Tongan teen tipped for bright future after Knights debut

Tongan teenager Fane Finau dedicated her dream debut to her dad Dale after helping Newcastle secure a fourth straight NRLW finals berth at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. 

Cheered on by her own support crew of around 40 family and friends, which included Dale and her mother Mele, the 19-year-old tackle-buster scored a try in the Knights’ 28-22 victory over Gold Coast at McDonald Jones Stadium. 

Finau, who was born in Nuku'alofa, started in the second row but switched to left centre after fullback Botille Vette-Welsh (HIA) was replaced in the 21st minute and Knights coach Ben Jeffries shuffled his backline.

Taking a pass from captain Yasmin Clydsdale six minutes into the second half, Finau bumped off three defenders close to the Titans’ line to crash over and score, quickly disappearing under a huddle of smiling teammates.

“It’s a blessing to play NRLW and score a try in front of a home crowd in Newcastle,” Finau told ljmpta.com.

“I had a really fun time and I'm grateful for the opportunity. It was great to get the win for Dad on Father's Day, and for all the dads.”

Finau, voted Newcastle’s 2024 Tarsha Gale Cup Players’ Player, joined the NRLW squad at the start of this season and earned her top-flight call-up after some impressive performances in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.

“She’s a phenomenal athlete and I’m just so excited that she got her opportunity this season, and she really took it with two hands,” Clydsdale said.

“She’s actually been playing centre down in Harvey Norman, so when ‘Bo’ went off, it was just an easy transition and it was seamless out there. It didn’t even feel any different."

Clydsdale put Finau’s try down to footy instincts rather than any specific set play they had practised.

“To be honest, it’s actually crazy. We’ve never really done anything like that,” Clydsdale laughed.

“It was just a sixth sense - I felt her out there, I gave her the ball, and she’s a bulldozer.”

Apart from scoring a try, Finau made seven tackle breaks and ran for 114 metres, ensuring she retains her place for the Knights’ last regular-season game against the Dragons in Newcastle.

“Fane plays back row and centre, so she’s done rep after rep after rep in pre-season – and throughout the season – and that’s put her in good stead today. That’s why you train week in, week out, and do all those reps,” Jeffries said. 

“She’s a credit to herself how she carries herself, she’s played really well in Harvey Norman, she’s been projected in today, and she’ll be there again next week.”

Ending a three-game losing streak, fifth-placed Newcastle (12 points) moved three clear of the sixth-placed Titans (nine). Depending on other results next weekend, the Knights could finish even higher up the ladder if they beat the ninth-placed Dragons (six) next Sunday.

Newcastle led 10-0 after five minutes, 16-12 at half-time, and 22-12 after Finau’s try.

But the Titans rallied and the Knights needed a last-minute try by NSW halfback Jesse Southwell to break a 22-22 deadlock and ensure the 2022 and 2023 champions can pursue a third premiership when the new six-team finals series kicks off in two weeks. 

As she did in the first minute of the game to score her first try, Southwell spotted a gap in the Titans’ defensive line and stepped through to touch down for the game-winner. 

“When the game’s on the line, good players come to the forefront, and she wanted the ball in her hands,” Jeffries said. “So congratulations to her, and the group to be honest, with how they responded after last week’s loss.

"It could have went another way but credit to them, they showed plenty of character and courage, and well done to them.”

After three straight losses, including a 19-18 heart-breaker against the Sharks a week earlier, Clydsdale felt relieved to reach the finals with a week left in the regular season.