful” on Thursday, slamming the Titans’ legend for his statements.

“I’ve seen what Mat Rogers has said about Tino … geez, people have short memories,” Mammino said.

“To sit there and criticise Tino, he is the one who has stuck loyal through thick and thin.”

Rogers has since set the record straight, refuting Mammino’s comments, clarifying he wants Fa’asuamaleaui to remain at the Titans, urging him to officially re-sign with the club and end speculation around his future before the season starts.

“Let me clear the air, I've been accused of saying that the Titans should get rid of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. I’ve never said this,” Rogers said on Sportsday with Rat and Jarrod.

“They're trying to re-sign Cooper Bai, and I just said in a hypothetical throwaway comment… if I had to choose, which we don't, between Cooper Bai and Tino, I'm probably going to take Cooper, and there's a number of reasons why.

“Tino is an amazing player and I love Tino, and I want him to stay at the Titans, but the reason why is Cooper is 19, is going to cost less than half of what Tino (will cost)... but the reality is we don't have to choose, the Titans don't have to choose.

“Tino's the one that chooses.

“I'm the one getting hammered, his agent's come out… Simon (Mammino), if you're listening, come on the show, explain the situation to us, we'd love to hear.

“We don't want it to drag into a Manly 2.0 situation.

“By round five or six, if I'm playing in the team, I'd like to know what Tino's doing because I don't wanna be going into a press conference going, ‘what's Tino doing?’

“It's something that can derail the club because he's such a powerful figure in the game and for the Gold Coast Titans.

“There's a new era at the Gold Coast Titans, there's a new regime there, there's a new coaching staff.

“Now Tino would have come in after Christmas, he wouldn't have been there before Christmas because he was on tour so you give him time to assess and understand the landscape and how it's all going.

“By round five or six, if my captain isn't all in, then I'm starting to scratch my head a bit.

“But to think that I don't want Tino at the Gold Coast Titans is crap, it is absolute crap.

“So Tino, I love you and I want you at the Titans, and don't believe what you read.”

Fa’asuamaleaui is believed to be weighing up options from a number of clubs, including the Titans and Perth Bears.

He has played 84 games at the Gold Coast Titans since arriving in his five seasons at the club.