Gold Coast Titans lock down Cooper Bai and Jai Billish to change schoolboy drain; Keano Kini, Josh Hannay
But Kini said the Gold Coast could emulate the Penrith Panthers, whose four consecutive premierships were built on Western Sydney schoolboys, and create a group led by hometown heroes.
“I still had the mentality that I had to prove myself to all the big boys and you had to earn your way and your respect,” New Zealand’s No.1 player said.
“As long as these young kids know that, as long as they’re confident but still know they have to work to get the praise, I think you’ll find that most kids are pretty humble and keep their heads down.”
Meanwhile, this imprint’s analysis of every registered NRL player and the schools they attended suggests the Titans’ efforts to retain their young talent are not as far removed from their rivals as feared.
Penrith leads the way in retaining local players, but the North Queensland Cowboys have also benefited from two prominent rugby league schools in Kirwan State High School and Ignatius Park.
Of the competition’s 15 players who graduated from these academies, the Cowboys currently have five under contract, although many more have worn the North Queensland hurler in previous seasons.
Only four Broncos – Ezra Mam, Pat Carrigan, Billy Walters and Ben Te Kura – attended Brisbane schools.
By contrast, Hannay’s squad includes 12 of the 43 players in the NRL who train on the Gold Coast, regardless of the Future Titans programme. Former PBC stars Tom Weaver and Ryan Foran’s contracts were not renewed beyond 2025.
Dolphins forward Connelly Lemuelu, who attended Keebra Park, said the perceived loss of players was due to a lack of squad space and, as with the Wests Tigers, athletes were often signed for much younger clubs.
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But Lemuelu, who worked under Hannay at the Cowboys, said the coach was the man to take over the Gold Coast basin.
“For myself, I signed with another team at a young age and there were other players who signed before me, so it didn’t work out that way,” he said.
“With Josh Hannay coming in, I think he’ll do a good job of making sure those kids stay. He’s definitely someone who can get the best out of kids. Being a former player and having played at an elite level, I think he understands.”
The Titans’ talent problem has been put under the spotlight again following reports that Bai was being courted by rivals.
The 19-year-old, a Marymount College graduate, was on the Melbourne Storm’s radar and his Papua New Guinea heritage linked him to the incoming Chiefs.
“Since he came into the classroom he has set the standard for a young lad you don’t see very often and he is who I want to be with for the rest of my career at the Titans,” said Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui after pledging his future until the end of 2030.
Bai rejected these advances and signed a two-year extension until the end of 2028.
“What excites us most is that he is another player from our path who has been a lifelong Titan and dedicated to the future of this club,” Hannay said.
“The sky is the limit for Cooper.”
Kini said the onus is on the players to produce results.
“We want to keep some of those kids here, but it starts with us winning on the field and making this an exciting place for these students,” he said.
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