LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
After Tino Fa'asuamaleaui's manager announced that he would explore free agency starting November 1, two additional teams have joined the Perth Bears in their pursuit of the Gold Coast Titans captain.
Fa'asuamaleaui, a standout player, is currently tied to a 10-year contract with the Titans. However, he possesses a clause that allows him to exit the deal at the end of the 2026 NRL season, enabling him to negotiate with other teams soon.
Alongside the Perth Bears, the Canterbury Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons have emerged as contenders eager to sign the representative forward.
Reports suggest that Fa'asuamaleaui might need to accept a pay cut to join the Bulldogs. In contrast, the Dragons are prepared to offer a substantial amount, referring to it as an "absolutely massive offer," in their quest to secure a leader for their forward pack for the next decade.
"I'm told St George have gone in with an absolutely massive offer. It's going to be the richest offer in St George Illawarra history for a player," The Daily Telegraph's Buzz Rothfield stated on Triple M's NRL Daily.
"(He's) the ideal man to lead all those emerging forwards coming through."