Cooper Bai’s PNG Safari Could Land Him a Chiefs Contract—Before He Becomes a Chief Himself

Cooper Bai’s name sounds like a farewell, but he’s not saying goodbye to the Gold Coast just yet; instead he’s trading his tour for a Chiefs contract.

The forward, who has already shown off his thunderous tackles, is now on a tropical safari in Papua New Guinea, hoping the Chiefs see enough to sign him for 2028.

If the Chiefs take the bait, they’ll be making a bold move by bringing in a player who hasn’t even left the island of the Kookaburras yet.

The Gold Coast club, known for its sunny pitches and high‑flying forwards, might have to adjust its lineup to accommodate a guy who can handle both the reef and a rugby tackle.

Cooper’s forward role means he’s a ball‑carrying machine, but the Chiefs might need a bit of extra flair—maybe a few more hat‑tricks, or at least a better sense of the weather forecast.

As the tour progresses, fans are watching the scoreboard of interest, hoping for a headline that reads ‘Cooper Bai signs with Chiefs—no, not the Chiefs of the local council.’

If the deal goes through, the Chiefs’ front office will have to file a new contract, perhaps with a clause about tropical sunburns and the occasional bongo drum.

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast will have to decide whether to keep Bai or send him to the ‘Chiefs’ as a marketing stunt, because who else would you send a forward to a place called ‘Chiefs’ if not to a place that sounds like a chief of council?

Either way, the 2028 season just got a little more interesting, with a player who might bring the heat—both on the field and in the headlines.