Gold Coast teenager Cooper Bai is on the verge of a significant step in his young career, with the Titans reportedly preparing to promote him from a development deal to their Top 30 squad for 2026.
The 18-year-old winger made his NRL debut in the final round of the 2025 season against Wests Tigers, where his work rate and composure caught the attention of both fans and officials.
Despite having a try ruled out, he produced two tackle busts, 15 tackles and ran for 76 metres in an encouraging first outing.
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Praise from Gordon Tallis
According to The Courier-Mail, new Titans head coach Josh Hannay is expected to make the upgrade one of his first contract calls since taking charge. The son of former Melbourne Storm star Marcus Bai has already drawn praise from league legend Gordon Tallis.
“I played against his father, Marcus Bai, and he is one of the hardest guys I ever had to tackle,” Tallis told the paper. “He was off the back fence, he was built low to the ground, and if his son has his dad’s fabric, which it looks like it does, he will be pretty special.
“I watched him play in the Queensland under-19s, and he was one of the best players on the field.”
Bai also stood out for the Tweed Seagulls in the Queensland Cup this year, scoring five tries and averaging 148 metres across seven games. With his attitude and pedigree, expectations are that he will feature far more regularly in 2026 and beyond.