Former NRL player David Fifita’s wife has been sentenced to jail.

Jade Robinson was convicted of fraudulently claiming almost $50,000 in single-parent Centrelink payments over a five-year period from 2011.

Magistrate Jennifer Price sentenced the 26-year-old mother-of-three to eight months' imprisonment, with a three-month non-parole period.  

The matter has been adjourned until January with Robinson to be assessed for home detention.

If approved, she would avoid jail time.

"To my mind, that would then cover the appropriate need for general deterrence," the magistrate said.

Ms Price described the crime as "consistent and persistent" brought on by a "desire to maintain an outward appearance of success".

She added Robinson felt the need to "keep up with others in social activities" and had "a dependency on the approval of others".

The pair have three children, aged six, two and four months.

Fifita formerly played for Cronulla and is currently contracted to Wakefield Trinity in the English Super League.

He is the twin of Sharks star Andrew Fifita. 

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