Cooper Bai
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 5 November 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Lock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 1 August 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Marymount College | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Marcus Bai | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cooper Bai (born 5 November 2006) is a Papua New Guinea international rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League.
Background
[edit]Bai was born on the Gold Coast, Queensland and is of Papua New Guinean descent.[2] Bai's father, Marcus, is a former Papua New Guinean international who won premierships with Melbourne Storm in 1999 and Leeds Rhinos in 2004.[3]
He played his junior rugby league for the Burleigh Bears and attended Marymount College before being signed by the Gold Coast Titans.[4]
Playing career
[edit]Early career
[edit]In 2023, while playing for Burleigh in the Mal Meninga Cup, he represented Queensland City Under-17.[5] In 2024, Bai was 18th man for Queensland Under-19 in their loss to New South Wales.[6]
2025
[edit]Bai joined the Titans' NRL squad on a development contract for the 2025 season.[7] On 19 June, he started at lock and scored a try in Queensland Under-19's win over New South Wales.[8] Later that month, he made his Queensland Cup debut for the Tweed Seagulls.[9]
In Round 27 of the 2025 NRL season, he was named to make his NRL debut against the Wests Tigers.[10]
In October 2025 he was named in the Papua New Guinea squad for the Pacific Bowl.[11]
On 12 October 2025 he made his debut for the PNG Prime Minister's XIII in the 28-10 defeat to Australia’s Prime Minister's XIII in Port Moresby[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ RLP
- ↑ "Global backing for PNG team as son of Kumuls great earns NRL debut". NRL. 3 September 2025.
- ↑ "Cooper Bai follows in father's footsteps after being named in Titans squad". ABC. 4 September 2025.
- ↑ "'Always been home': Bai's desire to remain a Titan despite Storm temptation". Gold Coast Titans. 2 December 2024.
- ↑ "City lock Cooper Bai: 'My goal is to dominate the middle'". QRL. 22 September 2023.
- ↑ "The Titans bolters to watch in Under 19 Origin". Gold Coast Titans. 20 June 2024.
- ↑ "Son of NRL legend to join full-time in '25". Gold Coast Titans. 28 October 2024.
- ↑ "Match Report: U19s State of Origin". QRL. 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "Young Bai impresses in debut". The National. 30 June 2025.
- ↑ "Round 27 team: Debuting duo headline side to farewell Foz against Wests Tigers". Gold Coast Titans. 2 September 2025.
- ↑ Ben Olawumi (9 October 2025). "Son of Super League icon pays emotional tribute to dad ahead of Papua New Guinea debut". Love Rugby League.
- ↑ Daniel Nuttall (12 October 2025). "Zero for seven?! Aussie's double hat-trick powers PM's XII past PNG despite horrific kicking". FoxSports.au.