Wests Tigers young gun Samuela Fainu has opened up on the “pact” between him and his family after their eldest brother Manase was jailed in 2022.
Once among the most talented young players in the game, the former Manly hooker was found guilty of stabbing another man at a church dance stemming from an October 2019 incident, and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
At the time, Samuela was still in the Sea Eagles system but was yet to make his NRL debut, before switching to the Tigers last season and becoming a regular first-grader.
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Samuela Fainu (left) celebrates a win alongside Sunia Turuva. Getty
Alongside the back-rower at Concord is younger brother Latu and older brother Sione.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, the 21-year-old was asked about how the Fainu trio dealt with Manase’s setback.
“Sticking by each other,” Samuela said.
“When everything went down, we made a pact to keep going, not let it take a toll on us.”
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Samuela also revealed his parents and Manase would watch and critique every game, while reflecting on the lessons he learned at a young age from his eldest sibling.
“Everyone does, especially my brother inside,” he said.
“He will be watching the game and hearing it and he will tell us.
“I remember he was doing his first-grade pre-season and we would have only been 10 years old and he was teaching us stuff he learned.”
Manase Fainu during his time with Manly. AAP
It’s a credit to the Tigers trio, who are now all developing into quality NRL players despite going through plenty of adversity at a young age.
Latu – who Samuela admitted regularly won the backyard battles growing up – recently suffered a fresh injury setback, undergoing surgery for a broken thumb.
“I feel sorry for him,” Samuela said.
“He’s been through a lot in the past few years … I really feel for him.”
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