The dressing room altercation between Tigers half Brandon Wakeham and Manly prop Josh Aloiai over a sledging war with Samuela Fainu threatens an ugly player split at Concord.
The Daily Telegraph reported Wests Magpies prop Sione Fainu was fuming at Wakeham’s sledging of his brother and Manly debutant Samuela Fainu.
Wakeham’s alleged slanging match with Fainu the Tigers’ 22-16 loss to Manly at Cambelltown Sports Stadium led to an on-field scuffle, before a heated altercation an hour after full-time in the tunnel.
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The Sydney Morning Herald reported match audio confirms Wakeham told referee Todd Smith that Fainu “spat at me … he spat at my face” in the 65th minute.
Smith is then heard saying to Wakeham: “Okay then, do you want to make a complaint about that?”
However, Wakeham chose not to take the matter further, opting against lodging an official complaint.
Wakeham did taunt Fainu when Starford To’a went past Josh Schuster and Fainu to give the Tigers the lead late in the second half.
The Tigers playmaker went to Westfields Sports High School, where the four Fainu brothers, including imprisoned former Manly player Manase, also attended.
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In the aftermath of the match Sione Fainu, who has spent time at both clubs, was reportedly furious his brother Samuela was sledged on his debut by a Tigers teammate.
Manly players accused Wakeham of vilifying Fainu for the crucial missed tackle on To’a.
Wakeham and Sione Fainu played side-by-side in three games this season, the last of which came just two weeks ago in Wests’ 10-6 NSW Cup loss to Parramatta on Easter Monday.
Sione played in Western Suburbs’ 24-16 win over Manly in a NSW Cup curtain-raiser on Sunday and was still seething at Wakeham’s actions later that night.
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In an attempt to protect his teammate Fainu, Aloiai attempted to find a quiet place in the tunnel area – away from the media – to settle their differences.
Aloiai allegedly said to Wakeham: “You were talking some shit out there. Nah, bro, it’s not on, that went too far.”
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However, both players were eventually stopped from pursuing each other in the direction of each changeroom, with Wakeham told to return to the Tigers sheds.
It is alleged Wakeham said: “Bro, it was nothing.”
A nearby journo said: “It wasn’t physical but certainly tense.”
One journalist said: “The whole thing was just bizarre.”
