Aspiring NRL star signs seven-figure contract with Manly Sea Eagles and will buy his parents house 

A promising rugby league star has signed a record-breaking deal that could see him earn more than $1million a season before he even makes his NRL debut.

Latu Fainu, 16, has already been touted as the man to replace Manly Sea Eagles playmaker Daly Cherry Evans when he retires, likely at the end of the 2023 season. 

The teen from Sydney’s northern beaches has inked a new four-year contract with Manly set to make him the highest-paid player yet to make the elite level.

The deal will reportedly surpass the $1.3million contract Moses Suli signed with the Wests Tigers in early 2017 if Latu achieves his performance targets next season. 

Latu plans to use the contract money to give back to his parents, who have struggled on a single income to raise eight kids.

Latu Fainu, 16, (pictured) has inked the four-year contract with Manly Sea Eagles and is tipped to replace Daly Cherry Evans when he retires

‘I want to buy my mum a house. To be able to do that would be a dream come true. That’s what I want to do,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

The 2021 Harold Matthews Cup player of the series is also an Adidas ambassador and is believed to be the youngest Australian athlete to sign a deal with the sportswear giant.

His mum Lile was proud to learn what her son plans to do with his contract money as she recalled the times being too poor buy a loaf of bread while Latu and his seven siblings were growing up.

‘While growing up it was just their father (Chris) working and we were living on one income,’ she told the Herald. 

Latu plans to use the contract money to give back to his parents Chris and Lile (seen here with the teenager) who have struggled on a single income to raise eight kids

‘They knew the drill; they would ask me for some money and we would have no money, it was ‘Wait until payday’.

Now 23, new St George Illawara recruit Dragons Suli has played 80 NRL games since signing a $1.3 million contract with his first club the Tigers almost five years ago.

A number of clubs were chasing Latu’s signature, including the Parramatta Eels, New Zealand Warriors and new NRL franchise Redcliffe Dolphins. 

But the future possibility of playing alongside his three older brothers at Manly was too good to knock back. 

In 2018, Latu (pictured then) was part of the Westfields Sports High School under-13s side that won the prestigious Buckley Shield

Brothers Samuela, 17, and Sione, 20 are also part of the Sea Eagles ranks alongside suspended Manly NRL hooker Manase.

‘Hopefully we get the chance to all play in the NRL together. That would mean a lot to the family,’ Latu said.

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. 

Latu was an integral part of the under-17s Sea Eagles squad which won the Harold Matthews Cup competition, despite still being one of the youngest players as a 15-year-old.

The five-eighth helped set up four of his side’s five tries in their grand final win against Parramatta and was later named man of the match and Harold Matthews Cup player of the series.

Latu, 16, (pictured) has already been touted as the man to replace Daly Cherry Evans in the halves when the Sea Eagles superstar retires

Three years earlier, he was part of the Westfields Sports High School under-13s side that won the prestigious Buckley Shield.

Latu has paid tribute to the advice offered by his eldest brother Manase, who played 18 NRL games for Manly in 2018 and represented Tonga at international level. 

‘I’m just trying to learn as much as I can. Manase and I spend plenty of time watching rugby league videos, and in particular, on Daly Cherry-Evans,’ the teen prodigy told the Sea Eagles website earlier this year.

‘I’ve met Daly through Manase and he has told me to just to lead more. To talk to my players and to control things.

‘Manase has certainly given me some good advice. He is like another coach for me.’

Latu will be part of the Sea Eagles’ Harold Matthews Cup squad that hopes to retain their title in 2022.

Latu has seven siblings including eldest brother Manase (pictured), who has played 18 NRL games for the Sea Eagles