Rising Kumul star Cooper Bai is set to make his long-awaited international debut this weekend, proudly wearing the red, black and gold of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Championships opener.
At just 18, Cooper Bai – son of Papua New Guinea great Marcus Bai – seems born for this stage. Despite having only one NRL appearance for the Gold Coast Titans, he has already captured the hearts of fans across the nation.
No matter where the Kumuls have travelled in Port Moresby this week, crowds have flocked toward one player above all Cooper Bai.
The excitement reached fever pitch when the Kumuls touched down on Sunday, with hundreds of fans surrounding the team bus at Jacksons International Airport and chanting “Cooper! Cooper! Cooper!”.
The same electric energy followed the squad to Gordon’s Market on Monday, where supporters once again flocked to catch a glimpse of the teenage sensation.
Amid the growing hype, Bai has kept his feet firmly on the ground, recognizing that his journey is only just beginning and that there’s still plenty to learn from the experienced players and coaches around him.
“I guess everyone knows my last name with Dad,” Bai said.
“Dad had a really wonderful career and the amount of support and help that he and the family – all my family – have had for me is immense.
“Starting to build my own name and my own thing is probably a big thing for me, but also; not just build on my own thing, but to continue the legacy of the Bai last name.”
Bai’s selection to face the Cook Islands caps a stunning season of rapid progression for the young forward.
Starting the year in the Under-19 Mal Meninga Cup, Bai quickly progressed to represent Queensland Under-19s before making his NRL debut in Round 27, following a series of standout performances with the Tweed Seagulls in the Hostplus Cup.
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster to be honest, from starting off this year,” Bai said.
“I started off in the Under 19s and then got my chance in the Queensland v NSW game and got to play that, then got lucky enough to get a picked by Tweed Seagulls to play in the Cup and then after that, got the chance to make my NRL debut.
“It was all pretty quick and it's still sinking in to be honest.”
Bai experienced the pride of donning the red, black and gold Kumuls jersey earlier this month, taking to the field in Port Moresby for the Prime Minister’s XIII clash against Australia’s PM’s side.
Papua New Guinea erupted as he entered the field wearing his signature green headgear, with coach Jason Demetriou granting the young talent 46 minutes to experience the thrill firsthand.
“It was amazing just to finally put on that Kumuls jersey and to be able to run out with all the boys there after a really good week we had together; all the coaches putting countless efforts in just to get us on that field and putting us together in a good line-up,” Bai told NRL.com.
“The Aussie boys put it up to us and we just (couldn't) hold on there, but still, it was an amazing experience, and all the boys should be really proud. It's still very exciting and new … coming back now (to PNG) and just feeling everything, it's so great and I'm still trying to let everything sink in,” said Bai.
