Allegations that Manly debutant Samuela Fainu spat in the face of Brandon Wakeham was the catalyst for the on-field melee that led to a heated post match argument in the tunnel at Campbelltown on Sunday.
Match-day audio obtained by the Sydney Morning Herald confirms Wakeham told referee Todd Smith that Fainu “spat at me … he spat at my face” in the 65th minute of the game.
Samuela Fainu reacts after his jersey was ripped.
Smith is then heard saying to the Wests Tigers five-eighth: “Okay then, do you want to make a complaint about that?”
Wakeham decides against escalating the matter, opting against lodging an official complaint with the referee.
He went to Westfields Sports High School, where the four Fainu brothers, including imprisoned former Sea Eagles hooker Manase, also attended.
Samuela’s brother Sione, who left Manly midway through last year, has also played for the Wests Tigers alongside Wakeham this season.
The issue boiled over after full-time following the Herald’s revelation that Manly forward Josh Aloiai confronted Wakeham in the tunnel an hour after full-time of Manly’s win.
The conversation began amicably before Aloiai, who had taken exception to Wakeham’s alleged actions on the field, asked the Tigers No.6 to “come around the corner” if he wanted to “talk shit”.
The pair got in each other’s faces as they exchanged words, with Aloiai having to be dragged back into the Manly dressing room.
Wakeham then went to the Manly sheds to continue the argument with Aloiai before he was told to head back into the Tigers dressing room.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, talking under the condition of anonymity to protect their identity, told the Herald the argument was believed to be in relation to Wakeham taunting the debutant when Starford To’a went past Josh Schuster and Fainu to give the Tigers the lead late in the match.
The incident, which occurred in the 63rd minute, sparked a melee that resulted in the rookie’s jersey being ripped off.
