Latu Fainu scores a double in great Flegg win

Exciting young five-eighth Latu Fainu scored two tries in Manly's 36-16 win over the Wests Tigers at 4 Pines Park in round 15 of the Jersey Flegg Cup tonight.

Fainu, who recently turned 18, brought his super form down from the NSW Cup with Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, to terrorise the Tigers with his superb ball skills and speed.

Manly made it two wins in a row with a dominant display, crossing for four tries in the opening 30 minutes in a six tries to three win.

Hooker Daniel O’Donnell also had a double while centre Max Hayley and prop Kylan Mafoa also crossed for tries.

The Sea Eagles came out of the gates flying with an early try in the third minute through Fainu. Halfback Tylor Bunting stabbed a grubber kick to the in-goal that was fumbled by the Tigers five-eighth, allowing for Fainu to dive on the ball under the posts. Hooker Jamie Humphreys converted for a 6-0 lead. 

The points kept coming with another try three minutes later through Hayley on the left edge after he pushed off two defenders to score for a 10-0 lead.

Manly were denied a third try in the 10th minute after a looping ball from fullback Lehi Hopoate to winger Viliami Kuli was called back for a forward pass.  

The Tigers hit back in the 13th minute with a try through winger Jay Kirk, set up by former Manly junior Josh Feledy, with a well-timed pass to free up the space. The conversion attempt from centre Livai Saukuru on the sideline was successful, taking the score to 10-6.  

O’Donnell got himself on the scoresheet in the 24th minute off the back of a fine run from Fainu. The five-eighth skipped past two defenders after changing his line with a hard step, sending him into open space. With just the fullback to beat, Fainu passed infield to O’Donnell who raced away for the try. Humphreys converted for a 16-6 scoreline. 

Mafoa scored the Sea Eagles’ fourth try with just under 10 minutes to play in the first half, diving over to the right of the posts. Humphreys, who converted the goal to take the score to 22-6, was integral in the lead up to the try with a phenomenal run, using his footwork to find a gap in the line to send Mafoa over untouched. 

Individual efforts from Hopoate and Fainu helped keep out the Tigers in the opening three minutes, with the fullback swiping at a pass to force an error followed by Fainu scooping up the ball to concede a drop-out. 

Despite the stops, the Tigers persevered and found the line with a try through Brandon Tumeth. Halfback Iverson Matai put a grubber kick through to the left corner that bounced perfectly for the second rower as he caught the ball before falling over the tryline, taking the deficit to 12 points at 22-10. 

After conceding, the Sea Eagles marched downfield with some barnstorming runs to find themselves deep in Tigers territory.

Centre Fletcher Myers fended off the opposing player with a big don’t-argue before passing infield to O’Donnell. The utility scanned the backfield for options and placed a grubber kick toward the posts, hitting the left upright. The bounce fooled both the attack and the defence and forced an error from the Manly side, resulting in the Tigers winning back possession just in front of their own tryline. 

The home side went with the safe option after being awarded a penalty 20 metres out from the opposition’s tryline and elected to take the shot at two points. Humphreys converted from next to the posts in the 50th minute to take the lead to 14 points.  

Fainu scored his second try in the 55th minute off the back of another kick from his halves partner. Bunting slowed up before the defensive line and placed a grubber kick towards the posts, sitting up perfectly for Fainu and allowing for him to walk over the tryline, falling over the tryline to ground the ball untouched.

Humphreys converted from in front for a 30-10 lead. The point scoring opportunity was set up earlier in the set with a handful of big tackle breaks, propelling the team forward. 

Hopoate stepped up with a big tackle metres out from his own tryline, forcing the ball from one of the Tigers forwards with a strong tackle to win the ball back for his side. This would prove to be a key moment as the side went downfield in the next set to score. 

O’Donnell grabbed his second try with just over five minutes of play remaining. The utility ran a good support line and caught an offload 15 metres out from the tryline, darting away from the defenders to dive under the posts. Humphreys converted to take the score to 36-10.  

The Tigers hit back with just under two minutes remaining to score a consolation try through Feledy, bringing the deficit back to 20 points.  

Manly travel to New Era Stadium to take on the Parramatta Eels in Round 16 of the Jersey Flegg Cup on Saturday June 17 at 3pm.