Manly hooker Manase Fainu has escaped conviction after pleading guilty to filming a sex act without consent.

The matter was heard in Fairfield Local Court on Tuesday, with Magistrate Richard Funston opting to hand Fainu a good behaviour bond. The magistrate took into consideration the fact that Fainu had no criminal record, was suffering from adjustment and anxiety disorders and had immediately deleted the recording.

Sea Eagles player Manase Fainu.

Fainu is considered one of the game’s most promising youngsters. The 19-year-old made nine appearances for the Sea Eagles this season after coming in as a replacement for injured rake Apisai Koroisau. The incident occurred on April 5, but the Junior Kiwis representative was allowed to play in the NRL while the matter was before the courts.

According to the police fact sheet, Fainu and the woman knew each other for three weeks and had met just once prior to the incident after communicating through Facebook and Snapchat.