Ahead of Round 15 of the NRL Telstra Premiership, just one Intrust Super Premiership graduates has been named to get their first taste of the top grade - NSWRL.com.au takes a look at Manase Fainu.
Manase Fainu
Club: Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles
Position: Hooker
Age: 19
Intrust Super Premiership games played: 10
Representative honours: New Zealand Under 20's
He's proven to be one of the most consistent performers for the Blacktown Workers this season and now Manase Fainu has been rewarded with a first-grade debut for Manly's clash with the Dragons on Saturday night.
Only just 19, Fainu is coming off a standout season for the Sea Eagles Under 20's side after playing an instrumental role in their grand final triumph, before winning the Club's Best and Fairest Award at season's end.
After recording 11 tries, 16 try-assists and 15 line-break assists in 2017, the dynamic hooker has continued his blistering form into the Intrust Super Premiership NSW this year - posting seven try assists and five line-breaks in just 10 appearances.
Constantly threatening opposition defenders with his nifty footwork, the hard-working No.9 will be looking to bring his potent running game out of dummy-half against one of the best defensive teams in the NRL
2018 Debutants
• Sam Cook – Warriors (Round 1 v South Sydney Rabbitohs)*
• Adam Doueihi – North Sydney Bears, South Sydney Rabbitohs (Round 2 v Penrith Panthers)
• Christian Crichton – Penrith Panthers (Round 3 v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
• Wayde Egan – Penrith Panthers (Round 4 v North Queensland Cowboys)
• Kurt Dillon – Newtown Jets, Cronulla-Sutherland-Sharks (Round 6 v St. George Illawarra Dragons)
• Kaide Ellis – Penrith Panthers (Round 6 v Gold Coast Titans)
• Taniela Paseka – Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Round 6 v Wests Tigers)
• Jack Hethrington – Penrith Panthers (Round 7 v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
• Rhyse Martin – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Round 9 v Brisbane Broncos)
• Reece Robson – St. George Illawarra Dragons (Round 9 v Melbourne Storm)
• Jarome Luai – Penrith Panthers (Round 10 v Newcastle Knights)
• Renouf To'Omaga – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Round 10 v Parramatta Eels)
• Tom Wright – Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Round 10 v Brisbane Broncos)
• Zac Lomax – St. George Illawarra Dragons (Round 10 v South Sydney Rabbitohs)
• Jack Williams – Newtown Jets, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Round 10 v Canberra Raiders)
• Marata Niukore – Wentworthville Magpies, Parramatta Eels (Round 11 v Warriors)
• Matt Ikuvalu – Wyong Roos, Sydney Roosters (Round 13 v Wests Tigers)
• Reed Mahoney - Wentworthville Magpies, Parramatta Eels (Round 14 v North Queensland Cowboys)
• Manase Fainu - Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Round 15 v St George Illawarra Dragon)**
*Finished 2017 season in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW
**Named to debut in Round 15
