League: Warriors sack Faumuina [+ audio]

Sione Fauimuina on the burst against the Newcastle Knights earlier in the season. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Backrower Sione Faumuina has been sacked by the New Zealand Warriors for an alcohol-related incident on Sunday when the National Rugby League club defeated the Sydney Roosters in Auckland.

Chief executive Wayne Scurrah today confirmed that the Warriors had ended the two-test Kiwi's contract, which was to have run until the end of next season.

"It relates to alcohol-related behaviour at the Roosters game," he told NZPA.

"I'm not going into specific details but it was unacceptable. There was some incident with serious misconduct and we met with Sione and have terminated his contract."

Faumuina, 25, has missed the Warriors' four-match winning streak, having broken his hand in the 36-6 loss to Penrith five weeks ago.

The injury ended his season and left him on 99 NRL appearances, of which 11 were for Canberra before he joined the Warriors at the start of 2002.

There have been previous reported incidents involving Faumuina and alcohol, and Scurrah said the Warriors were disappointed to have to make the decision to let him go.

"He's highly regarded by the club and has been here for a long time," he said.

"Certainly the last thing we wanted is his contract torn up."

- NZPA