So in general we're all not fans of the one year stopover for a reason
But if Flegler does get released early with Stone having also retired..
What do we think about taking Cooper Bai for a one year stopover, with the Titans paying most of his salary before he goes to the Storm?
We lack depth in the pack if Flegler leaves early and the Titans are talking about sending Bai to QCup for a year as punishment for leaving (which is ridiculous) and they desperately need wingers (as well as forwards, which we can't spare) and want a player swap to release him which the Storm have refused - if he's going somewhere for one year the most logical options would be us or the Broncos since we both need forwards and he wouldn't have to move before moving again to the Storm in 2028.
We don't have a forward to give them back but how about Nonu or someone in the other direction, he's fallen way down the order for us presumably with Lavender coming through and being off contract and having fallen down the order I can't see him playing first grade for us this year other than maybe a couple games during origin, which Lavender and Fuller could cover instead potentially plus Pouniu at centre if need be as well for a game or whatever and Nonu would probably start for the Titans on the wing given how much of a disaster Faeamani and Taumopeau are (too short and lack footballing skills respectively)
Probably not the right move but Cooper Bai is going to be a great forward at some point just the Titans suck, I could see us getting decent value out of him in Flegler's role with Su'a taking Stone's role and it gives our forwards another year to develop while we're in this win now window
I wouldn't give up a player we actually expect to start for one year of Cooper Bai but if we're giving up a depth outside back I could see it as being beneficial to us. He's much better than his 2026 season showed and would likely play a lot better for us than he did for them.
But if Flegler does get released early with Stone having also retired..
What do we think about taking Cooper Bai for a one year stopover, with the Titans paying most of his salary before he goes to the Storm?
We lack depth in the pack if Flegler leaves early and the Titans are talking about sending Bai to QCup for a year as punishment for leaving (which is ridiculous) and they desperately need wingers (as well as forwards, which we can't spare) and want a player swap to release him which the Storm have refused - if he's going somewhere for one year the most logical options would be us or the Broncos since we both need forwards and he wouldn't have to move before moving again to the Storm in 2028.
We don't have a forward to give them back but how about Nonu or someone in the other direction, he's fallen way down the order for us presumably with Lavender coming through and being off contract and having fallen down the order I can't see him playing first grade for us this year other than maybe a couple games during origin, which Lavender and Fuller could cover instead potentially plus Pouniu at centre if need be as well for a game or whatever and Nonu would probably start for the Titans on the wing given how much of a disaster Faeamani and Taumopeau are (too short and lack footballing skills respectively)
Probably not the right move but Cooper Bai is going to be a great forward at some point just the Titans suck, I could see us getting decent value out of him in Flegler's role with Su'a taking Stone's role and it gives our forwards another year to develop while we're in this win now window
I wouldn't give up a player we actually expect to start for one year of Cooper Bai but if we're giving up a depth outside back I could see it as being beneficial to us. He's much better than his 2026 season showed and would likely play a lot better for us than he did for them.