Former Warriors cult hero and try scoring favourite Manu Vatuvei is out of prison and telling his story after being put away for importing drugs.

The giant retired winger says his time behind bars changed everything after he fell into depression after NRL retirement.

“In prison, it gave me time to reflect on life and reflect on where I was and all my problems I was trying to run away from,” Vatuvei told the NZ Herald.

“Being stuck in four walls on your own reminds you.

“Jail was probably the best thing that ever happened to me because I would have been in a worse position than what I am now.”