The Aporia · ‘We don’t forget our people’: Tonga welcome Manase Fainu into camp on day release from jail

Manase Fainu, 28, made an unexpected appearance at Tonga's rugby league training camp on Tuesday while on day release from prison and wearing an ankle monitor. He is scheduled for parole on Friday after serving nearly four years for stabbing a youth leader in 2019. The article highlights the warm welcome he received from his teammates and coaches, including John Hopoate, who emphasized Tonga’s support despite Fainu's past mistake. The piece also mentions that while tickets to Sunday’s World Cup match between Tonga and Samoa sold out quickly, a request to move the venue due to high demand was declined because of scheduling conflicts with a K-pop concert.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-27, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

Manase Fainu, 28, made a surprise appearance at the Tonga rugby training camp on Tuesday while on day release from prison and wearing an ankle monitor. Fainu was found guilty of stabbing a Mormon youth leader in 2019 and has spent nearly four years incarcerated. He is set to be released on parole later this week and will watch his younger brother Latu and former teammates play against Samoa in the World Cup on Sunday. The Tongan community, including officials like John Hopoate, welcomed Fainu back warmly, emphasizing that he remains part of their family despite past mistakes. Approximately 60,000 fans are expected to attend the match at Accor Stadium, though Fainu will not be playing due to his recent release and ongoing parole conditions.

Written for “Manase Fainu Joining Tonga Team” on 2026-10-28, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Manase Fainu Joining Tonga Team

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Christian Nicolussi

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This masthead revealed on Sunday that officials wanted to play the game at Accor Stadium, where at least 60,000 fans were expected, only to be denied because K-pop sensation Bigbang will perform a night earlier in front of at least 70,000 fans, with no time to prepare the pitch.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-27

2026-10-27 · The Sydney Morning Herald

‘We don’t forget our people’: Tonga welcome Manase Fainu into camp on day release from jail · assertive framing

Manase Fainu made a surprise cameo at Tonga training on Tuesday while on day release and wearing an ankle monitor. asserted

Fainu → make → monitor

Fainu, 28, is set to be released on parole on Friday after spending almost four years behind bars, and will spend his first few days of freedom watching his younger brother, Latu, and his former Tongan teammates play in the World Cup against Samoa on Sunday. asserted

brother → set → Sunday

The former Manly and Tonga representative was found guilty of stabbing of a Mormon youth leader at a church dance three years earlier in 2019. asserted

representative → find → 2019

Now he has served his time for his crime, Fainu was always going to be welcomed back by the Tongan community, who turned out in force at Wentworth Park to watch their idols train. asserted

idols → serve → Park

John Hopoate, who has been a regular on the Tonga backroom staff for the past decade, was one of the first to greet Fainu as he made his way to the sideline at training. asserted

he → greet → training

“We don’t forget our people who have been here before,” Hopoate said. asserted

Hopoate → forget → people

“He made a mistake, he knows that, we know that, but we won’t forget about him – he’s family. asserted

he → make → him

He’s done his time and we won’t keep judging him, we’ll embrace him. asserted

we → do → him

He certainly looked fit.” asserted

He → look → ?

Fainu is eager to return to playing rugby league. asserted

Fainu → return → league

His three brothers, Latu, Sione and Samuela – who inked a two-year extension last weekend – are all contracted to the Wests Tigers. asserted

who → ink → Tigers

Fainu attempted to play in the South Sydney A-grade competition when he was granted weekend release earlier this year, only to be denied by the NSW Rugby League – who cited, among other reasons, the safety risk he would have posed while playing with a bulky ankle bracelet. asserted

he → attempt → bracelet

He watched Tonga’s big win over Lebanon last Friday from the family home while on release. asserted

He → watch → release

Whether Fainu plays in the NRL again – his last game was a semi-final appearance for Manly in 2019 – is now up to the NRL, who will rule on whether to register any contract offered to the player. asserted

who → play → player

Hopoate pointed out that his son Jamil had served time in jail in 2014, for assaulting a man in a Sydney pub, but had played in the NRL after spending time in reserve grade while on probation. asserted

Jamil → point → probation

Meanwhile, players have been swamped with requests from family and friends to watch Sunday’s blockbuster between Tonga and Samoa at CommBank Stadium, which sold out weeks ago. asserted

which → swamp → Stadium

Some players have been offered up to $400 if they can source tickets. asserted

they → offer → tickets

Hopoate asked why World Cup organisers did not move the fixture to Allianz Stadium, where another 10,000 fans could have been accommodated. uncertain

fans → ask → Stadium

Bigbang → reveal → pitch

‘We don’t forget our people’: Tonga welcome Manase Fainu into camp on day release from jail

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