Vatuvei’s fall ‘from grace’

FORMER rugby league star Manu Vatuvei has admitted importing methamphetamine.

The Warriors icon was charged in December 2019 with possessing methamphetamine for supply and importing the Class A drug.

He previously denied the charges and earlier this year said he would “fight for his innocence” after he outed himself as the sportsman behind the charges.

On Wednesday, Vatuvei appeared at Manukau District Court where he admitted a representative charge of importing methamphetamine. The remaining charges will be withdrawn, the Crown said.

Mafi admitted the charges last month, the other man is still set to go to trial.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Pridgeon opposed bail for Vatuvei.

Judge Jonathan Moses convicted Vatuvei of the charges and granted his application for bail on a curfew, until sentencing in December alongside his brother.

Judge Moses said granting Vatuvei bail was no indication of the sentence he would impose.

Vatuvei was once the pride of New Zealand rugby league, playing 226 games for the Warriors, 29 Tests for the Kiwis and two more for Mate Ma’a Tonga.

His bid for name suppression was rejected by Judge David McIlraith in 2020 and later by Justice

Rebecca Edwards at the High Court in April. Both times name suppression was opposed by Stuff.

Vatuvei retired from professional rugby league due to injury in 2017, after a career spanning more than 13 years.

He went on to participate in a number of charity drives, including a Fight for Life boxing match.

He won Dancing With the Stars in 2019, then embarked on a new career in real estate.