The Wests Tigers have broken their six-game losing streak with a thrilling 30-28 victory over the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium, marking a significant boost for coach Benji Marshall’s struggling team, currently sitting in 14th place. The standout performers of the match were the Fainu brothers—Samuela, Latu, and Sione—who made history by becoming the first trio of siblings in the NRL to score in the same game for a single club.
Post-match, Latu expressed his pride in their achievement, stating, “I’m cheering. This win means a lot, not just for us and the fans but for our coach. We did it for him.” The Tigers started strong with Charlie Staines scoring the opening try, a remarkable effort aided by a creative offload from Starford To’a, followed by Latu’s powerful 50-metre dash to the line and Sione’s subsequent score.
Commentator Michael Ennis enthusiastically dubbed the performance a “Fainu-athon” as the brothers dominated the field. The Roosters managed to respond with an aerial display from Daniel Tupou and a try from Mark Nawaqanitawase, leaving the score at 20-10 by halftime.
The second half saw the Roosters’ momentum disrupted early by a head injury to Egan Butcher. However, the Fainu brothers continued their assault; Samuela scored after a clever play from Latu that opened up the defence, prompting Ennis to praise Latu’s brilliant timing and deception.
Despite their struggles, the Roosters rallied behind James Tedesco, who engineered several scoring opportunities. Although initial attempts were thwarted, Tedesco assisted in a try for Savala, followed by Nawaqanitawase’s second try, reducing the Tigers’ lead to just six points. As the clock wound down, Tedesco scored again, bringing the Roosters within two points. A late penalty disrupted their final push for victory, and the Tigers held firm to secure the win.
The match not only brought relief to the Tigers but was also a proud moment for the Fainu family and solidified their place in NRL history. Ennis summarised the significance of the victory, proclaiming, “What a win for the Tigers.”