Bai backs sons to represent PNG in NRL and Kumuls
Melbourne Storm legend and former Kumul Marcus Bai has backed his sons to one day wear the red, black and gold of Papua New Guinea, as the nation prepares for its historic entry into the NRL.
Bai, who is now a board member of the newly announced PNG NRL franchise, said his sons Logan and Cooper, currently contracted with the Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans respectively, would be available to represent Papua New Guinea at both club and international levels.
“I’d love to see my boys follow in my footsteps, just like Adrian Lam and Lachlan Lam,” Bai said. “We tip our hats to Lachlan for captaining the Kumuls and proudly following in his father’s footsteps. That’s what I hope for my kids.”
The former Storm premiership winner said preparations are already underway, with October shaping up as a key period for talent development and selection.
“Cooper, Phillip Coates, and Sam Stephens, they’re all humble boys and I’m excited for what’s ahead. They’re clicking together really well and flying the PNG flag. I believe they’ll lead the way for the next 10 years,” Bai said.
His younger son, Cooper Bai, made headlines last week with a standout performance for Queensland Under-19s in the State of Origin clash, scoring the opening try in a thrilling 23-22 win over New South Wales.
Cooper’s form has earned him a debut this weekend in the Hostplus Cup for the Tweed Seagulls, and his father is already seeing signs of greatness.
“Before the Origin game, I told him, ‘Just play your game, go forward first, and everything else will follow.’ I was happy with how he performed; very solid,” Bai said. “That’s what a lock forward should play like. But there’s still room for improvement, the Hostplus Cup is faster, and the NRL is even quicker by another three seconds per play.”
While his sons also qualify to represent Australia through their mother, Bai has made it clear that he wants them to embrace their PNG heritage and the pride that comes with wearing the Kumul jersey.
“I told them there’s no country in the world more passionate about rugby league than PNG,” Bai said. “In 2023, I took them back to PNG and they saw it firsthand. They were amazed, young kids who had never met them before recognized them from YouTube and Facebook. That kind of passion is something you don’t experience in Australia.”
“I said to them, ‘Your mum is Australian, I’m Papua New Guinean. There’s a huge difference. When you play for PNG, you're motivating boys from the grassroots who want to be just like you. That’s something special; you can’t do that in Australia."
The 1998 Dally M Winger of the Year believes PNG’s NRL dream is closer than ever, with plans for expansion set to take shape over the next three years.
As part of the board overseeing the country’s entry into the league, Bai said his focus will be on recruiting the best talent to ensure PNG shines on rugby league’s biggest stage.