While continuing to develop his game on the field, Gold Coast Titans forward Cooper Bai is equally focused on building a future away from rugby league.
Currently studying a Bachelor of Criminology at Griffith University, the Titans youngster has embraced the opportunity to balance life as a professional athlete with preparing for a long-term career beyond football.
For Bai, the decision to study criminology came from a genuine curiosity about people and behaviour.
“I’ve just had an interest in the mind and the way criminals think and what actually brings them to become a criminal and all the external factors that come with that,” he said.
The degree opens a variety of career pathways, ranging from psychology and corrections through to policing, an avenue Bai admits currently appeals most.
“The police sort of way is probably what I’m aspiring to do,” he said.
Bai believes having interests outside rugby league is an important part of maintaining balance.
“Footy takes up a lot of your time, but having something else outside enables you to be able to enjoy something else,” he said.
“It’s very beneficial to have something away from the footy world.”
The Titans have long encouraged players to pursue education and career development alongside their football ambitions, with Bai praising the club’s support network for helping him manage the demands of study and training.
“The club’s really been helpful with giving me extra time if I need it outside of training, or around tests and things like that,” he said.
Away from both football and university, Bai has also developed another unexpected passion to challenge his brain rather than brawn - chess.
After first discovering the game during a school assignment based around The Queen’s Gambit, the forward quickly became hooked and now enjoys the occasional battle against teammates and Titans staff.
“Everyone started playing and then when I saw Ferg (Head of High Performance, Cameron Ferguson) wanted to play, I just joined him,” Bai laughed.
“It’s pretty fun.”
The always humble Bai wouldn't elaborate too much on just who won those battles, but it shows the mindset of a young player who is finding balance in his journey on and off the field.
