NRL 2022: Wests Tigers sign Manly Sea Eagles forward Sione Fainu in immediate transfer

Under-pressure Wests Tigers continue to delve into the NRL transfer market, this time bolstering their stocks with a Sea Eagles signing hoping to make an instant impact.

Sione Fainu was named NSW under 18 state player of the year in 2019. Picture: NRL

Wests Tigers have signed NSW under-18 prop Sione Fainu from rivals Manly on an immediate long-term deal.

Fainu will make the switch to the Tigers from the next two-and-a-half seasons after being granted a release from the Sea Eagles.

The 20-year-old is yet to play first grade but, at 185cm and 109kg, will join the Tigers’ top squad and push for a NRL spot immediately.

Fainu represented NSW under-18 in 2019 when he was named the state player of the year.

He is the younger brother of sidelined Manly hooker Manase Fainu, who hasn’t played since 2019.

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Sione Fainu was named NSW under 18 state player of the year in 2019. Picture: NRL Photos

He remains stood down under the NRL’s no fault stand-down policy, as he waits to face court in July over charges relating to the stabbing of a then 24-year-old man at a Mormon church dance in southwestern Stydney in October, 2019.

Manase Fainu, 23, has also been recovering from a shoulder injury.

His siblings including Latu and Samuela remain committed to the Sea Eagles on long-term deals.

The Guildford junior returns to the western suburbs and could prove a handy pickup for the Tigers.

BURGESS WEIGHS UP SHOCK SOUTHS SWITCH

by David Riccio

Rabbitohs forward Thomas Burgess has been offered to rival clubs despite having 19 months remaining on his current contract.

In a development that could trigger a sudden countdown to the end of Burgess’ 10-year career with the Rabbitohs, the prop’s management have begun emailing rival clubs to lure any interest.

Several Sydney clubs are weighing up the possibility of signing the English international as a result of an email sent from his UK-based agent Chris Caisley.

Burgess offers experience, size and an average running metres count of slightly under 100 metres per game.

The Daily Telegraph spoke to South Sydney, who declined to comment publicly, but relayed their position of having no interest in releasing Burgess this season.

Tom Burgess has been offered to rival clubs. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Burgess is contracted to the Bunnies until the end of 2023.

It remains to be seen whether the Rabbitohs are willing to re-sign the 196cm forward beyond 2023 with current and future mainstays of the pack including Cam Murray, Davey Moale, Keaon Koloamatangi, Jai Arrow and Tevita Tatola on-contract.

Turning 30 next month, Burgess sits on 190 NRL games, after making his debut with Souths in 2013.

Inside story of Souths’ all-time contract bungles

-Paul Crawley

This is the inside story of how Souths dropped the ball with potentially two of the NRL’s biggest recruitment blunders in years.

But the manager of Adam Reynolds and Dane Gagai says his clients have “no regrets” after both were forced out the door, only to end up as prized recruits at rival clubs that have started this season unbeaten.

Respected agent Steve Gillis point blank refused to throw stones back at Souths when contacted, but conceded Reynolds was “extremely happy” in his new environment.

Adam Reynolds is loving life at the Broncos.

“While it was difficult to leave, he has no regrets,” Gillis said.

In Gagai’s case, Gillis added: “Dane is comfortable with his decision.

“He built some great friendships at Souths and I’m sure he misses the boys.

“But he is on a new journey and he enjoys playing a real leadership role with many of the younger players at the Knights.”

Reynolds was an instant smash hit in his first game for the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday night, with his calming influence getting the Broncos home in a cracking game against the rejuvenated Bulldogs.

Meanwhile, up in Newcastle, Gagai has been one of the competition’s standouts after back-to-back blinders that has left no one in any doubt what a world class centre he still is.

The other player Souths let go due to salary cap issues was Jaydn Su’A who is also going gangbusters at St George Illawarra

Dane Gagai has been one of the competition stand outs so far.

But back at Redfern anger among Bunnies’ fans has the potential to reach boiling point if they fall to bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

Last year’s grand finalists have kicked off the new season with back-to-back defeats, and after the Roosters their next game will be against premiers Penrith.

Already pressure is mounting on rookie halfback Lachlan Ilias while star five-eighth Cody Walker just looks out of sorts without Reynolds.

But there is no escaping from the reality that Souths’ management knew exactly what they were doing when they set this sliding door scenario in motion at the start of last year.

It’s no secret Souths made it abundantly clear at the very first meeting with Reynolds’ agent Gillis that the veteran halfback would only be offered a one-year extension.

Reynolds initially wanted three years but later said he would settle for two.

At no point was money even mentioned because the two parties could not get past the initial one-year clause, but there is little doubt Reynolds was more than willing to take less than the $800,000-a-season the Broncos are now paying him.

Reynolds and Gagai enjoyed great success at Souths.

Those close to Reynolds were also hurt at accusations that made it into the public forum that Reynolds’ ageing body was packing it in, and that he couldn’t handle contact at training let alone another three years because of a chronic back injury.

Yet the fact is Wayne Bennett blasted that accusation at the time, and privately Bennett was convinced Reynolds had heaps of good footy left in him.

But given Bennett was on his last year coaching Souths, the decision was taken out of his hands.

Everyone from the board to the chief executive Blake Solly, new coach Jason Demetriou and the medical staff would have all had some input in the decision.

Yet the Rabbitohs were also convinced Ilias was more than ready to step up to the plate.

Only last week Reynolds conceded ahead of his first game for the Broncos that he had felt unloved in his final season at Souths.

But if it ends up that they don’t make the eight this year, someone is going to have to be held accountable.

Lachlan Ilias is under enormous pressure at Redfern.

It is simply mind-blowing to most on the outside that the Rabbitohs just couldn’t find a way to fit Reynolds’ into a $9.6 million salary cap, regardless of who they had to let go to keep him.

Asked what Reynolds’ initial reaction was when first told Souths would only offer him a one-year extension, Gillis was very matter-of-fact: “I sat him down and told him (the offer) was one year and he said, ‘righto, let’s get on with this’.”

In Gagai’s case, the offer was also a modest one-year extension estimated at about $400,000, before the Queensland Origin star ultimately took up a three-year deal at the Knights worth in the vicinity of $500,000-a-year.

In Gagai’s place at Souths, Jaxson Paulo is also struggling and against Melbourne was eventually moved from left centre to right wing during the match with his confidence clearly shattered.

Just looking back over the years, the Bulldogs’ decision to let go of a young rookie named Johnathan Thurston would have to rank up at the top of the recruitment stuff ups of more recent times.

The Wests Tigers will forever rue letting James Tedesco go, while the Storm’s Jahrome Hughes played one game each for Gold Coast and North Queensland.

Others that spring to mind include Kalyn Ponga leaving North Queensland for Newcastle, Luke Keary leaving Souths for the Roosters, the Tigers also failing to see the potential in Ryan Papenhuyzen and Josh Addo-Carr, while Viliame Kikau and Brandon Smith are two more to slip through the Cowboys’ grasp.

Originally published as NRL 2022: Wests Tigers sign Manly Sea Eagles forward Sione Fainu in immediate transfer