Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager has revealed he’ll test the open market when he technically becomes a free agent on November 1, but admitted it will take a lot to pry him away from his family support network in Queensland. The State of Origin star is contracted to the Gold Coast Titans until the end of 2033 on a 10-year deal worth $1.2 million per season.
But he has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave at the end of 2027. It means he’s free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs on November 1 this year, and that’s exactly what he’ll be doing.
“We will be testing the market,” Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager Simon Mammino told News Corp on Sunday, while stressing he’s happy on the Gold Coast. “At this stage, he wants to stay at the Titans, but it’s a business and we’ll be having a chat to interested parties.”
The same report states the Perth Bears are preparing a $7.5 million offer that could see Fa’asuamaleaui become the highest-paid player in the game (per season). Mal Meninga’s new team are keen to offer the Queensland Maroons star $1.5 million per season for five years. It would take Fa’asuamaleaui past Kalyn Ponga ($1.4m) as the NRL’s highest earner per year.
“From November 1, we’re allowed to talk to people and I will definitely be having a chat with the Perth Bears,” Mammino added. “In a perfect world, Tino’s preference is to stay at the Titans. But whether he does remains to be seen.”
Family could keep Tino Fa’asuamaleaui on the Gold Coast
Mammino pointed out that Fa’asuamaleaui would be hesitant to move away from family in Queensland. His parents live three hours away in Gympie, while his brother Izack is also a Titans player. Tino’s partner Jordy Ngarimu is also a professional athlete with the Titans’ netball team, and her parents also live on the Gold Coast.
Tino and Jordy have three young kids, meaning they’d be moving away from their support network if they left Queensland. “It won’t be money alone that lures him out because he is already one of the highest paid players in the game,” Mammino said.
“Family is a huge factor. His in-laws live on the Gold Coast, his mum and dad are in Gympie and his brother is at the Titans. His family and support network is all around the Gold Coast area. If he goes to Perth, there’s no family support, so Perth will face the same challenges as Melbourne.”
The fact Fa’asuamaleaui is weighing up an international switch from Australia to Samoa shows how much he values family. And it could hint at good news for Gold Coast Titans fans.
Perth Bears figures who could convince Tino to join
Fa’asuamaleaui started his career at the Melbourne Storm, but it was Meninga and recruitment boss Ezra Howe who helped convince him to join the Titans. Meninga was the Gold Coast’s head of performance and culture at the time, while Howe was the Titans’ recruitment manager.
Howe recently joined Meninga at the Perth Bears to work as the new franchise’s head of recruitment, giving the Bears two big trump cards. “Tino went to the Titans because of Mal Meninga. He has huge respect for him,” Mammino revealed.
“That doesn’t mean Tino will definitely sign with them (Perth), but Mal and Ezra are huge fans of Tino. Those two aren’t there anymore and Tino has developed a real affection for the Gold Coast, but we don’t know where the Titans are heading.”
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