Latu Fainu has declared himself ready to step into Lachlan Galvin’s No.6 jersey, believing coach Benji Marshall’s guidance will help fulfil his ambition of becoming Jarome Luai’s long-time halves partner.
Galvin’s future at the club has become clouded after his decision not to entertain a lucrative contract extension in the belief Marshall couldn’t take his game to the next level. At the urging of senior players,
Marshall dropped Galvin to NSW Cup.
Phil Gould has labelled the situation “untenable” and predicts there is no way Galvin will see out the remainder of his Tigers contract, which expires at the end of 2026.
Whether Galvin moves on now or later, Fainu is considered the playmaker most likely to fill the void. Currently unavailable due to a hand injury that will likely sideline him for a further three weeks, Fainu has made 11 NRL appearances to date, predominantly off the bench.
However, the 19-year-old believes he is ready to play alongside Luai and make the No.6 jersey his own.
“100 per cent. If [Galvin] is not there, I’m ready,” Fainu said. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this team better. For me, if it means getting that six role, I’m all in.
“When I first came to Wests Tigers, they brought me to play in the halves. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. That’s the position I’ve been playing my whole career, since I started playing footy. I feel most comfortable there, I feel I can add more value to the team as a half.
“Whatever the team needs, I’m all in. I love the club.”
Teen tyro: Wests Tiger half Latu Fainu.CREDIT:STEVEN SIEWERT
While Galvin says he can’t play his best football under Marshall, Fainu believes the former premiership-winning pivot is the perfect person to guide his career.
“Obviously, he has helped me so much on and off the field,” Fainu said of Marshall.
“He was a great player and is a great coach for me. He makes me comfortable in the side and makes me play my best.
“Honestly, when he joins our sessions, I just watch him. When he trains, you get a feel for the mix of how he wants to play and how I want to play. I just want to play like him.
“Whatever the team needs, I’m all in. I love the club.”
Wests Tigers playmaker Latu Fainu
“He knows what is best for me as a player. He has given me and my brothers a debut in the NRL. I’m truly grateful to have him as my coach.”
Like Galvin, Fainu was dubbed as the next big thing while coming through the junior ranks. In late 2021, when he was still 16 and at Manly, Fainu signed the biggest contract ever for a player yet to reach NRL level.
When he switched to the Tigers, where he played alongside Galvin in the lower grades, it was Fainu who wore the coveted No.6 jersey.
“He was playing at fullback and then switched to second row when he was playing with me,” Fainu recalled.
The Guilford product said he was keen to play as much football alongside four-time premiership-winning playmaker Luai as possible.
“He’s a great role model, especially for me as a half,” the Tongan international said of Luai. “He knows what he’s doing in on-field situations, but off field he knows what to bring with the culture of the team. He’s just a great person to be around.
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“I’m trying to learn as much as I can off him. As much as I want to play this week, I know that I’m injured.
“In talking to Jarome Luai, he’s keeping me up to date and encourages me to take control and play halves with him.”
Fainu said the prospect of playing behind a pack that included Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Alex Twal and Royce Hunt was an exciting one.
“100 per cent, they make our jobs easier,” he said.
“They get to our spots quicker, it makes it so much easier for all of our spine, especially me, Api [Koroisau], Jarome and Jahream [Bula].”
Fainu has already achieved his ambition of playing alongside his brothers Sione and Samuela - who are in the side for the Easter Monday clash against Parramatta - at the Tigers. Now he hopes they get to add to the tally.
“That’s the only thing we want for each other, to play first grade,” he said.
“To continue to play first grade at Tigers, that would be a dream come true.
“It means a lot, they are the only team that trusted us to all play together at the same club.”
