Blood remains thicker than water for the Fainga’a twins who remain desperate to stay together as the plummeting Queensland Reds assess their Super Rugby roster.
But it could be in Melbourne, rather than Brisbane, where they suit up next season.
While hooker Saia and centre Anthony have been crowd favourites at Suncorp Stadium since 2010, their futures are clouded following the Reds’ astonishing fall from grace in 2014.
Saia confirmed he had offers in Europe but was more interested in keeping his World Cup hopes alive by moving to the Rebels if the Reds didn’t want to re-sign he and Anthony.
The 27-year-olds have always come as a package deal since debuting with the Brumbies in 2006 before shifting to the Reds for the 2009 Super Rugby season.
A move to Melbourne would also reunite them with younger brother Colby, 23, who left the Brumbies last year to join the Rebels.
A Wallabies Test player last November, Saia was one of several Reds who paid the price for their six-match losing streak by being dumped on Thursday from Ewen McKenzie’s 32-man squad.
Despite this season’s woes and Queensland’s recruitment chiefs looking to overhaul their squad, Saia said the off-contract twins want to stay and help dig them out of the mire.
“That’s what we have built ourselves on – staying together,” he told AAP. “We’re very happy being here with our family.
“But in saying that, I’m not happy with the way the team’s going and, if I did leave, I would want to leave on a good note.
“I want to stay (in Australia) and that’s my biggest thing.”
Hooker has been a problem position for the Rebels since Ged Robinson returned to New Zealand, with Irish recruit Tom Sexton’s season ruined before it began with a knee reconstruction.
They signed the improved Pat Leafa this week but Japanese rake Shota Horie is unsigned for next year.
With Rebels centre Tamati Ellison reportedly eying a return to New Zealand, Anthony Fainga’a would also provide an important boost to the Melbourne midfield stocks.
Both twins adamantly denied rumours there was division in the Reds’ camp.
“Behind closed doors, we’re humming,” Anthony said. “We just have to transfer that onto the field.”
Defence has been the biggest problem for Queensland, leaking 19 tries in their past four defeats.
When the Reds finished fifth last season, they conceded just 23 in 16 home-and-away matches, and it was hailed as a sign of their tight-knit culture and attitude.
“We’re banging our head on a brick wall at the moment – we’re overthinking and overworking everything,” Anthony said.
