Fainu Opens Up About Hayne’s Time Behind Bars
Former NRL player Manase Fainu has revealed how he and several fellow Pacific Islander inmates helped protect former rugby league superstar Jarryd Hayne from a planned prison attack during his time behind bars.
In a revealing account reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Fainu described how he became aware of threats against Hayne before the former Parramatta Eels and NSW representative arrived at Windsor Correctional Centre.
According to Fainu, discussions about attacking Hayne had already begun among some inmates, with a group allegedly planning to use blades against him shortly after his arrival.
The revelation provides another insight into the difficult circumstances Hayne faced while serving time in prison following his high-profile sexual assault conviction.
Prisoners Were Already Planning an Attack
Fainu explained that information about Hayne’s impending arrival reached inmates approximately one day before he entered the facility.
He recalled hearing Australian inmates discussing plans to attack the former rugby league international.
“We found out a day before that he was coming into the jail. There were talks already, the Aussie boys were saying, ‘When he comes in, we’re going to blade him 1-2-3’. So there were boys already planning it up,” Fainu said.
The former Manly Sea Eagles forward indicated that the situation was potentially dangerous, with some inmates apparently determined to target Hayne.
However, Fainu and other Pacific Islander prisoners decided they would not allow the former footballer to face the situation without support.
Islander Brotherhood Played an Important Role
Fainu explained that cultural connections and solidarity among Pacific Islanders played an important role in the decision to protect Hayne.
He revealed that two other inmates agreed to support the former Parramatta star because of their shared Islander background.
“He’s an islander, and islanders stick together in jail. So two other boys … said, ‘We’re going to back him, he’s an islander. He’s still fighting his charges… When he comes in, we’ll sit him down and ask if he did it or not’,” Fainu explained.
Rather than immediately judging Hayne based on the allegations surrounding his case, the group wanted to hear from him directly.
Their decision ultimately established a protective presence around Hayne when he arrived at Windsor.
Fainu Delivered a Strong Warning
Fainu also recalled how the group made its position clear to other inmates, warning that any confrontation involving Hayne would involve the wider Islander community inside the prison.
“So when he landed, we told the boys, ‘If anything kicks off with Haynesy, you’re going to kick off with the other islanders’, and there were a few of us at Windsor at that time,” he said.
His account highlights the importance of alliances and group solidarity within the prison environment.
A Remarkable Story From Rugby League’s Past
Fainu’s revelation adds another chapter to the complicated story surrounding Hayne’s imprisonment and the relationships he developed behind bars.
For rugby league supporters, the account also offers a glimpse into the personal connections that can emerge between players and former athletes outside professional football.