Samuela Fainu

Samuela Fainu (born 12 January 2004) is an Australian rugby league footballer who plays as a forward for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League.

He previously played for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL.

Background Fainu was born in Guildford, New South Wales. He is of Tongan and Maori and Fijian descent. His uncle, Tevita Amone, played for the Western Suburbs Magpies and the North Queensland Cowboys.

He attended Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield as well as Westfields Sports High School and played his junior rugby league for the Guildford Owls.

He has three brothers, Manase, Sione, and Latu, who were all signed to the Manly club.

Playing career Fainu started at prop in the 2021 Harold Matthews Cup winning side, including scoring a second-half try in the Grand Final win over Parramatta Eels. Fainu earned a promotion to Manly’s SG Ball Cup (Under 19s) team in 2022, making seven appearances for two tries, two try assists, four line-break assists, 13 offloads and 150 tackles (21.4 per game).

Fainu pushed ahead to the Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) later in the year whilst still eligible for Under 19s, playing seven games with three tries including a double on debut in round 14. Fainu made the NSW Under 19s squad in 2022.

Fainu made his first grade debut from the bench in his side's 12−6 victory over the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium in round 8 of the 2023 NRL season. In July 2023, Fainu signed a four-year deal worth $2 million to join the Wests Tigers ahead of the 2024 NRL season. Fainu made his club debut for the Wests Tigers in round 2 of the 2024 NRL season against Canberra. Fainu played 23 games for the Wests Tigers throughout the 2024 NRL season as the club finished with the Wooden Spoon for a third consecutive year.

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