Manaise Fainu

[Sue]

Swap API and Fainu around and you’ll find Fainu’s spark and attack is zapped by the defence required in the early stages of a game .... and API would be capable of a little more in attack for the opposite reason.

The balance is great at the moment which is working well.

Remember Fainu started a heap of games last year and we still finished 15th.... so those claiming he is our full time 9 maybe a little premature in their call.

It’s all about balance and Des is gifted these 2 dummy halves at the moment and it’s working a treat.

Don’t change a thing.

Fainu has had his first full A grade offseason and with Donny to boot. To judge him on last year as a development player coming up from Reggie’s is nonsense.

If you want to use Fainus past history as a guide then let’s look at APIs .Hes started a hell of a lot more games in 3 years and we’ve been absolutely awful.The only time we played remotely well was when we had a decent 5/8 making up for the lack of a passing and kicking game from the 9.The rest of the time we’ve been trying to avoid the spoon!!

As for “working a treat” we got flogged by Tigers when Fainu didn’t play and were down 26 nil until Fainu came on against Roosters.Then we had a great win with Fainu playing 60 minutes yesterday.

When Fainus been on the field we’ve conceded a big fat Zero points and scored 42 points. Yep falling apart in the middle aren’t we with Fainu on.

What actually is working a treat is the more minutes Fainu plays the better we go and the more games we will win.

One of the things that is forgotten is you can talk all day about how many tackles Api does etc yet one of the biggest REASONS for that and the fact we lose so many games is the total lack of cohesion in the ruck means he and others are forced to do so many tackles because we are constantly under pressure and have been for three years. If you are rolling forward , scoring points and putting the opposition under pressure you are not tackling. And your million dollar half is killing it and not running round in circles because he is playing fast at the advantage line.

APIs value is bench utility. He’s tough and lifts players. He doesn’t have the passing and kicking skills to run a team around the park and if you want to start him against the really top sides like the the Roosters and.co then the same things that have happened for three years will keep on happening.

 

[wombatgc]

Fainu is very good .... and will be for a decade to come ....

But some of you need to re watch the opening 20 mins of that game .... against fresh 1st string props .... we were making 70m every set and Api was ripping them a new one ... and then sitting them on their arse in defense ....

Both or either will do me ... no need to put one down to lift the other up ...

Api played the first 34 minutes-Killed it
Fainu played the rest of the game= Killed it..
It’s at what point of the game does he interchange.
Each game/tempo is obviously different
Des got it spot on yesterday imo.

 

[Sue]

Api played the first 34 minutes-Killed it
Fainu played the rest of the game= Killed it..
It’s at what point of the game does he interchange.
Each game/tempo is obviously different
Des got it spot on yesterday imo.

Was 18 12 when he went off. Game in balance.The commentators were all joking about how bad the defence was and predicting 80 points in the game.The first 20 minutes was like schoolboys stuff. A linebreak and multiple offloads every set from both sides.It was fun to watch but embarrassing the ease with which both sides were making yards.

Fainu was on when we had seven sets on our own line in second half. That’s when we won that game. Steel in the first part of second half.

How we use these two guys is a great debate and your view has ample merit Wombat but the one thing that really annoys me is this preconception by many that Fainu can’t tackle. No idea where it comes from if people actually watch him defend. He’s big and committed in defence. The argument is a good problem to have but it shouldn’t be confused by some notion Fainu can’t tackle.

 

[wombatgc]

Was 18 12 when he went off. Game in balance.The commentators were all joking about how bad the defence was and predicting 80 points in the game.The first 20 minutes was like schoolboys stuff. A linebreak and multiple offloads every set from both sides.It was fun to watch but embarrassing the ease with which both sides were making yards.

Fainu was on when we had seven sets on our own line in second half. That’s when we won that game. Steel in the first part of second half.

How we use these two guys is a great debate and your view has ample merit Wombat but the one thing that really annoys me is this preconception by many that Fainu can’t tackle. No idea where it comes from if people actually watch him defend. He’s big and committed in defence. The argument is a good problem to have but it shouldn’t be confused by some notion Fainu can’t tackle.

It is a great debate. Fainu s tackle count was 27/3miss (Api 18/1).And Fainu was under the pump in that second 40, and did really well.
My stance right from the get-go has been more about Api fostering him in at 9 slowly. I just think having Api share the load with the kid will make Fainus transition into the big leagues a lot smoother.
My greatest hope is they both stay injury free, and we can still be debating this topic at seasons end.

 

[Ryan]

Our amazing run under Des started with a balanced Hooker and an explosive utility.

Monaghan / Dunley
Ballin / Le' Strange

Fainu / Koroisou

Hopefully it's not a choice of one or the other. If one dominates a game, stick with them. If we need a spark, use the interchange

 

[jbb/james]

All things considered, im very happy to continue the tandem with Api starting. We have him and he does give it a go. The young guy will develop, he will get a chance when api is injured. Easing him along a little this year will benefit all involved. Its a long season and the young ones tend to fill the pinch come august. Its a tough gig being mentally / prepared for th whole season. He is getting enough minutes. Mid season i might feel differently, who knows

 

[Class of 96]

This is a very welcome debate. 2 very good players and how/when to interchange.

Beats the that turd is a worse turd than the other turd debates over the past 3 years. And I don’t mean just Poo.

 

[Woodsie]

Simple fact is we ar not going to be able to afford to carry 2 first rate hookers on the books .... one top grade and an up and comer yes .... but Fainu is rapidly approaching the stage where he will be in too much demand .... and a decision will have to be made ....

For this year at least I will just enjoy having both of them ......

 

[Mitch]

The good thing is I believe he re-signed (mentioned on his Instagram) last year for several more years.

 

[nightster]

Was 18 12 when he went off. Game in balance.The commentators were all joking about how bad the defence was and predicting 80 points in the game.The first 20 minutes was like schoolboys stuff. A linebreak and multiple offloads every set from both sides.It was fun to watch but embarrassing the ease with which both sides were making yards.

Fainu was on when we had seven sets on our own line in second half. That’s when we won that game. Steel in the first part of second half.

How we use these two guys is a great debate and your view has ample merit Wombat but the one thing that really annoys me is this preconception by many that Fainu can’t tackle. No idea where it comes from if people actually watch him defend. He’s big and committed in defence. The argument is a good problem to have but it shouldn’t be confused by some notion Fainu can’t tackle.

He can tackle & we are very lucky to have them both ... imho

 

[Fluffy]

I think the issue is can Fainu play at that elevated intensity in attack for 80 minutes if he is also doing all that defensive work ? He played a couple of games last season for pretty much the full 80 minutes, but can't remember how he was travelling impact wise at end of the games. Not all teams carry two hookers, Roosters and Storm made it to GF on the back of 80 minute hookers.I prefer not having a bench hooker myself, but we don't have a backrower that can cover hooker in the event of injury

Last year he faded around the hour mark.

It was however his first year, Matty B was not an 80 minute hooker until Heath left us in 2009 and was 26/7 in his 4th season by then. Matty also dropped most of his running game to incorporate the extra defensive workload.

Would expect another year or 2 before we can fully gather how long Fainu can go for at 100%.

 

[mave]

What an excellent problem to have.

 

[Snake]

There are 50 shades of grey people; this doesn’t haven’t be API or Fainu...we have both for 2019 and we can cross bridges when we come to them.

Fainu is not going to be forced out so we can keep API so relax...the coaching staff watched the same game we did. They know how good he is going to be. He killed u/20’s.

Fact is, he is a kid and part of his success on the weekend was keeping him out of the action for the first half an hour so he could have the type of impact we saw.

You can’t look at statistics to determine what to do. API is a seasoned first grader and his defence in still crucial. When Fainu develops, he may play 80 and API might find himself elsewhere, but we aren’t ready for that yet, so relax.

The good news is Fainu can play lock so we might see them both on the field at some point together. More good news is there are 3 other Fainu’s at the club in the lower grades.

 

[1969]

We need to keep both.

What if Fainu does an ACL? Why can't they both rotate the 9 and 14, both are good backline cover at a pinch, and we get the variety of both talents... Good hookers are critical these days, to help take the pressure off the halves, and steer the ship if it comes their way.

We are blessed with 2 very talented utility players, and surely Dessie sees the value, as he was one of the best utility players who strapped on a boot!

 

[Freagle]

Fact is, hooker is pretty much the most demanding position in the field - smaller guys tackling props, then still expected to back every play, look sharp out of funny half, and create stuff. Having both - and the fact they’re different style of players - is an absolute luxury.

 

[mave]

 

[eaglebuzz]

Simple fact is we ar not going to be able to afford to carry 2 first rate hookers on the books .... one top grade and an up and comer yes .... but Fainu is rapidly approaching the stage where he will be in too much demand .... and a decision will have to be made ....

For this year at least I will just enjoy having both of them ......

Luckily Api is not a first rate hooker.

 

[nightster]

Fainu is also a very handy 1/2 should anything happen to DCE .... SOO e.g.

 

[Dinga]

MANLY HOOKER MAY LOOK ELSEWHERE

Manly coach Des Hasler suddenly has an embarrassment of riches in the hooking department.

Api Koroisau’s injury could have led to a massive headache but his replacement, young Manase Fainu, has been outstanding in his absence.

Fainu, just 20, led the way in the Sea Eagles’ big win over the Warriors last weekend and is a carbon copy of Koroisau with his darting runs from dummy-half.

Hasler’s problem now is to find a way to keep the pair happy. Fainu comes off contract at the end of next season and is already attracting interest from rival clubs.

He is a first-grader - no doubt about it - and is likely to ask for a release at the end of this season rather than playing second fiddle to Koroisau.

 

[KNUCKLES]

MANLY HOOKER MAY LOOK ELSEWHERE

Manly coach Des Hasler suddenly has an embarrassment of riches in the hooking department.

Api Koroisau’s injury could have led to a massive headache but his replacement, young Manase Fainu, has been outstanding in his absence.

Fainu, just 20, led the way in the Sea Eagles’ big win over the Warriors last weekend and is a carbon copy of Koroisau with his darting runs from dummy-half.

Hasler’s problem now is to find a way to keep the pair happy. Fainu comes off contract at the end of next season and is already attracting interest from rival clubs.

He is a first-grader - no doubt about it - and is likely to ask for a release at the end of this season rather than playing second fiddle to Koroisau.

See ya api!! We'd be fools to let Fainu go