Signings watch: Should Bai honour his contract with Gold Coast?

Chad Townsend has expressed some concern about Cooper Bai and his contract dealings, with the Gold Coast Titans forward set to leave the Sunshine State.

Having maintained his spot in the side in the first-grade side throughout the season, it was hoped that Bai would continue to showcase his talent going forward.

But the 19-year-old has told the club through his representatives that he will not extend his existing contract, which ends in 2027.

The Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters have shown interest in signing the Kumuls representative alongside the PNG Chiefs.

The lock forward has already travelled to Port Moresby to meet with club officials and tour the club’s facilities, with a proposed three-year deal.

But the 2016 Premiership player notes that the move could be giving him a bad reputation given his previous dealings when he backflipped on a deal to join the Melbourne Storm.

“I'm not sure who's advising Cooper Bai,” Townsend said on SEN’s Kick Off.

“Obviously he's a great young talent, but you look at the last 12 months of Cooper Bai, and there's been a lot of decision-making, reneging.

“I mean to initially agree to join the Melbourne Storm, then change his decision and then sign with the Gold Coast Titans for an extra season.

“Now the fact that he wants to leave the Titans, six months later after already making that decision to go and look elsewhere.

“And he's bringing in quotes around being coached by some of the best coaches, and obviously you got PNG there as well.

“Yeah, I don't know. I mean, you don't wanna be that player that changes your mind all the time, do you?

“You wanna honour the contracts, and you don't wanna be reneging on the deals.”

The Titans will look to improve on their 16th-place finish in Josh Hannay’s second season in charge in 2027.

They’ll lose Jaimin Jolliffe and Phillip Sami through the off-season while adding Luke Hanson and Mawene Hiroti going into next season.