Manu Vatuvei, a former NRL star, has announced an exciting new chapter as he and his partner, Eva, embark on homeownership together.

The former New Zealand Warriors winger, who made 226 appearances with the team, shared a joyous photo of himself and Eva in front of their newly purchased home, complete with a ‘sold’ sign.

The caption on the Instagram post read: ‘A new chapter begins.

“We feel incredibly grateful and blessed to call this place ours,” Vatuvei expressed.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported us on this journey. We couldn’t have done it without you,” he added.

“Here’s to creating new memories, experiencing growth, and sharing lots of laughter in our new home,” Vatuvei continued.

Former NRL player Manu Vatuvei has unveiled that he is about to step into an exciting new chapter in his life, revealing that he and his partner Eva, have bought a house (pictured) 

In March 2022, Vatuvei (pictured) was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for smuggling 2kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand, however, he was later paroled in 2023

“Let the renovation adventures begin,” he concluded.

In March 2022, Vatuvei was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for smuggling 2kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand.

The 39-year-old pleaded guilty to a single charge of importing a class A drug, after he, along with his brother Lopini Lautau Mafi and two others, were arrested under a major police operation in 2019.

The former footy player, who has five children, was paroled under special conditions in May 2023.

Since then, Vatuvei, who announced his retirement in 2019 before going on to pursue a brief boxing career, has since spoken openly about how prison had saved him. 

Speaking earlier this year, he reflected on the ordeal and insisted that he was taking ownership of his actions, while trying to move on from them.

”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,’ he told the New Zealand Herald.

‘I’m ready to move forward, but it’ll always be on me, everything that I’ve done.

Speaking earlier this year, he reflected on the ordeal and insisted that he was taking ownership of his actions, while trying to move on from them

During his career, the Auckland-born footy player (pictured carrying the football) would also go on to win 29 caps for New Zealand, before later switching his nationality to play for Tonga

‘All the hate that I get, I’ll just use that as energy to show that I’m doing something good.’

During his career, the Auckland-born footy player would also go on to win 29 caps for New Zealand, before later switching his nationality to play for Tonga.

He also captured the hearts of the New Zealand public in 2019 by winning Dancing with the Stars. 

Following his release from prison, Vatuvei took up a role with Dave Letele’s Buttabean Motivation – a fitness movement aiming to help people of all ages stay healthy.

‘I help a lot of people through training and, for what we do with David, I owe him a lot. He never looked down at me or anything,’ he said.

‘He just took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity, but then it was up to me to work my ass off. He just opened the door, and then I just had to walk in and make the move.

‘Now I’m just working hard and giving back to our community again, sharing my story with the people I train, because they go through a lot with mental battles.

‘I’ve been through mental battles too, so I’m just happy that I can show support in that way.’

In his spare time, Vatuvei has also been giving talks around schools in New Zealand, helping to inspire younger generations to achieve greatness.

‘I’m ready to move forward, but it’ll always be on me, everything that I’ve done. At the end of the day, I just use that as fuel to make me work harder to rebuild again,’ he explained.

‘All the hate that I get, I’ll just use that as energy to show that I’m doing something good.’