Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is one of the NRL’s top props and a secret contract clause has left the Gold Coast Titans skipper open to poaching raids.
Maroons enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui insists he is committed to the Gold Coast Titans following revelations a contract clause could allow him to hit the NRL’s open market this year.
Fa’asuamaleaui will make his 10th State of Origin appearance for Queensland in Wednesday night’s series-opener against NSW in Adelaide.
The hard-hitting front rower has become a staple of the Maroons’ engine room since his debut in Queensland’s famous 2020 series victory.
Fa’asuamaleaui, 23, hasn’t missed an Origin game since debuting and could reach the 30-game milestone if he maintains his career trajectory.
The Gympie product has also become a bedrock of the Titans after leaving Melbourne following the Storm’s 2020 NRL premiership season.
Fa’asuamaleaui rejected an opportunity to join Wayne Bennett at the Dolphins for their debut NRL season this year, committing his long-term future to the Titans.
However his contract until the end of 2026 includes mutual option clauses for the 2025-26 seasons. That means Fa’asuamaleaui could be open to poaching raids from November this year for the 2025 season.
The Kangaroos forward’s rise to being one of the NRL’s top props has made him an attractive proposition for rival clubs.
The Titans have been patchy in a 5-6 start to the season, but Fa’asuamaleaui said he was committed to making Gold Coast a premiership contender when asked about his contract situation.
“I’m a Titan and will be until the end of 2026,” he said.
“I’m fully committed and want this club to go well. I’m so passionate about it and I want all the boys around me to think the same.
“We’ve got the team to do it. There’s been glimpses of it this year that we are a top four side and there’s other times where we let ourselves down.
“Having that young group, we’ve got to learn from it and bounce back for the rest of the season.”
While the Titans have recorded encouraging wins against the Storm, Eels and Sea Eagles this year, they have also squandered leads to the Broncos, Dolphins, Knights and Bulldogs.
That has put the spotlight on coach Justin Holbrook following last year’s bottom four finish and the Titans are facing a crucial month following this weekend’s bye.
An emotional Fa’asuamaleaui said the Titans had a “shit attitude” in the moments after blowing a 26-0 lead to the Dolphins and the team’s mental resilience has been questioned.
But the Gold Coast skipper said he hadn’t lost faith in his teammates.
“It’s very frustrating, especially the last two weeks (losses to Knights and Bulldogs),” he said.
“If you look at it, they were very winnable games and we were leading in the first half of both then the second halves let us down.
“It’s a long season. I’m happy the boys are having a week off. It’s come at a good time.
“They can mentally refresh and get rid of all that scrutiny and head noise. They can relax and go again against the Rabbitohs next week.”
Fa’asuamaleaui is hoping to back up after Origin I and face South Sydney at Cbus Super Stadium next Saturday.
Originally published as Market Watch: Queensland Origin star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui could hit the open market