NRL 2022: Wayne Bennett and Mal Meninga on collision course over Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
They famously butted heads in 2016 and now two of the most powerful men in rugby league come against each other again.
Mal Meninga and Wayne Bennett are on a collision course over Tino Fa’asuamaleaui with the Titans culture chief issuing a hands-off edict to the Dolphins in the fight for the Queensland Origin star.
Dolphins super coach Bennett has ramped-up his pursuit of Fa’asuamaleaui, but Meninga, who lured the forward sensation to the Titans from Melbourne, has backed Gold Coast’s culture to keep the Maroons young gun at Parkwood.
Meninga and Bennett famously butted heads in 2016 when the pair both applied for the Australian job, with Meninga winning out, prompting Bennett to oppose him on the international stage as England coach.
Watch live coverage of The Autumn Nations Series with beIN SPORTS on Kayo including every Wallabies & All Blacks match. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >
Now the Queensland icons face another battle of wills in the bidding war for Fa’asuamaleaui, who has fielded offers from both the Titans and Dolphins worth in excess of $800,000 a season.
Meninga has previously flexed his muscle to poach not only Fa’asuamaleaui, but David Fifita from the Broncos, and the NRL Immortal insists the Titans cannot be complacent in the fight for Big Tino.
“We can’t control if they (Dolphins) want a player like Tino, but if we do the right things as a club, Tino will want to stay,” said Meninga.
“Retention is really important for us. We brought Tino to the Titans from Melbourne because we see him as the future.
“It is what it is. All clubs have to accept the reality the Dolphins will be coming for our players and we believe we are prepared at the Titans.
“We can’t stop players talking to the Dolphins or other clubs through their managers, but we need to have a strong system to counteract that.
“I would like to see Tino stay loyal, but loyalty starts at home sometimes and he is from that region north of Redcliffe (Fa’asuamaleaui hails from the tiny town of Widgee near Gympie).
“But Tino understands what we are about at the Titans and I believe we can provide the right culture of performance to keep him.”
News Corp understands Meninga is set to prevail over Bennett again, with the Titans tipped to edge out the Dolphins to keep Fa’asuamaleaui at the Gold Coast on a $3.3 million deal until the end of 2026.
But Bennett is refusing to give up the fight.
The 71-year-old needs some marquee talent to attract other players for the Dolphins’ foundation season in 2023 and he forged strong ties with Fa’asuamaleaui last year, handing the 21-year-old his Origin debut in Queensland’s fairytale 2020 series win.
Fa’asuamaleaui’s manager admits the 107kg hulk is “torn” between the attraction of being mentored by Bennett and his desire to turn the Titans into a consistent finals force.
Meninga initially expressed concerns over the impact of a second Brisbane team on the Titans, but he now believes a fourth Queensland franchise will challenge the Gold Coast to get better.
“It’s excellent for the game and very deserved to see a second Brisbane team,” he said.
“This expansion move will put a bit of pressure on all the other clubs, particularly the Queensland clubs, so we have to get our act together and make sure our governance, administration and football department are spot on.
“Improving the individual and their personal growth is important to us.
“A second Brisbane team will keep more Queensland kids in the state which is a great thing. The Dolphins are kicking off with the greatest coach of all-time and it will be interesting to see how Wayne Bennett puts together his roster.
“The northern corridor of Redcliffe, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay region desperately needs more attention and another NRL team will cater for that area. There is a heap of talent in that region.
“Clubs have to get their own backyard in order through their front office and making sure everyone is up-skilled. We have to do better in the way we manage our programs and if we do that, players like Tino will want to stay at the Titans.”
Bennett turns up heat in big-money tussle for Tino
— Peter Badel and Travis Meyn
The Dolphins have turned up the heat on the Titans in the battle for Tino Fa’asuamaleaui with super coach Wayne Bennett holding talks with the Queensland Origin star.
News Corp can reveal Dolphins foundation coach Bennett has entered negotiations in a bid to convince the Titans enforcer he blooded as a Maroon to be the marquee poster boy of Brisbane’s new second team in 2023.
But the Titans remain hopeful they can trump the Dolphins in a big-money bidding war, with the Gold Coast having tabled a four-year upgrade to Fa’asuamaleaui worth $3.3 million.
The Dolphins are the front-runners to secure the signature of Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith and they believe Fa’asuamaleaui would be the perfect addition to spearhead the 17th NRL team’s engine room.
While Fa’asuamaleaui is tied to the Titans until the end of 2023, he has an option in his favour in the final year, giving him the contractual scope to join the Dolphins in their inaugural season.
The 21-year-old is expected to make a definitive call within a fortnight. His manager says the Titans have the inside running, but revealed Fa’asuamaleaui is seriously weighing up the Dolphins.
“The Dolphins have expressed interest in Tino,” said his agent Simon Mammino.
“Both clubs are attractive, so it’s a really tough one ... Tino is pretty torn.
“If they can retain Tino, it will be a huge statement for the Titans.
“I think he is leaning towards staying but the chance to be coached by Wayne and be closer to his family in Gympie is a definite consideration.”
It is understood the Dolphins’ offer to the premiership forward is comparable to that tabled by the Titans, giving the Gold Coast confidence they will not be beaten on money.
The Redcliffe-backed franchise is hoping Bennett can be their trump card. The NRL’s greatest coach gave Fa’asuamaleaui his Origin debut last November and the pair forged a bond as the front-row rookie played a starring role in Queensland’s famous 2020 triumph.
But Fa’asuamaleaui also has strong ties at the Titans.
The 107kg powerhouse joined the Titans last season after winning a premiership at Melbourne and Big Tino played a key role in convincing his good mate David Fifita to quit the Broncos to play alongside him on the glitter strip.
“I’ve never met a player who doesn’t love being coached by Wayne and that’s a credit to Wayne as a mentor of men,” Mammino said.
“Tino had a great relationship with Wayne in Origin last year, but the Titans have been excellent for Tino.
“He has always enjoyed playing for the underdog and he is excited about the challenge of turning the Titans into a premiership contender.”
Titans coach Justin Holbrook believes Fa’asuamaleaui can be a future captain if he stays loyal to the Gold Coast.
“We’d obviously love to keep him,” he said.
“We love how much he’s bought into the club. He will only be 22 next year but he is such a natural leader with his actions.
“He’s only had one year here but has really bought into not just his own ability, but how much he wants our whole team to improve.
“He has become really invested in such a short time. That’s what I love about him.
“As a coach, I’d definitely love him to stay long-term. Hopefully we can make that happen.”
$4m bombshell: Dolphins circle as Storm star rejects deal
— Exclusive by Peter Badel
Jahrome Hughes has dropped a bombshell on the Storm by rejecting a contract option in a move that opens the door for Brisbane’s new second team, the Dolphins, to pounce in a $4 million poaching raid.
News Corp can reveal Hughes’ management advised Melbourne on Monday the Storm premiership halfback will not be taking up an option in his $2.2 million contract for the 2024 season.
The Dolphins have moved swiftly, with the NRL’s expansion newcomers holding preliminary talks with Hughes in a bid to bring some premiership-winning star power to the Redcliffe-backed franchise in their embryonic years.
Hughes finished the 2021 season as one of the NRL’s top 10 players. Given the shortage of quality playmakers on the open market over the next two seasons, Hughes, who piloted Melbourne to the 2020 premiership, could command up to $1 million-a-season.
There is no suggestion Hughes is quitting the Storm immediately — he is contracted until the end of 2023 — but the decision not to activate a 12-month option enables him to field rival offers from next November.
Melbourne’s champion five-eighth Cameron Munster has already been linked with the Dolphins and the Storm cannot afford to lose the most lethal running halfback in the code.
Hughes’ manager Tas Bartlett confirmed the Dolphins are in the hunt for Hughes as the 27-year-old looks to capitalise on his outstanding form at Melbourne over the past two years.
It is understood Brisbane’s new second team would consider a four-year mega deal approaching $1 million annually.
“The Dolphins are a genuine option for Jahrome,” said Bartlett of PSM.
“We’ve advised Melbourne we won’t be taking up the option at this stage for 2024.
“The Storm are in the box seat to keep Jahrome given he is already contracted, but if we can’t get a long-term deal done, we will look to the open market.
“Jahrome has gone to another level this year. He is one of the NRL’s best players.
“Any club in the NRL would have some interest in a player of Jahrome’s stature in such a key position.”
Melbourne are no strangers to a bidding war for Hughes. In March, they staved off a big-money bid from the Warriors to retain the former Cowboys and Titans utility back, who will be on $750,000 at the Storm next season.
Ironically, the Warriors’ recruitment chief at the time was Peter O’Sullivan, who was headhunted by the Dolphins last month.
O’Sullivan has a history with Hughes, first signing him as a teenager to the Sydney Roosters’ SG Ball side a decade ago.
The challenge for the Storm is the salary cap. Munster is on more than $1 million next season and they will have to find more than $800,000 in the cap to secure Hughes, who has won a staggering 66 of 82 games at Melbourne for an 80 per cent success rate.
“The next contract for Jahrome is probably his last, so we have to make sure he does the best thing for himself and his family moving forward,” Bartlett said.
“He was a bit of a late bloomer in the NRL so he needs to carefully consider his next deal.
“He likes being in Melbourne, so if they make him an attractive offer, it could tie him down for the next four or five years.
“Jahrome is now in the top echelon of halfbacks in the game. If Nathan Cleary is the best halfback in the game, Jahrome is not far off that. If you talk to Craig Bellamy (Storm coach), he wouldn’t swap Jahrome for any other halfback.
“The Warriors were close to signing him earlier this year and Peter O’Sullivan was their recruitment guy at the time. Now that ‘Sully’ is at the Dolphins, I imagine he would be interested in a player of Jahrome’s ability.”
O’Sullivan said Hughes would be the perfect playmaking recruit in the Dolphins’ start-up years.
“Jahrome isn’t off-contract until 2024 so it’s difficult,” he said.
“We’d have to possibly look at a tradesman at halfback for our first year (in 2023) and then look to bring Jahrome to the Dolphins for 2024.
“It’s certainly something we are prepared to look at because Jahrome is a seriously good player.
“Right now, there aren’t many halves coming off contract at the back end of 2022, but the landscape can change very quickly with the player market.
“Patience is the key for us.”
Join the conversation
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.
Read more
‘Bewildering’: Decision to omit Kernick from Jillaroos slammed
Sydney Roosters star and women’s Dally M winner Olivia Kernick has been overlooked for Test selection as coach Brad Donald shakes up a squad which lost its last match to the Kiwis.
Read more