Former NRL star released from prison after serving more than four years

Former Manly Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu was released on parole from Parklea Correctional Centre on Friday. Fainu served more than four years of an eight-year sentence after being convicted in 2022 of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Family members and friends greeted the former NRL player outside the Sydney prison facility following the completion of his four-year and three-month non-parole period.

Fainu's conviction stemmed from the October 2019 stabbing of Faamanu Levi outside a church dance in Wattle Grove, an offense he consistently denied committing. His sentence will expire in July 2030 under strict parole conditions monitored by Community Corrections. Fainu, who last played professionally in 2019, reportedly hopes to pursue a rugby league return alongside his brothers at the Wests Tigers.