- Premiership winner claims son has made awful decision
NRL great Marcus Bai has launched a stunning attack on his own son Cooper after he backflipped on an agreement with Melbourne to stay at the Titans.
The 19-year-old rising star reneged on his deal with Melbourne, which was set to begin in 2027, following a deep conversation with Titans coach Josh Hannay.
‘I’m very cranky about this and I’m p***ed off with his management team as well,’ Marcus Bai said.
‘People might say that’s his decision, but it’s a wrong decision to make.
‘I don’t know what he saw (in the Titans), to be honest. I’m not happy about it at all.’
The father-son argument now has major implications for the incoming Papua New Guinea NRL team’s desire to sign the teenager, as Marcus sits on the club’s board.
Cooper Bai (pictured) has backflipped on a deal with the Storm to stay at the Titans – and his footy legend dad Marcus is ropeable
Marcus Bai (pictured during his playing days with the Melbourne Storm) has slammed his son’s decision in a public outburst
The pair (pictured together ahead of Cooper’s NRL debut in 2025) are currently not on speaking terms
Cooper’s decision has angered his father, who believes he would have been better off joining the Storm system, which is widely regarded as one of the best in the NRL.
Marcus Bai is one of the greatest players to ever hail from PNG and was a crucial part of Melbourne’s first premiership-winning team back in 1999.
‘To me, as an ex-player and his father, he didn’t make the right choice at all. It’s very wrong,’ Marcus told News Corp.
Cooper Bai is currently not on speaking terms with his father, and the Titans are reportedly concerned about how the rift has affected him mentally.
The Queenslander was chased by the Storm, Panthers and Roosters, before committing to the Gold Coast.
‘It just felt right for me to stay here,’ Cooper said of his commitment to the Glitter Strip team.
‘I am really happy here and have enjoyed being under Josh, the coaching staff and the playing squad.
‘That’s the main reason I wanted to stay at the Titans.’
