What’s the Buzz: Manly star Manase Fainu’s drug, depression rehab

The manager of suspended Manly hooker Manase Fainu has voiced his concern about the extent of prescription drug use NRL after his client emerged from a rehab facility.

Suspended Manly Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu has emerged from a rehab facility where he was undergoing treatment for depression and a prescription drug addiction.

The 22-year-old spent 28 days in a rehab facility in Sydney’s inner west to shake off a dependency for Valium and painkiller medication that he was using to treat anxiety and discomfort from surgery.

Fainu is the player suspended indefinitely by the NRL last year under its “no-fault” stand-down policy. He faces multiple charges after allegedly stabbing a man at a Mormon church dance last October. The hooker is pleading not guilty and will stand trial in July.

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“He’s come out of it (rehab) feeling much better about himself,” Fainu’s manager Mario Tartak said. “He’s had depression, anxiety, three reconstructions on his shoulder and a golden staph infection.

“Then there’s the court case. It’s been a major upheaval for a 22-year-old to deal with.”

Manase Fainu is back at training with Manly after a stint in rehab. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Manly are standing by the troubled hooker and signed him to a new two-year contract last year.

“I’m actually proud of him,” Tartak said.

“He stuck his hand up to get professional help. He’s been out for a couple of weeks now and he’s back at training.”

Tartak, who manages a number of big-name players, says he is concerned about prescription drug use in the game.

“Manase was in a lot of pain with the shoulder issues,” he said. “That’s where the pain killers became a problem.

“I didn’t realise how rife all this stuff is in the game.

“He was on Valium too, to help him sleep. It was a mix of pain, anxiety and not being able to sleep. We’re just relieved that he’s on top of it now.”

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