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 6 September 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
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
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
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
- ^ 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.