Sione Fainu: Sea Eagles young gun faces court on a driving charge

A Sea Eagles young gun — who was last year’s NSW under-18s State Player of the Year and is predicted to be a star footballer — has fronted court on a driving charge.

Sione Fainu was named NSW under 18 state player of the year in 2019. On Wednesday he was in Manly Local Court. Picture: NRL

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An up-and-coming Manly Sea Eagles rugby league star has been convicted of a serious driving offence.

Sione Fainu, 19, a hard charging forward in the lower grades, pleaded guilty in Manly Local Court on Wednesday to driving on a suspended licence.

Fainu, who was named NSW under-18s State Player of the Year for 2019, was caught driving three days after his licence was suspended for three months for speeding more than 30km/h an over the limit.

Pundits have said Sione Fainu, who lives at North Narrabeen and is the younger brother of Manly hooker Manese Fainu, has the potential to be a league great.

Sione Fainu in his NSW under 18s State Of Origin jersey. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

He has already represented NSW in an under 18s State of Origin match against Queensland. In December he was named as one of the “20 Stars for 2020” by the NSW Rugby League.

The court heard that at 4.45pm on Saturday, March 16, Fainu was seen by police, driving a Toyotas Estima van south on Mona Vale Rd at Terrey Hills.

In a facts sheet tendered to court police said they pulled the van over for a random breath test — which was negative — and Fainu was asked to produce his driver’s licence.

“I don't have it on me,” he told police.

“When he was asked why, Fainu replied: “I lost it last week for speeding.”

He told police he was behind the wheel because he needed to drive his father home and that his dad did not have a licence.

Sione Fainu was in Manly Local Court where he was fined $400 for driving while his licence was suspended for speeding. Picture: Monique Harmer

When officers checked the records they found that the young footballer had his licence suspended three days earlier when he was caught speeding more than 30km/h over the limit by the Ku-ring-gai Highway Patrol.

Magistrate Scott Nash convicted Fainu of driving a motor vehicle while licence suspended and fined him $400.

Mr Nash also disqualified his licence for three months, starting on August 5.