Former NRL star Manase Fainu has walked out of prison on parole on Friday.
Fainu walked out of Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney’s northwest after serving more than four years in jail for stabbing a man during a brawl outside a Mormon church dance.
The former Manly Sea Eagles hooker was greeted by a large throng of family and friends, which included his brothers, outside the gates of Parklea on Friday morning.
He was then driven away in a black car.
He looked substantially different to his playing days and was sporting a long mullet.
Ex-NRL star Manase Fainu served more than four years in jail. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
The former league player was released from prison on parole on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
He was spotted earlier this week when he made a surprise appearance at Tonga training while on day release and is expected to be present for their World Cup blockbuster against Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Sunday. Fainu was jailed in 2022 after a District Court jury found him guilty of one count of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The jury found he plunged a steak knife into the back of Faamanu Levi outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Wattle Grove in October 2019.
Fainu has long maintained his innocence and in 2023 the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed his bid to quash his conviction.
Judge Nanette Williams sentenced Fainu to eight years in jail, however he will be released on Friday under strict conditions, having served a four-year and three-month non-parole period.
Manase Fainu has not played NRL since late 2019.
His sentence will not expire until July 2030 and while on parole he must comply with strict conditions and will be under the watch of Community Corrections.
Fainu was once considered one of the rising stars of the NRL and last played for Manly during the 2019 finals.
His brothers Samuela, Sione and Latu are all signed to the Wests Tigers and have spoken publicly about their desire to play alongside Manase.
Manase is expected to pursue a rugby league comeback
Earlier this year, the NSWRL knocked back an application by Fainu to return to suburban footy with the Alexandria Rovers while on day release, citing the fact he was still serving a prison term and safety fears because he was wearing an electronic ankle monitoring bracelet.
Manase Fainu at Tonga training earlier this week. Picture: Tim Hunter/NewsWire.
Manase Fainu was jailed for eight years. Picture: NewsWire/Christian Gilles.
Fainu was found guilty of stabbing Mr Levi, in the back, near his shoulder blade, during the brawl, which also involved four of his mates.
Mr Levi suffered a punctured lung and internal bleeding.
During his trial, Fainu said he went to the church dance with friends because one of his mates was seeking to collect money owed to him for a concreting job.
Fainu said he left the church grounds as his mates were being escorted out and apologised to a security guard for his friends’ behaviour.
CCTV played to the court showed Fainu, who had his arm in a sling at the time due to a shoulder injury, and his friends driving to a Coles car park and using a fire hydrant to boost themselves over a brick wall back into the church parking lot where the brawl occurred.
During his evidence to the court, Fainu denied playing any part in the stabbing or the brawl, claiming he stood back.
He said he began back-pedalling because he feared for his safety when he heard someone yell “knife, knife”.