Melbourne have given star five-eighth Cameron Munster permission to meet with PNG Chiefs officials ahead of November 1 to give him a chance to mull over what would likely be the final NRL deal of his career.
The Chiefs will enter the NRL in 2028, the same year Munster will begin his next contract.
While Melbourne have made it clear they want the Queensland captain to be a one-club player, the courtesy extended to the 31-year-old before he technically becomes a free agent is due to the two-time premiership winning champion's service to the Storm.
Barnstorming forward Bai is signed until the end of 2027 but he is just starting his career and the Titans are looking to him as a foundation stone to build their future team around.
Titans coach Josh Hannay was emphatic when asked if Bai would be given the opportunity like Munster to speak to the Chiefs ahead of November 1.
"No," Hannay said.
"They are at different ends of their career. Melbourne can do what they want to do but we have no interest in letting the vultures in."
The coach was asked if the excitement around Munster and the Chiefs might be enough to push Bai in the same direction.
"Not really," Hannay said.
"We still have pretty consistent dialogue with Cooper and he speaks highly of this club, his teammates and a desire to stay here. The competition is always going to be there for highly talented young players and we are aware of that.
"What we have shown Cooper over the last six months is what we are about and what we are building here and he has a passion to see this club do well.
"I understand the speculation around Papua New Guinea but I don't give it much thought to be honest."
Bai was heavily courted by the Storm before inking his extension before this season kicked off. He was set to join the club his father Marcus Bai famously won the 1999 premiership with, but the arrival of Hannay changed his thinking and he stayed with the Titans.
Bai is already an icon in Papua New Guinea and was feted by fans in Port Moresby during last year's Pacific Championships.
He will be one of the first picked in this year's PNG Kumuls squad for the World Cup in October and November and is going to get the same treatment. It is why the Titans are keen to wrap up an extension.
"Obviously the sooner we can get things like that wrapped up the better," Hannay said.
"We are in a privileged position at the moment in that we are the only team that can speak to Cooper and negotiate with Cooper so you want to make the most of those situations while you can because it can quickly get complicated."
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