Former NZ Warriors star Manu Vatuvei was detained and deported while trying to enter Australia. Video / @manuvatuvei
Former New Zealand Warriors star Manu Vatuvei has been denied entry into and deported from Australia.
The disgraced Kiwi international was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for importing more than $200,000 worth of methamphetamine from India in 2022.
Former league superstar Manu Vatuvei was denied entry and deported from Australia. Photo / @manuvatuvei
In a video posted on Instagram, the formersportsman filmed himself after he flew across the Tasman, only to be walked back to the boarding gates by two Australian Customs officials.
“Got denied entry and was detained 8 bloody hours ... now escorted to the plane to go back home,” he posted.
In the next story, Vautuvei filmed himself sitting on the floor on an empty ramp waiting to go through a door on to the return flight, saying, “Well, this is my lounge while I’m waiting for the plane”.
“At least [I] got to travel to Aus and get kicked out. At least I had Hungry Jacks.”
In his next post, Vatuvei filmed himself sitting at the back of an empty plane, saying: “Don’t even think I got to board the flight first.”
The former Kiwis star then films himself walking through to the waiting area of Auckland International Airport, saying: “We’re back. Try again next time.”
Once adored by the New Zealand public, “The Beast” forfeited years of goodwill built up through his record-breaking feats, as well as winning Dancing with the Stars in 2019.
“I don’t wish what I went through upon anyone,” he said. “Bouncing back from where I was before, it was hard.
“You have some good people that will be there to support me, and there will be those people [who] dislike me because of what I did, but that’s part of it.
“I take ownership of what I did and I’m accountable for it, and now I’m changing my life again and rebuilding from the start. I’ve been there before, rebuilding myself, so I can do it again.”
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