Latu Fainu
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Latu Fainu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 May 2005 Guildford, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 88 kg (13 st 12 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Five-eighth, Halfback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 24 August 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Manase Fainu (brother) Sione Fainu (brother) Samuela Fainu (brother) Tevita Amone (uncle) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Latu Fainu (born 28 May 2005) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a Five-eighth and Halfback for the Wests Tigers in the NRL.[2][3]
Background
[edit]Fainu was born in Guildford, New South Wales. He is of Tongan and Maori descent. His uncle, Tevita Amone, played for the Western Suburbs Magpies and the North Queensland Cowboys.[4]
He attended Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield as well as Westfields Sports High School and played his junior rugby league for the Guildford Owls.[citation needed]
He has three older brothers, Manase, Sione, and Samuela, who were all signed to the Manly club.[5]
Early career
[edit]Fainu played in the Harold Matthews Cup for Manly in 2021 as they went undefeated that season. In July 2023, it was reported that Fainu had signed a four-year deal worth nearly $2 million to join the Wests Tigers ahead of the 2024 NRL season.[6][7]
Playing career
[edit]In November 2023, Fainu made his début for Tonga in the third test of their 2023 tour of England.[8] In round 5 of the 2024 NRL season, Fainu made his first grade debut for the Wests Tigers against the Dolphins.[9] Fainu played nine games for the Wests Tigers throughout the 2024 NRL season as the club finished with the Wooden Spoon for a third consecutive year.[10] Fainu was one of five players that were sanctioned for coming back to November pre-season training out of shape.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Rugby League Project
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (20 July 2023). "When they come good, it will be cheap for the club': Can the Fainu brothers save Wests Tigers?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "20 stars for 2022 | Latu Fainu". New South Wales Rugby League. 25 December 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ Proszenko, Adrian (28 June 2018). "Man on a mission: Manly rookie Fainu ready to heed the call". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Sea Eagles set to break NRL record and pay 16-year-old more than $1M in historic new deal". Fox Sports. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "'Big risk': Tigers slammed for 'desperate' $4m play for 'unproven' teenage brothers". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "'They never saw eye to eye': How sibling rivalry became Tigers telepathy for debutant". www.smh.com.au.
- ^ "England sweep series as Woolf considers Tonga future". NRL. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Benji blasts 'terrible' Tigers' discipline … and sends brutal selection warning to stars". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "'Either the best or worst game all year': NRL world 'can't look away' from Spoon Bowl". www.foxsports.com.au.
- ^ "Teen star among Tigers players breached for fitness issues". Nine. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
External links
[edit]
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