Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has called on the Titans to turn around season as pressure mounts on Des Hasler

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has called for the embattled Gold Coast Titans to show direction as the club hurtles towards the NRL’s wooden spoon.

Maroons enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has called on the embattled Titans to show “direction” as Mal Meninga’s Perth Bears plot a monster poaching raid for the Queensland Origin star.

Fa’asuamaleaui has emerged as a prime recruitment target for the NRL’s latest expansion club which could raid the Titans as Gold Coast hurtles towards the 2025 wooden spoon.

‘Big Tino’ is a free agent from 2027, when the Bears join the NRL, and has a long-term relationship with Perth coach Meninga, who recruited him to the Titans from Melbourne at the end of 2020 and handed him a Kangaroos debut in 2022.

The Titans enjoyed some success in Fa’asuamaleaui’s debut 2021 campaign, finishing eighth with a 10-14 record, but are on track for a fourth straight bottom four season and potential spoon in Des Hasler’s second year.

Having won the 2020 NRL title with the Storm, there is a view Tino is wasting the prime of his career at a Gold Coast club that has shown no evidence of premiership prospects.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has options in his favour that could see him walk out on the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

‘IT’S A RUTHLESS BUSINESS’

The fiercely loyal Fa’asuamaleaui has consistently pledged his allegiance to the Titans, signing a clause-ridden 10-year contract until the end of 2033.

But in recent weeks his form has dipped and the consistent club losses have appeared to take a toll on the gentle giant heading into Wednesday’s Origin series decider in Sydney.

Fa’asuamaleaui, 25, said he wanted clarity from the club amid constant speculation and uncertainty over the future of Hasler, who is facing the sack due to performance clauses in his contract.

“The club doesn’t owe me anything. I just would like to see some direction, how we’re getting out of this as a group and not just as a playing group,” he said.

“As a club we need to sit down and road map and direct where things need to be headed and have clarity around that.

“Obviously there’s a lot of things up in the air at the moment and that’s probably what’s weighing me down the most.

“It’s hard to talk about, I get a bit emotional.

“We’re not performing and I know what it’s like, it’s a full-on business and it’s a ruthless business. When things aren’t going right there’s a lot of questions.

“As a club we are not in a good situation and we need to get clarity and have a direction where we want to head and plan how to execute that.

“I’m still going to turn up every weekend to change this club around and get a win for us.”

Titans coach Des Hasler is facing the sack. Picture: NRL Imagery

‘DES HAS COME IN AND WORKED REALLY HARD’

Fa’asuamaleaui had a close relationship with former coach Justin Holbrook, who was sacked midway through 2023 for two-time premiership-winner Hasler.

Tino has bought into Hasler’s vision but the Titans have gone backwards, finishing 14th last year before falling into spoon favouritism with a third of the 2025 season to go.

The Bears have Tino and Titans teammate David Fifita, also a free agent from 2027, on their list of potential signings and are expected to appoint former Gold Coast recruitment chief Ezra Howe, who departed the club this week.

The Bears can’t talk to Fa’asuamaleaui until November 1 and the Titans captain said he was yet to consider a move west.

“I haven’t looked into it,” he said.

“It’s obviously cool that our game’s expanding. I think it’s awesome that we’re going over to the west coast and it’s just good that our game’s spreading to young kids all over Australia.

“I haven’t thought about it too much. I’m just worried about turning the Titans around, getting some wins under the belt for the year and changing the look on the club.

“It’s hard to pinpoint (what’s gone wrong). There’s a lot of things that we need to find the answers to.

“It’s upsetting that it hasn’t worked out because as much as I love Justin, Des has come in and worked really hard and when you see people work hard, you want to see them be rewarded.

“We need to find what it is as a club, sit together through it, have a direction and find the answers and execute how to get there.”

Liam Martin and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui go head-to-head in Origin II. Picture: NRL Photos

Fa’asuamaleaui entered the Origin series with Titans teammates Beau Fermor and Moeaki Fotuaika alongside him in Game One.

Fermor was dropped for Game Two and Fotuaika was axed this week for returning Canberra enforcer Josh Papalii.

Tino admitted a painful sternum injury was behind his poor performance in Perth but he was ready to respond at Accor Stadium in his 15th Origin for Queensland with the series on the line.

“Not winning on the weekend hurts but I’m all right,” he said.

“It (sternum) was (a problem) the week before game two but I’m good now.

“Being in camp actually helps because it’s a bit of a longer week and as much as the training’s intense, there’s more time in between sessions to get it sweet.

“I just can’t wait to get down to Sydney and play some football.”

Originally published as Tino Fa’asuamaleaui has called on the Titans to turn around season as pressure mounts on Des Hasler