From prison to purpose
Known for his fierce presence on the rugby field, and for a headline making fall from grace, former rugby league player Russell Packer is now stepping into a very different kind of spotlight. At this year’s He. Event in Tauranga, Russell will share his transformational journey.
words HAYLEY BARNETT
When former New Zealand Warriors prop Russell Packer walked out of prison in 2015, he carried more than just the weight of a criminal conviction. He carried a commitment to change.
After spending a year behind bars for assault following a drunken altercation in Sydney, during which he fractured a man’s eye socket, Russell emerged from incarceration determined to rebuild his life.
Originally sentenced to two years without parole, his term was reduced to one on appeal. That year away from his young family proved to be a turning point.
Upon his release, he returned to professional rugby league, gradually reintegrating into the sport. He was signed by several clubs and played until his retirement in 2021. Since then, Russell has earned an MBA with distinction and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Legal Studies.
But even with his mammoth list of achievements, Russell felt a deeper calling, to become a voice for men who, like him, had once masked their pain with aggression and silence. Now based in Tauranga, he’s preparing to speak at the second He. Event, a community-led initiative focused on men’s mental health andemotional wellbeing.
“I know what it’s like to carry anger like armour, to mask trauma with toughness,” Russell says. “If I can show even one man that seeking help isn’t weakness, it’s survival, then all the pain I went through means something.”
When He. Event organiser Cassandra Hogan approached him to speak, Russell saw it as a chance to give back, not by preaching, but by relating.
“Pretending you’re fine when you’re drowning nearly killed me,” he shares. “Speaking at He. is about cutting through the bullshit and showing men that trust and professional help aren’t luxuries, they’re necessities. If one man hears me and decides to get help, that’s a win.”
Russell plans to speak candidly about the lessons prison taught him, the struggle to rebuild from rock bottom, and the emotional tools he now uses to navigate life’s challenges. His story, he says, is one of accountability, humility, and ultimately, healing.
“Prison stripped everything back. You either face yourself or you don’t survive it. I faced my worst, and found my real self on the other side.”
Today, Russell describes himself as being in the best place of his life, not because it’s perfect, but because he finally has the right tools to deal with imperfection.
“Therapy, honesty and letting go of shame are my foundations now,” he says.
Alongside his advocacy, Russell is now building purpose- driven businesses in tech, housing and community development, which, he says, are ventures that align with his new mission: to make an impact that lasts.
“My future plans are to make more impact and less noise,” he says. “I want to use my platform to show that redemption isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.”
For tickets to the He. Event, visit