Latest news with #SimonMammino
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sydney clubs enter Tino Fa'asuamaleaui race as NRL rocked with $7.5m update
Titans captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui already appears to have two big Sydney clubs keen to lure him over with massive deals with the Queensland and Gold Coast forward set to listen to offers from rivals. NRL clubs were put on notice this week when it was suggested Fa'asuamaleaui's agent would listen to the Perth Bears after the current season. Fa'asuamaleaui is signed to 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, meaning the rep forward will be free to speak with rivals clubs from November 1 this year. His agent Simon Mammino admitted they will sit down for discussions with Meninga and Perth later this year. But he also indicated the 25-year-old's preference is to stay on the Gold Coast, where Fa'asuamaleaui is settled with his partner and three kids and has an extensive family support base. "We will have a look around (on November 1), but that's because we don't really know what's going on at the club at the moment," his manager Mammino said. "Tino would probably prefer to stay. We just want to see some decisions made that the club is stable." And while the Perth Bears have been heavily linked with the forward as a potential marquee signing, it now appears two Sydney clubs are interested. And reporter Phil Rothfield has reported the Dragons are set to table the richest deal in the club's history in an attempt to lure Fa'asuamaleaui to Sydney. But they are not the only Sydney team keen with powerhouses the Bulldogs also interested in adding him to a star-studded forward pack. "I am told St George have gone in with an absolutely massive offer. It will be the richest offer in St George Illawarra history for the player. The ideal man to lead all those emerging forwards coming through. The other story, the Canterbury Bulldogs," Rothfield said on Triple M's NRL Daily. Rothfield claimed if the Bulldogs could bring Fa'asuamaleaui over, with Leo Thompson already signed for 2026, then they would have a premiership winning forward pack. Although reporter Brent Read claimed the reported Perth Bears money will blow the other deals out of the water. "I think they are going to make him the richest deal for a forward in the game's history. I would imagine even the Dragons would struggle to match the dollars on offer in Perth. They got an entire salary cap they have got to throw at players and they want to land some marquee guys. And Tino's at the top of that list with Cameron Munster," Read added. Read suggested one of the figures thrown around is $7.5 million across five seasons. Both agreed $1.5 million a season is an extraordinary amount in today's game with Rothfield suggesting it was 'outrageous' money for a forward. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui still interested in Titans stay Reports throughout the season have suggested Titans coach Des Hasler was not going to be there to start next season with the side underperforming again. However, speculation suggests the Titans hierarchy are considering a backflip after some improved performances for Hasler's men in recent weeks. And Tino's manager Mammino claimed the club's instability will weigh into Fa'asuamaleaui's decision. "He has got time to make a decision, so hopefully they will resolve where the club is at with the coaching situation for 2027. That's not to say he doesn't want Des there. He gets on well with Des. It's also about where the club is heading with the re-signing of a couple of players," Mammino said. "It gives us time to look at what the club is doing. I have got confidence in the chairman Dennis Watt, (CEO) Steve Mitchell and the owner Rebecca Frizelle. It's just a recheck clause that we put in there to see where the club is at and where he is at and what options are there to consider."
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Family detail that could prevent NRL superstar accepting $7.5 million offer
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 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 two 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." View this post on Instagram A post shared by JORDAN (@ 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. RELATED: Raiders rocked as young Canberra star signs with Penrith Panthers Jett Cleary could be handed NRL debut in stunning development 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."
