Wests Tigers lock down promising prop in $1 million-plus deal
By Adrian Proszenko SMH
February 2, 2026 — 4.45pm
Wests Tigers have secured promising prop Sione Fainu on a three-year deal worth $1.1 million that will go a long way towards ensuring his talented siblings also remain at the club.
Fainu, off contract at the end of the year, has agreed to an extension that will keep him at Concord until the end of 2029. It takes the 24-year-old off the market at a time when the Perth Bears are attempting to build their roster ahead of their inaugural NRL season in 2027.
Sione Fainu will remain a Tiger.
The Tigers are hoping Fainu’s brothers, Latu and Samuela, will join Sione in committing for the long term.
Sione Fainu played all 24 games for the Tigers last season, just a year after completing a development contract, to take his NRL total to 36.
The siblings have achieved their goal of playing first grade together, with all three scoring a try each in last year’s win over the Roosters.
Latu Fainu, who – along with Adam Doueihi – is competing to be Jarome Luai’s partner in the halves, is contracted until 2027, as is Samuela.
The Fainu brothers, (from left to right) Sione, Samuela and Latu.
A fourth footballing member of the family, former Manly hooker Manase, will be released later this year after serving time for stabbing a youth worker at a Mormon church dance.
Sione, Samuela and Latu have previously publicly stated that they want to finish their careers playing together. The Tigers are expected to move on Samuela and Latu before they become free agents on November 1.
The immediate priority for the Tigers now is re-signing Jahream Bula. The rising fullback has a mutual option in his contract for next year; if the Tigers trigger it, he will play on for $900,000, while the figure will be $800,000 if the player takes it up. The club is hopeful of agreeing to an extension before the season starts.
And it’s likely Jack Bird has played his last game at the club as he looks for a fresh start. The former NSW utility is open to opportunities in the Super League after struggling to find a new NRL club. Leeds is looming as his most likely destination in the United Kingdom.
www.weststigers.com.au
🫰
