Manase Fainu: Brothers of footy star who was jailed for stabbing a church leader in the back spend a fortune to make an incredible gesture to their mum and dad
- NRL’s Fainu brothers help parents help for a lifetime
- Struggling families have been hit with huge legal bills
- Manase Fainu was jailed for stabbing a church youth leader
The brothers of a football star jailed for stabbing a youth leader outside a Mormon church dance have spent a fortune to keep a promise to buy their parents their first family home.
Former Manly star Manase Fainu was sentenced to eight years in prison for stabbing church youth leader Faamanu Levi during a brawl outside a dance party in Wattle Grove, Sydney, late at night on October 25, 2019.
The acclaimed Sea Eagles player was on track to earn a huge salary, which he used to help support his struggling parents and eight siblings.
Luckily, Manase’s footballing brothers – Latu, Sione and Samuela – stepped up and bought the family a six-bedroom house in Sydney’s west.
NRL brothers Sione, Samuela and Latu Fainu (pictured from left to right) have bought their first family home for their parents
Fourth brother Manase Fainu (pictured with father Chris and mother Lily) is behind bars for stabbing a church leader – and supported his large family
The house has a large swimming pool, outdoor entertainment area and a large backyard for the grandchildren.
“It was a struggle,” mother Lily said News Corp.
‘My husband Chris has worked two jobs to support the children. We have always lived on a tight budget and struggled with the bills for weeks.”
The family also paid more than $200,000 in legal fees to help their son fight the charges.
“We had to fight for what we believed in,” Lily said.
‘We leave a room empty in the house for Manase. In two and a half years he will come home to enjoy it with us.’
Latu, Sione and Samuela, who all play for the Tigers and Lily, have made their mother incredibly proud.
“What the boys have done is so beautiful,” Lily said. ‘We are so happy and so grateful.
Mother Lily (pictured with son Latu and husband Chris) is very proud of her sons for the incredible act – and says they will save a room for Manase when he comes home
Latu (pictured before his move to the Tigers) has said it has always been his dream to buy a house for his mother
‘And their manager Mario… what a big influence he has had on the boys.
‘I hope this story can inspire other young children and show that you can become a home buyer at a young age.
“Just like my boys did.”
In 2021, Latu was touted as the man to replace playmaker Daly Cherry Evans at Manly when he retired.
When interviewed about his future, the then 16-year-old said he planned to use his money to give back to his struggling parents.
‘I want to buy a house for my mother. To be able to do that would be a dream come true. That’s what I want to do,” he told the newspaper Sydney Morning Herald.
The Burgess brothers Sam, Tom, Luke and George were the last quartet of siblings to take the field at the same time for South Sydney in 2013.