NRL 2023: Jailed Manly Sea Eagles star Manase Fainu in bid for freedom and rugby league return

Manase Fainu has spoken from prison ahead of launching a fresh bid to overturn his conviction over a church stabbing, in a move that could open the door to salvage his NRL career.

Jailed Manly Sea Eagles hooker Manase Fainu.

Jailed former Manly star Manase Fainu is desperately hoping “to return to his family and get back on the football field” when his fight for freedom resumes this week.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Fainu’s appeal for stabbing a man will likely be lodged on Wednesday.

Top Sydney lawyer Paul McGirr and leading barrister Michael Smith will submit Fainu’s appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal after the ex-Sea Eagles star was jailed for a non-parole period of four years and three months.

McGirr and Smith will seek acquittal, a court order that would almost certainly prompt the NRL to lift Fainu’s strict no-fault stand-down edict.

“I’m innocent,” Fainu said from Bathurst prison.

Manase Fainu playing for the Sea Eagles. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

“I want to clear my name and return home to support my family and get back on the football field. I want this matter resolved.”

Fainu’s contract at Manly ended after 2021, although the Sea Eagles continued paying his contract through his court cases to help the family financially.

Asked if he believed Fainu would be permitted back by the NRL if cleared on appeal, McGirr said: “It would be very strange if they didn’t because this (matter) was the only reason he was stood down originally.”

Fainu, 24, was found guilty in December of stabbing a youth leader during a violent brawl outside a Mormon church dance in October, 2019.

He pleaded not guilty.

“Manase is doing okay (in prison) but he certainly wants to appeal this matter and he is desperate to get back and support his family and start playing footy again,” said McGirr.

“We are coming to the final conclusions in preparing and lodging our appeal for Manase Fainu.

“We expect to lodge it in the next 24 hours.

“It will be based on a number of matters including the dangers of identification evidence and how notoriously unreliable that can be.

Lawyer Paul McGirr. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“If we are successful the Court of Criminal Appeal can quash the conviction, which means they have decided the defendant should be found not guilty and he would be released immediately. Alternatively they can order a retrial or dismiss the appeal which would of course be worse case scenario.”

The appeal is likely to be heard within the next two to three months.

Once regarded as one of the NRL’s brightest rookies, Manase has three footballing brothers – Latu and Samuela play for Manly while Sione is now a Wests Tigers player.

Samuela made his NRL debut in Manly’s Anzac round match against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.

Manase has not played rugby league since October, 2019.

A jury at Parramatta District Court found Fainu guilty of one count of wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

In December, Judge Williams sentenced Fainu to eight years’ incarceration with a non-parole period of four years and three months.