'Everyone knows my last name': Bai to build on family legacy

One of the most eagerly awaited Test debuts is set to come to fruition when Cooper Bai runs out for the Kumuls in their opening match of the Pacific Championships.

The son of Papua New Guinea great Marcus Bai, Cooper appears to have always been destined for this moment and the 18-year-old is already a huge fan favourite, despite having played just one NRL match for the Titans.

Wherever the PNG team have gone in Port Moresby this week, Bai is the player fans have been drawn to most.

After the Kumuls arrival on Sunday, fans crowded around the team bus at Jackson's International Airport and chanted his name - "Cooper, Cooper, Cooper!". There were similar scenes when the players visited Gordon's Market on Monday.

Despite the attention, Bai remains extremely grounded and is aware that he is just at the beginning of his career and has much to learn from team-mates and coaches.

“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.”

The call-up to face off against Cook Islands comes after a remarkable season, which saw the talented forward rise through the ranks at a rapid pace.

Starting the season in the Under 19 Mal Meninga Cup, Bai represented Queensland Under 19s and made his NRL debut in Round 27 after a series of  strong performances in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup for Tweed Seagulls.

“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 had a taste of what it means to don the red, black and gold of the Kumuls jersey earlier this month as part of the Prime Minister’s XIII match in Port Moresby, taking on the Australian PM's side.

The Papua New Guinea home crowd rose as one as his ran out with his distinct green head gear, with coach Jason Demetriou giving his young star-in-waiting a solid 46 minutes on the field to soak in the experience.

“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.”

Named to again come off the bench on Saturday, Bai said he had taken a lot out of his introduction to the PNG team and was keen to be spending more time in camp ahead of the matches against the Aitu and Fiji Bati.

“I'm really looking forward just the boys growing closer and just improving our game and taking that into the Pac Champs,” Bai said.

“(The PMs game was) a good first startup, but we've got plenty more to go …

“We are building those connections with each other on and off the field and (looking forward to) getting into the Pac Champs.”