Titans threaten to sue recruiter if they lose players to Perth Bears

The Gold Coast Titans will consider launching civil legal action against their former recruitment boss Ezra Howe if they lose any player they want to keep to the Perth Bears.

The NRL is investigating allegations Howe, touted as the man tasked with building the inaugural Bears roster, was unofficially working for the incoming club while still contracted to the Titans.

After forensically auditing Howe’s computer and email, the Titans believe he breached the terms of his employment contract after resigning in July.

The Australian reported Howe allegedly compiled a spreadsheet of up to nine Titans players for the Bears to target and that he was allegedly caught on audio messages telling player managers to delay re-signing Titans players. Targets reportedly included captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Carter Gordon, Sam Verrills and Jaylan De Groot.

The NRL is investigating the allegations after the Titans lodged a complaint with supporting information.

The Bears have publicly stated they have not employed Howe, and the drama is likely to scupper his mooted move to the new franchise. Howe has a long working history with Bears coach Mal Meninga from their time together at the Titans and Raiders.

Sources not authorised to speak publicly while the NRL is investigating the matter have told this masthead that the Titans plan to launch civil legal proceedings against Howe if the Bears sign any player they want to retain. It remains to be seen whether that threat, and a potential barrage of adverse publicity, will dissuade the Bears from targeting Titans players.

The imbroglio has left the Bears without a recruiter two months before they enter the open market on November 1 to start signing players ahead of their introduction to the competition in 2027.

Fa’asuamaleaui has a clause in his contract that allows him to test the market from November 1, which could result in the forward leaving at the end of next year despite signing a decade-long contract extension. Meninga has made no secret of his interest should Fa’asuamaleaui decide toexplore his options.

The development has come at a time of great change on the glitter strip. Saturday’s clash against Wests Tigers will be the last in charge for coach Des Hasler, who will be replaced by Josh Hannay. It also marks the 318th and final game before retirement for veteran playmaker Kieran Foran, although he will transition into a specialist coaching role with the club.

The likely wooden spooners have confirmed assistant coaches Jim Lenihan, Brett White and Michael Monaghan will finish their roles with the club at the end of the season.

Gordon will become the first Wallabies half to play top-flight rugby league in 34 years when he makes his NRL debut for the Titans. Cooper Bai, the son of former Storm star Marcus, will also play his first first-grade game against the Tigers.

The Titans are poised to part company with one of their highest-paid stars, David Fifita. South Sydney are set to pick up the enigmatic forward after he was granted permission to negotiate with rival clubs.

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