According to Rogers, the Titans’ players will be uniting around Pahulu at the moment.
The situation surrounding Josiah Pahulu has been exaggerated, according to former dual-code international Mat Rogers, who thinks the young forward will remain on the Gold Coast. In the midst of rumours that Pahulu might be joining the Bulldogs, the Titans rejected his release request on Tuesday.
According to reports, the 20-year-old made the request after a disagreement over a purported $40,000 incentive payout. Pahulu’s contract had a condition that said if he made 20 first-grade appearances before the conclusion of the season, the young forward would receive a sizable prize. However, he was rested in what would have been his 20th game in the Titans’ final-round matchup with the Panthers, and he ended the season with 19 games.
After the selection call, the 20-year-old reportedly became unhappy and started looking for a move outside of the club. However, because the Titans consider him a vital element of their team, his desire to skip the last year of his contract in order to join the Bulldogs was denied right away.
Joel Gould, an AAP writer, told SEN on Thursday that the Titans had no plans to release Pahulu at this time. “The Titans are telling me that it was because he was injured, but some people are implying that it was a calculated plan on their part to not pay him. They are implying that there was nothing nefarious involved.
With veteran Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Klese Haas, David Fifita, and captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui probably ahead of him in the 2025 ranking, Pahulu’s struggle for playing time is another reason he might be searching for fresh opportunities. And Gould thinks that’s a major reason he wants a release. “The player himself, I’d say, wants to play rugby league,” Gould stated.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s signing implies that he won’t play as much if everyone is healthy and fit. Since he is not under contract for 2026, any team is welcome to make an offer to him.
According to Mat Rogers, Josiah Pahulu will stay with the Titans.
Rogers, a former Titans player, has dismissed any notion that his desire for a release may cause him to become an outsider at the team and says he will stay on the Gold Coast after everything is said and done. “I’ve experienced it. I had gone through a small amount and did request a release in 2006. had to leave Sydney because of personal issues with Dad. It was a little difficult because, although my state coaching staff supported the decision, the national coach didn’t,” Rogers told SEN on Thursday.
However, this circumstance (that of Joshua Pahulu) is a little different because, in my opinion, there isn’t an emotional explanation. As a young man, however, the more experienced players will drag him in and get around him. No us versus them atmosphere will exist, especially not with Dessy (Des Hasler) around. A team could have a player that is truly a cancer, and they would release him if that were the case, but that isn’t the case.
According to all accounts, he is a wonderful young child; he would have simply been quite unhappy about the circumstances. It’s likely that his manager would have approached him and suggested that they look elsewhere. However, he is an outsider and is not training alone.
