LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
A recent, unexpected meeting between Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, captain of the Gold Coast Titans, and the club's former recruitment chief, Ezra Howe, has reportedly raised concerns among club officials.
According to Sport Confidential, Fa'asuamaleaui was spotted having coffee with Howe on the Gold Coast last week, shortly after returning from Australia's Ashes tour.
The Queensland Origin forward is in a position to test the open market for 2027 and beyond, thanks to a clause in his current Titans contract that permits him to explore offers from other clubs.
Howe, who has a long-standing connection with Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga, was instrumental in persuading Fa'asuamaleaui to leave Melbourne for the Titans in 2020. Together with Meninga, they played key roles in reshaping the club's culture during a challenging rebuild phase.
Meninga had even intended to appoint Howe as his recruitment chief before Howe became embroiled in the Titans' integrity saga, which involved accusations against him of drafting a Bears hit list using confidential salary-cap information from the club.
While the encounter may have seemed informal, Titans executives are likely apprehensive about the implications, especially with Meninga's Bears project eyeing high-profile signings and Howe potentially re-entering the picture.