Manase Fainu’s lawyer takes next steps to secure Manly NRL star’s freedom
Legal work has already begun on a second bid to have NRL rising star Manase Fainu freed from remand over claims he stabbed a man outside a church dance as the sporting world deliberates on who could replace the star hooker if he is unavailable.
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Legal work has already begun on a second bid to have NRL rising star Manase Fainu freed from remand over claims he stabbed a man outside a church dance.
Fainu was denied bail by magistrate Joanne Keogh in Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday.
His lawyer Elias Tabchouri told The Daily Telegraph he had immediately begun the next a steps to secure the Manly Sea Eagles star’s freedom.
“We have instructions to file a Supreme Court bail application … we’re working on it as we speak,” Mr Tabchouri said.
Fainu’s case is next due to be mentioned in the Local Court on December 16 but Mr Tabchouri said he had hoped to have the next bail attempt scheduled as soon as possible.
Fainu was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, affray and recklessly cause grievous bodily harm in company.
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He allegedly stabbed the 24-year-old victim as a brawl broke out at the Mormon church dance about 11.30pm Friday night.
Liverpool Local Court heard Fainu allegedly had links to Pacific Islander criminal groups.
NSW Council for Pacific Communities chair Malaemie Fruean said violence amongst young men in the Islander community generally was a particular concern.
“Parents, church leaders, community leaders and government organisations are all concerned by this issue,” Mrs Fruean said.
“Pacific youth violence is an issue right now, and obviously it is, someone needs to come to the table.
“In 2003 we had the Pacific Youth Partnership programs delivered to Pacific youths by Pacific mentors but those programs aren’t funded any more.
“Then when these things happen we get invited to the table to talk about a solution and I say to those people ‘what are you doing’?
“What are you doing Department of Education? Justice? Health? Police? PCYC?”
It comes as the sporting world ponders who could replace Fainu’s hooker position in the team if it remains vacant in the next season, with an unknown New Zealand journeyman who played with Hull Kingston Rovers emerging as a surprise candidate.
His name is Zach Dockar-Clay, a 24-year-old who has already played with Parramatta, Penrith, HKR, Townsville Blackhawks and Manly’s feeder club, Blacktown Workers.
With 2019 roster member Lachlan Croker early favourite to start 2020 at hooker should Manase Fainu be unavailable, Dockar-Clay and Cade Cust are two other strong candidates.
The Sea Eagles hooking role has become clouded after the NRL triggered its no-fault stand-down policy on Fainu, who is banned from playing until his court case is completed.
It means Manly coach Des Hasler may need to start considering his hooking options throughout the off-season.
The Sea Eagles believe Croker would comfortably adapt to dummy half.
Dockar-Clay played 78 games for Parramatta’s NYC side between 2012 and 2015 and was also a member of Penrith’s 2016 Auckland Nines side.
Cust is a halfback or five-eighth but he took could be manufactured into a hooker. He made his NRL debut in round 10 this year against Cronulla and was part of Manly’s 2017 NYC grand final winning side.
Manly has several other options. Off contract former New Zealand and Souths hooker Issac Luke is available, his asking price said to be less than $200,000.
Another possibility would be Knights hooker Danny Levi, who could leave Newcastle after the club signed Cronulla’s Jayden Brailey.
Hasler may look though to promote from within despite this year’s NRL squad containing just two specialist hookers – Fainu and Api Koroisau.
Unaware Fainu would find trouble, Hasler allowed Koroisau to leave Brookvale after last season to join Penrith.
In the past two seasons, Manly has let Jackson Hastings leave for England and local junior Sam Verrills – who played for Avalon Bulldogs – join Sydney Roosters.
Manly could look outside of their roster should the club be given some form of salary cap dispensation from the NRL.
That would however mean the club must find additional money for a replacement hooker.
Manly has a board meeting tomorrow night where the Fainu drama expected to be discussed.
Losing Fainu would be a horrid blow for a Manly side which shocked the NRL this season by reaching week two of the finals.
A youngster called Joey Tramontana played hooker briefly for Blacktown this year but is a long shot to play NRL in 2020.
Originally published as Manase Fainu’s lawyer takes next steps to secure Manly NRL star’s freedom
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