His agent Frank Endacott believed 20-year-old Fai had just completed a training run on the beach and had gone to cool off in the surf with three others yesterday evening, Stuff reported.
They then got in trouble in a rip, he said.
The alarm was raised about 8pm and two inflatable boats and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were scrambled to the scene.
Three of the men were rescued, but Fai remained missing when the search was called off, about 10pm.
Family members and surf life savers continued the search until 1am and the helicopter resumed the search today.
Fai has played 15 games for the NZ Warriors, and made his National Rugby League debut in March last year.
He was named Warriors 2007 under-20 player of the year, and was a Junior Kiwis player from 2004-07.
