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BlackWhiteGold said:
ā€˜I want to stay with my brothersā€™: Fainu family eyeing Tigers reunion as Samuela nears big-money extension

As Samuela Fainu nears a $1.6m Tigers extension, his brother Manaseā€™s prison release has created an intriguing situation for the family, who wish to all don the Wests jersey at the same time.

Tyson Jackson - October 21, 2026 - 2:31PM

The Fainus are set to welcome back oldest brother Manase from prison next week, as the family look to secure their long-term future in the NRL.

Former Manly hooker Manase has been exiled from the game after being jailed in 2022, when he was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He will now prepare to take his first steps as a free man following his four-year imprisonment, and will be at Sunday weekā€™s World Cup blockbuster between Tonga and Samoa in Sydney.

ā€œItā€™s actually really exciting,ā€ Latu said of having his brother leave prison.

ā€œWeā€™ve been waiting for a long time for him to come out.ā€

The clash between Tonga and Samoa could be the first time Manase, 28, gets to see his brother Latu play a professional game in person.

Tonga five-eighth and Wests Tigers playmaker Latu was still playing SG Ball (under-19s) when Manase was convicted in August 2022, with the Fainu family preparing a party following the game.

ā€œHeā€™s actually going to come to the Tonga game when he comes out,ā€ Latu said.

ā€œAfter the game weā€™ll go out, just have some dinner, have a barbecue with all the friends together.ā€

Once Manase is settled back into a regular routine, Latu, Samuela and Sione will all start to help their brother make his way back to the NRL for the first time since 2019.

ā€œHe will come out and we will all start training together, hopefully heā€™s at the Tigers too,ā€ Latu said.

The contracts of three of the four Fainu brothers are still not finalised at the Tigers.

Sione extended with the club last season on a three-year deal, keeping him at the Tigers until the end of the 2029 season.

Samuela is believed to have agreed to a $1.6 million extension, as revealed by this masthead, which will also keep him at the club until the end of 2029.

Latu has revealed he is yet to open contract talks, despite the young half being earmarked to replace Jarome Luai in the No.6 jersey to start next year.

ā€œNot yet. Hopefully the club starts talking to me soon,ā€ Latu said.

ā€œI want to stay with my brothers. Iā€™ve always wanted to play with them since I was young and we got the chance to do that at Tigers, so hopefully stay there.ā€

Despite wanting a new contract with the club, Latu admits his injury history has hindered his chances of becoming a full-time playmaker.

Injuries haunt him to this dayā€”just a week ago, he believed he had torn his pec after aggravating an old niggle.

Now, heā€™s ready to put that behind him to ensure he gets the chance to become the Tigersā€™ long-term five-eighth.

ā€œIā€™m definitely interested,ā€ Latu said on replacing Luai in the halves.

ā€œFirst I need to get myself ready, make sure Iā€™m fit, make sure Iā€™m injury-free, and if I do that, then Iā€™ll definitely go for the chance to play in the six jersey.

ā€œI think being honest with myself, holding myself accountable, making sure Iā€™m doing my rehab right, injuries, stretching, all those little extras, making sure Iā€™m ready to go out there on the field and do what I can do.ā€

Latu was cleared of any major injuries with his pec and will line up off the bench for Tonga this weekend.

ā€œI sort of felt it go, but it was just more a recovery response, and physios here, theyā€™ve been training us, so it actually feels pretty good,ā€ he said.

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Interesting injury management felt it go doesn't sound good
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Despite wanting a new contract with the club, Latu admits his injury history has hindered his chances of becoming a full-time playmaker.

Injuries haunt him to this dayā€”just a week ago, he believed he had torn his pec after aggravating an old niggle.

Now, heā€™s ready to put that behind him to ensure he gets the chance to become the Tigersā€™ long-term five-eighth.

ā€œIā€™m definitely interested,ā€ Latu said on replacing Luai in the halves.

ā€œFirst I need to get myself ready, make sure Iā€™m fit, make sure Iā€™m injury-free, and if I do that, then Iā€™ll definitely go for the chance to play in the six jersey.

ā€œI think being honest with myself, holding myself accountable, making sure Iā€™m doing my rehab right, injuries, stretching, all those little extras, making sure Iā€™m ready to go out there on the field and do what I can do.ā€

Latu was cleared of any major injuries with his pec and will line up off the bench for Tonga this weekend.

ā€œI sort of felt it go, but it was just more a recovery response, and physios here, theyā€™ve been training us, so it actually feels pretty good,ā€ he said.

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Once again, latu reinforces that he understands his injury situation and how that has impacted his ability to be a starting half.

A number of folks on here try and paint a picture that he is ready to walk out on the club for lack of opportunity.

In saying that, he needs a bit of dog in him.. I want to hear him say that he wants to make that jersey his own..
 
Rock Hopper Steve said:
Good news about the Fainu's, Sam would've been a devastating loss, guess that leaves Pole to extend now.

This leaves the crap season in the rear-view mirror now, signings and extension news give you a better feeling.

To top it off, wait for the classic we've had the hardest off season ever through the summer.
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Yep, can't wait for the next edition of "I'm a Weststiger, Get Me Outta Here, Mud My Day, Celebrity Challenge."

The only problem is that the players involved in the RLWC will have a limited pre-season. I mean, Api & Twal are experienced enough to hit the ground running. Frizell, likewise, but won't have gelled with his new comrades until later. KPP was great while it lasted early on, but he will also need to reconnect with the Right Edge, whoever they might be. Turuva saw no ball at all once KPP was Gonski. Latu has never had a full pre-season, says it all and Saukuru, whilst he looked good in the Cookie crusher game, needs plenty of defensive work. Sukkar, Lanyon & Glassie Glassie are still bit players, so they are less of a concern in terms of playing NRL.

So looking forward to the Pre-Season Mud, the blood and the Beer - which I will crack open later today when they announce that the Fainu Bros have resgned along with Bro Manase who has been offered a gig selling hot dogs on the Wayne Pearce Hill. From little things, big things grow.
 
Betterdays22 said:
You are annoyed because you are anticipating people being hypocritical over something that hasn't happened and is very unlikely to happen? Lifes too short my friend
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It has happened. People have already excused the idea that they dictate that their brother is signed.
 
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LeichhardtTiger said:
Yep, can't wait for the next edition of "I'm a Weststiger, Get Me Outta Here, Mud My Day, Celebrity Challenge."

The only problem is that the players involved in the RLWC will have a limited pre-season. I mean, Api & Twal are experienced enough to hit the ground running. Frizell, likewise, but won't have gelled with his new comrades until later. KPP was great while it lasted early on, but he will also need to reconnect with the Right Edge, whoever they might be. Turuva saw no ball at all once KPP was Gonski. Latu has never had a full pre-season, says it all and Saukuru, whilst he looked good in the Cookie crusher game, needs plenty of defensive work. Sukkar, Lanyon & Glassie Glassie are still bit players, so they are less of a concern in terms of playing NRL.

So looking forward to the Pre-Season Mud, the blood and the Beer - which I will crack open later today when they announce that the Fainu Bros have resgned along with Bro Manase who has been offered a gig selling hot dogs on the Wayne Pearce Hill. From little things, big things grow.
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If it's any comfort, we seem to have the summer interruptions with the staggered return of players to off season training every year, as do most teams, we should be used to it by now.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Alternatively if Fonua Pole hasn't extended by then & Stefano signs with Roosters, then Storm could offer some good money for a Pole home-coming. Hope not.
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Heā€™s gone imo. There has been zero smoke around him re-signing. Not when the club went on the re-signing spree after Luai signed with PNG. And not now just a week out from November 1. The Fainuā€™s havenā€™t officially signed either, but the talk has been continuous. Pole, there has been crickets.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Alternatively if Fonua Pole hasn't extended by then & Stefano signs with Roosters, then Storm could offer some good money for a Pole home-coming. Hope not.
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We'd be that club that re-signs every forward at the club in a season
- except the best one you reckon B&W?
Be quickly running out of money you'd think...
 
wstigers11 said:
- Samuela Fainu is set to sign a two year extension at WT, rejecting the chance to hit free agency. The extension will be worth $1.6 million, less than he wouldā€™ve commanded on the open market, amid interest from at least three rival clubs (Telegraph)
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Not sure about the less than the open market?
But seems a fair deal if happy at WT.
 
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