Mat Rogers spills the beans in new insight into Josiah Pahulu drama at Gold Coast Titans

Former dual-code international Mat Rogers says the Josiah Pahulu situation has been blown out of proportion and believes the young forward will stay put on the Gold Coast. The Titans denied Pahulu his release request on Tuesday amid reports he was set to join the Bulldogs.

The 20-year-old's request reportedly came following a dispute regarding an alleged $40,000 bonus payment. A clause in Pahulu's contract stated the young forward would receive a substantial reward at the end of the season if he made 20 first-grade appearances. But he finished the season with 19 games after being rested in what would have been his 20th match in the Titans' final-round clash against the Panthers.

The 20-year-old was reportedly left disgruntled following the selection call, prompting him to look for a move away from the club. But his request to get out of the final year of his contract to make the switch to the Bulldogs was immediately knocked back as the Titans view him as an important member of their squad.

"At this stage, the Titans have no intention whatsoever of releasing Pahulu," AAP journalist Joel Gould told SEN on Thursday. "Some people are suggesting it was a deliberate plot by the Titans to not pay him, but the Titans are telling me that it was the fact he had an injury. They're suggesting there was nothing sinister about it."

Pahulu's battle for game time is another reason he could be looking for pastures new, with captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, David Fifita, Klese Haas and veteran Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard all likely ahead of him in the pecking order for the 2025 season. And Gould believes that is a big factor in him wanting a release. "The player himself, I'd say, wants to play rugby league," Gould said.

"The signing of Reagan Campbell-Gillard means that if everyone's fit and healthy, he's not going to get as much game time. He's not contracted for 2026 so he's certainly available for any club to make him an offer."

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Mat Rogers believes Josiah Pahulu will remain at the Titans

But former Titans player Rogers believes when the dust settles he will remain on the Gold Coast, shutting down any suggestion that his itching for a release could see him become an outcast at the club. "I've been through it. I did ask for a release in 2006 and have been through a little bit. Been through personal stuff with Dad and needed to get out of Sydney. My state coaching staff were supportive of the move but the national coach certainly wasn't which made it a bit tough," Rogers told SEN on Thursday.

"But this (Josiah Pahulu's situation) is a bit different because it seems to me as if there isn't an emotional reason. But I will say this, as a young man the senior players will get around him and pull him in. There isn't going to be any us vs them environment, in particular not with Dessy there (Des Hasler). One player can be a real cancer within a club and if it was that they would release him but it's not happening there.

"He's a great young kid by all reports, he just would have been pretty upset with the situation. His manager probably would have come to him and said mate let's look somewhere else. But no way is he training on his own and is an outcast. "