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Find your Sport Nation frequency'Great pickup': Storm signing says 'bye bye' to Titans
Joel Gould, AAP •  November 11th, 2026 5:23 pm
Gold Coast forward Cooper Bai has knocked back the PNG Chiefs to sign with Melbourne | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
New Melbourne signing Cooper Bai will play for the club of his famous father in 2028 and talks between the Gold Coast and Storm will determine whether he is there next year.
Titans powerhouse Bai has signed a three-year deal with the Storm from 2028, but the Titans and Storm are open to him joining a year early if a palatable deal can be struck by both parties.
The Papua New Guinea international and son of legendary Storm winger Marcus Bai, who won the 1999 title with Melbourne, was offered a deal by the PNG Chiefs from 2028 but knocked them back.
The 20-year-old forward toured the Chiefs facilities last month in Port Moresby and has become the first player to do so and reject a deal with the 19th NRL franchise.
Bai was on the cusp of joining the Storm last year but he pulled out to ink a one-year extension at the Titans which included an option in his favour for 2028.
Cooper Bai debuted for the Titans this year and is regarded as a future star | Photo: AAP
Bai, who made his debut for the Titans in 2025, has played 24 games for the club mostly off the bench.
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster, who is yet to determine his future at the club beyond 2027, was a fan of Bai's father and welcomed the signing.
"I've been fortunate enough to watch Marcus Bai play at the Storm when I was a kid," Munster said.
"Obviously, Cooper's a bit different to his dad, but his dad ran like a front-rower back in the day on the wing. He was obviously a Storm legend, Marcus Bai, and I like the way Cooper goes about his business.
"He's a Queenslander as well, and it's a great pickup for the Storm."
Storm director of football Frank Ponissi said the club had acquired "an exciting young forward and a quality young man" and pointed to the symmetry of his arrival.
"He joins us in 2028, which marks the 30th anniversary of our club's inaugural season in 1998 featuring Cooper's father Marcus - making it even more significant," Ponissi said.
