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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Calls for Jarome Luai switch as Wests Tigers teammate ruled out for 4-6 weeks
Wests Tigers fans will likely get their wish and see Latu Fainu starting in the halves this weekend. But it's come at a cost, with fullback Jahream Bula set to miss the next 4-6 weeks. Vision has emerged of the moment Bula pulled up lame while chasing a kick on the final play of the Tigers' 16-12 loss to Canberra last Friday. The fullback went streaming through on a grubber from Jarome Luai, and toed the ball ahead as the Tigers looked for a miracle try to win the game. But Bula hurt his hamstring while reaching down to grab the ball, and could be seen limping around afterwards. The 23-year-old is set to miss the next 4-6 weeks - a cruel blow considering it occurred on the final play of the game. The injury will spark a reshuffle in the Tigers' backline, with Heath Mason likely to switch from five-eighth to fullback. That would see Fainu handed the starting No.6 role after coming off the bench in the last two games. Here is the video of Bula injuring his hamstring — NRLCentral (@centralNRL) June 23, 2025 The Tigers looked much better in attack when Fainu was brought on to replace Mason at five-eighth in the second half against the Raiders. They won the second half 12-0, but couldn't reel in the Raiders at the death. Fainu is viewed as the Tigers' long-term No.6 and part of the reason the club was willing to part ways with Lachie Galvin. But if legendary halfback Andrew Johns had his way, Fainu would have the No.7 on his back and Luai would revert to No.6. RELATED: State of Origin player floated for immediate NRL club switch Billy Slater calls out glaring truth as NRL makes call on Origin 3 ref Luai won four premierships with the Panthers while playing five-eighth, but moved to the Tigers on a $6 million deal for the extra responsibility of playing halfback. But according to Johns, Benji Marshall would be better off with Luai at 6 and Fainu 7. 'I think he is a 7," Johns said on Channel 9 on Sunday about Fainu. "I'd have him in the 7. He looks like he's an on-ball halfback which frees up Jarome." Luai played five-eighth for NSW in State of Origin 2, and looked much more likely than he has all year while playing halfback for the Tigers. Tellingly, he looked much better on Friday night when Fainu was on the field in the second half. Tigers fans have been calling for Fainu to start for the last few weeks, but Marshall has played it safe with the 20-year-old as he returns from injury. "Latu Fainu is not far off from getting a real good opportunity in the halves and is probably our long-term option there," Marshall said before the Raiders game. "He just needs a little more match fitness coming back from his hamstring injury for him to play 80 minutes." Mason was recently upgraded to the Tigers' top-30 squad and signed to a new deal. "He's a really good kid who comes from a good family and there are no dramas at all with the way that he does his work," Marshall said. "He trains really hard and wants to learn."
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why prestigious Tigers award 'meant nothing' to Fainu
He has followed in the footsteps of James Tedesco, Robbie Farah and Brett Hodgson. But devastating Wests Tigers back-rower Samuela Fainu says winning the Wests Tigers' most prestigious award "meant nothing" to him. Fainu was one of the few bright spots in the Tigers' 2024 campaign and was awarded the Kelly-Barnes Medal as the club's player of the season. But the softly-spoken edge forward said claiming the gong in a season in which the club picked up a third-straight wooden spoon left him feeling hollow. "I don't really have any feeling towards that award, there wasn't any success for the club," Fainu told AAP. "I still felt a bit down (about our season) ... That award meant nothing to me. "I think my mum has got it around the house, I just gave it to my mum." What it means to be a Tiger 🐅 Kelly Barnes Medallist Samuela Fainu #OneJungle — Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) October 11, 2024 Fainu is keen to build on last season's exploits where he scored five tries and made himself known as a devastating hole runner. The 21-year-old missed last week's loss to Brisbane with a knock to his knee but is set to return for Sunday's away trip to Newcastle. Fainu will slot in on the left edge where he believes the presence of the club's marquee off-season recruit in halfback Jarome Luai can bring the best out of him. "He (Luai) is the best player to play alongside because in the hard times during the game you still hear him talking," Fainu said. "Him encouraging me and talking to me gives me so much courage to play my footy. "He doesn't shut up and that's why I love playing alongside him, I go off how he plays and we try to connect our gameplay together." Fainu is one of three brothers, alongside prop Sione and playmaker Latu, signed to the Tigers. "Everyone has their own words for me but I reckon I'm the most charming," he said. Above all, Fainu says he will only feel he has achieved something if he can help the Tigers (2-3) push towards a finals berth in 2025. "There is definitely a lot more to come (from me) but that'll only come with the more games I play," he said. "I just want to see this club succeed, because when this club succeeds, that's when I'll succeed."
