The long-running feud between arch rivals Manly and Parramatta has erupted again in the lead-up to this weekend's junior league grand finals.<\/p>\n
The Sea Eagles are fuming that their best player in the Harold Matthews competition – boom five-eighth Latu Fainu – was cited and appeared before the judiciary last night on a lifting tackle charge.<\/p>\n
Manly has accused Parramatta of having Fainu cited, and the youngster was acquitted with the help of a barrister after a 90-minute hearing.<\/p>\n
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"We beat Wests last weekend to make the grand final against Parra, who just happens to be Latu's junior club," a Manly source said.<\/p>\n
"The tackle in question wasn't even penalised by the referee.<\/p>\n
"The Wests player involved sent a letter to the judiciary stating it was nothing more than a good, hard tackle.<\/p>\n
"We have been told that Parramatta saw the tackle and tried to get Latu out of the grand final as he is a sensational player.<\/p>\n
"The poor kid is only 16 and had to appear before the judiciary last night and address them – it was very stressful for him.<\/p>\n
"To think people would do this to a young kid is disgusting."<\/p>\n
Fainu is the younger brother of Manase Fainu, the talented Sea Eagles hooker who is currently stood down by the NRL as he awaits a court date for allegedly stabbing a man.<\/p>\n
A nippy five-eighth, Latu is regarded among the best under-16 year old players in the country. He is playing against kids a year older than him in the Matthews Cup grand final at Leichhardt Oval this Saturday at 1pm, in what is now certain to be a fiery encounter.<\/p>\n
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