Peter C
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This says it all regarding our recruiting, or should I say, lack of recruiting.
Brent Read
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June 26, 2025 - 5:00AM
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Wests Tigers forward Samuela Fainu has revealed his personal torment at seeing his younger brother Latu go through injury hell and his pride at seeing him fight back as the Fainu family prepare to take centre stage against former club Manly on Friday night.
Latu Fainu has missed a multitude of games over the past two seasons through injury, the most serious a hamstring concern that shook his confidence and had many doubting whether he would ever reach his enormous potential.
As Latu prepares to start alongside Tigers superstar Jarome Luai for the first time, Samuela revealed the depths of despair his brother had overcome to give himself a shot at becoming a permanent fixture in the halves.
“Some days he wouldn’t even come out of his room,” Samuela Fainu said.
“I wouldn’t see him eat some days but like I said, he got through it and that will make him a stronger person. Yeah he’s been through a lot for a couple of years now.
“But now it’s helped him off the field mentally and I can see a difference in him every day. I’m just super proud of him.”
Wests Tigers' Latu Fainu has struggled with injury for years but has finally got his chance to win the No.7 jersey long term. Picture: NRL Photos
Asked what advice he had given his brother as he waged war with his body, Samuela said: “Everyone goes through their fair share of adversity in life. I just told him, once you get over it, you will be happier.
“Seeing him get his opportunity shows that it really made him as a person.”
He was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles but the relationship between the Fainu's and Manly turned sour when officials fell out with then-recruitment boss Scott Fulton.
Fulton had discovered the Fainu's and taken them to Manly. When Fulton moved to the Wests Tigers, and Manly needed to free up some salary cap space, the Fainu's became expendable.
Samuela Fainu (right) and Latu (left) during their time at the Manly Sea Eagles. Picture: Richard Dobson
“It was definitely hard,” Samuela Fainu said.
“We just went through some things that we can’t talk about. Us leaving Manly really hit us. Right now we’re just living in the present, not living in the past or future.
“That’s what’s making us happy.”
Along with older brother Sione, the Fainu's are at the forefront of attempts to revive the Tigers. Results haven’t always gone their way this season but the signs are encouraging.
They loss to Canberra last weekend was a snapshot of their season. The Tigers got off to a slow start but showed plenty of pluck and courage to give themselves a shot at victory, only to fall agonisingly short.
Wests Tigers
|
182 cm
|
90 kg
possessions
113
line break assists
1
line break causes
2
try assists
1
View Player
Brought to you by
Latu Fainu was pivotal. Having entered the fray, the 20-year-old almost inspired a Tigers win. No-one at the Tigers – or Manly for that matter – was surprised. He never played first grade for the Sea Eagles but his reputation preceded him.
“I’ve always seen that talent,” Manly prop Toa Sipley said.
“He’s always been a player from the small time that I got to do a pre-season with him, a very talented kid. Always needed his hands on the ball for sure.
“It’s just good to see him getting his the limelight now I guess.
Fainu was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles, before falling out with the club. Picture: Manly Media
Luai had watched Fainu playing a starring role alongside Samuela for the NSW under 19 side two years ago.
“That was my first experience of him and what he was capable of,” Luai said.
“I’d like to say I was a pretty big fan after watching that game of him and Samuela. So other than that I didn’t see much or you have much to do with him.
“But before I even came in here, all the boys were talking him up especially Api (Koroisau). He’s been a bit unlucky so if can string a few games together, some 80 minutes performances and get a feel for the game and what NRL first grade is about, he will kill it bro.”
Samuela (right) and Latu Fainu (left) celebrate after winning the 2019 U19s State of Origin clash for NSW. Picture: NRL Imagery
Latu hasn’t been afraid to seek out Luai for advice. Luai, in turn, has been happy to share his experiences.
“He comes up to me a fair bit, like one-on-one,” Luai said.
“He’s not that guy to sort of really speak in meetings and things like that, which you expect from a young dude. But the fact that he’s come up to me – the first couple of weeks I was here he probably did it the most, to be honest, out of anyone.
“He was trying to learn and pick my brain and my experiences and what he thinks he can help his game. That’s when I really knew he wants to be a good player.
“That’s all you really want from a young dude? Just guys, you want to learn, you want to be at their best. I think that’s the best way to learn is to just pick brains from people who have been through some stuff.
“I’m here for him bro. I’m here to help him be his best.”
Fainu has been watching his premiership winning halves partner Jarome Luai and trying to pick his brain. Picture: Getty Images
“He’s a real conservative I think personality,” Luai said.
“But he sort of has this characteristic where you know, he’s going to get the job done. He just goes about his work, doesn’t say much, but he just goes after blokes in defence.
“That’s a sort of like a bit of a trigger to know that this guy is a football player, you know what I mean? He goes after the contact.
“He’s got that quiet passive aggression about him. Like I said it doesn’t say much but he takes it all in. He’s real intelligent as well with the cues around the game and things like that.
Fainu will take on his former team, when the Wests Tigers take on Manly in Round 17. Picture: Getty Images
“He is a real prospect of the game, and he’s go so much for footy in front of him. So hopefully you can stay on the field. I can’t really speak on his behalf about what he’s gone through and I’ve been pretty lucky with injuries, touch wood.
“But I know the footy that he has played is pretty crazy, especially from someone who’s been out for long periods of time. “He’s young, he hasn’t had much training, hasn’t had much game time as well. So to come out here this year and play like he has, I think he is exactly what our team needs.”
Having watched this younger brother plumb the depths of rugby league, Samuela Fainu’s only hope is that he can string together some games and become the player many had predicted.
“I just hope he has a good run in footy,” Samuela said.
“He’s a freak of a talent. I just hope he does his thing and goes well in it.”
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The rise of Latu Fainu: How Manly lost future halfback to the Wests Tigers
Latu Fainu was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles and a replacement for Daly Cherry-Evans, until his relationship with Manly turned sour. Now he could come back to haunt his old club.Brent Readfollow
@brentread_7
5 min read
June 26, 2025 - 5:00AM
7 Comments
Loaded: 61.59%
00:54 / 03:13
NRL launches beanie for brain cancer
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Wests Tigers forward Samuela Fainu has revealed his personal torment at seeing his younger brother Latu go through injury hell and his pride at seeing him fight back as the Fainu family prepare to take centre stage against former club Manly on Friday night.
Latu Fainu has missed a multitude of games over the past two seasons through injury, the most serious a hamstring concern that shook his confidence and had many doubting whether he would ever reach his enormous potential.
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Think you're a sports fanatic? Take the test. Play daily trivia for FREE on CODE Sports. Sign up here >As Latu prepares to start alongside Tigers superstar Jarome Luai for the first time, Samuela revealed the depths of despair his brother had overcome to give himself a shot at becoming a permanent fixture in the halves.
“Some days he wouldn’t even come out of his room,” Samuela Fainu said.
“I wouldn’t see him eat some days but like I said, he got through it and that will make him a stronger person. Yeah he’s been through a lot for a couple of years now.
“But now it’s helped him off the field mentally and I can see a difference in him every day. I’m just super proud of him.”
Wests Tigers' Latu Fainu has struggled with injury for years but has finally got his chance to win the No.7 jersey long term. Picture: NRL Photos
Asked what advice he had given his brother as he waged war with his body, Samuela said: “Everyone goes through their fair share of adversity in life. I just told him, once you get over it, you will be happier.
“Seeing him get his opportunity shows that it really made him as a person.”
THE PRODIGY
As a teenager, the youngest of the Fainu brothers was considered a sure thing. A can’t miss. Manly had him on their books and handed him a deal worth in excess of $1 million when he was just 16.He was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles but the relationship between the Fainu's and Manly turned sour when officials fell out with then-recruitment boss Scott Fulton.
Fulton had discovered the Fainu's and taken them to Manly. When Fulton moved to the Wests Tigers, and Manly needed to free up some salary cap space, the Fainu's became expendable.
Samuela Fainu (right) and Latu (left) during their time at the Manly Sea Eagles. Picture: Richard Dobson
“It was definitely hard,” Samuela Fainu said.
“We just went through some things that we can’t talk about. Us leaving Manly really hit us. Right now we’re just living in the present, not living in the past or future.
“That’s what’s making us happy.”
Along with older brother Sione, the Fainu's are at the forefront of attempts to revive the Tigers. Results haven’t always gone their way this season but the signs are encouraging.
They loss to Canberra last weekend was a snapshot of their season. The Tigers got off to a slow start but showed plenty of pluck and courage to give themselves a shot at victory, only to fall agonisingly short.
Wests Tigers
Latu
Fainu
20 yrs|
182 cm
|
90 kg
possessions
113
line break assists
1
line break causes
2
try assists
1
View Player
Brought to you by
Latu Fainu was pivotal. Having entered the fray, the 20-year-old almost inspired a Tigers win. No-one at the Tigers – or Manly for that matter – was surprised. He never played first grade for the Sea Eagles but his reputation preceded him.
“I’ve always seen that talent,” Manly prop Toa Sipley said.
“He’s always been a player from the small time that I got to do a pre-season with him, a very talented kid. Always needed his hands on the ball for sure.
“It’s just good to see him getting his the limelight now I guess.
Fainu was earmarked as a long-term half for the Sea Eagles, before falling out with the club. Picture: Manly Media
THE SPONGE
Jarome Luai didn’t know a lot about Latu Fainu when he arrived at the Wests Tigers, but one performance was etched in his memory.Luai had watched Fainu playing a starring role alongside Samuela for the NSW under 19 side two years ago.
“That was my first experience of him and what he was capable of,” Luai said.
“I’d like to say I was a pretty big fan after watching that game of him and Samuela. So other than that I didn’t see much or you have much to do with him.
“But before I even came in here, all the boys were talking him up especially Api (Koroisau). He’s been a bit unlucky so if can string a few games together, some 80 minutes performances and get a feel for the game and what NRL first grade is about, he will kill it bro.”
Samuela (right) and Latu Fainu (left) celebrate after winning the 2019 U19s State of Origin clash for NSW. Picture: NRL Imagery
Latu hasn’t been afraid to seek out Luai for advice. Luai, in turn, has been happy to share his experiences.
“He comes up to me a fair bit, like one-on-one,” Luai said.
“He’s not that guy to sort of really speak in meetings and things like that, which you expect from a young dude. But the fact that he’s come up to me – the first couple of weeks I was here he probably did it the most, to be honest, out of anyone.
“He was trying to learn and pick my brain and my experiences and what he thinks he can help his game. That’s when I really knew he wants to be a good player.
“That’s all you really want from a young dude? Just guys, you want to learn, you want to be at their best. I think that’s the best way to learn is to just pick brains from people who have been through some stuff.
“I’m here for him bro. I’m here to help him be his best.”
Fainu has been watching his premiership winning halves partner Jarome Luai and trying to pick his brain. Picture: Getty Images
HEADING HOME
In the eyes of many, Friday night will be a glimpse into the future for the Tigers. Following Lachlan Galvin’s departure and the failure to sign Brisbane veteran Adam Reynolds, Fainu is now favoured to become a long-term halves partner for Luai.“He’s a real conservative I think personality,” Luai said.
“But he sort of has this characteristic where you know, he’s going to get the job done. He just goes about his work, doesn’t say much, but he just goes after blokes in defence.
“That’s a sort of like a bit of a trigger to know that this guy is a football player, you know what I mean? He goes after the contact.
“He’s got that quiet passive aggression about him. Like I said it doesn’t say much but he takes it all in. He’s real intelligent as well with the cues around the game and things like that.
Fainu will take on his former team, when the Wests Tigers take on Manly in Round 17. Picture: Getty Images
“He is a real prospect of the game, and he’s go so much for footy in front of him. So hopefully you can stay on the field. I can’t really speak on his behalf about what he’s gone through and I’ve been pretty lucky with injuries, touch wood.
“But I know the footy that he has played is pretty crazy, especially from someone who’s been out for long periods of time. “He’s young, he hasn’t had much training, hasn’t had much game time as well. So to come out here this year and play like he has, I think he is exactly what our team needs.”
Having watched this younger brother plumb the depths of rugby league, Samuela Fainu’s only hope is that he can string together some games and become the player many had predicted.
“I just hope he has a good run in footy,” Samuela said.
“He’s a freak of a talent. I just hope he does his thing and goes well in it.”
