Addin Fonua-Blake has opened up on his resolution to signal a four-year cope with the Sharks and revealed why the membership led by Craig Fitzgibbon is “the perfect fit” for him.
The 28-year-old dropped a bombshell on the Warriors in November when he requested a launch from the remaining three years of his contract for private causes.
The Warriors rejected the request for 2024 however the two events got here to an settlement on the ultimate two years.
The Dragons, Wests Tigers and Bulldogs have been the primary golf equipment to point out curiosity in Fonua-Blake earlier than the Sharks swooped in to seize the star prop.
Watch sport this summer time stay with no advert breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and begin streaming immediately >
Why Fonua-Blake owes Andrew Webster | 01:16
Speaking for the primary time since inking the deal in December, Fonua-Blake revealed to foxsports.com.au it was “a couple of meetings” with coach Craig Fitzgibbon that received him over.
“Some of the messages he got across to me really sat with some of my own personal values,” he stated.
“It just felt right. I didn’t have to go somewhere and try to fit in, I feel like that club was the perfect fit for me.
“He has some traits that were very similar to mine, so I thought he’s going to be a good mentor for myself. ‘Webby’ (Warriors coach Andrew Webster) has been a great mentor for me and I see a lot of similarities between the two.”
After becoming a member of the Warriors in 2021, it’s understood the rationale behind Fonua-Blake’s want to return to Sydney is to be nearer to his household.
He admitted it was “definitely” a troublesome resolution — particularly given the trajectory the membership is on — however it was one he needed to make.
“I had an unforeseen situation come up and I’m just grateful that the club understood the situation I’m in,” Fonua-Blake stated.
“I’ll be forever grateful for this club, this club will have a special place in my heart. I rode through the lows with them and then obviously last year we had a good year.
“I’ve built really good relationships with people at the club: the CEO Cam (George); (owner) Mark Robinson; ‘Webby’ and all the players.
“It was a hard decision but I’m the type of guy where family comes first for me, I’ll always put family before my job and myself. That was the decision I had to make and I’m just really grateful the club understood.
“I can put it behind me now, I’m fully focused on 2024 and I’m going to do everything I can to try and leave the club on a high.”
Brooks reveals why Manly is a clever transfer | 01:27
Fonua-Blake has “mixed emotions” forward of his closing season as a Warrior.
He’s “in a good space at the moment” after arguably his finest season so far the place he was named within the Dally M Team of the Year and performed a key position within the aspect’s cost to a preliminary closing. But he is aware of the top of his Warriors chapter is close to.
Winning a premiership is, after all, the “ultimate goal” however past that he needs to make it clear he doesn’t have one eye on the long run — he’s all-in on the Warriors this yr.
“To play the best footy I can and to not leave any stone unturned here would be a good thing for me,” Fonua-Blake stated when requested what he needs to get out of this season.
“When I leave I just want everyone to say the same thing about me — that I didn’t leave anything out there on the field and I did everything I could for the club.
“I want to leave on good terms, I don’t want to leave here and have people think I was holding back anything for a new club. I’m just going to go out there and leave it all out on the training paddock and then again on the field.”
MORE NRL NEWS
OFF-SEASON CENTRAL: Ponga sits out All Stars to deal with Knights and Origin
TRANSFER CENTRE: Dogs ahead’s saga lastly over as captain granted launch
PREDICTED RD 1 TEAMS: Dragons get artistic, Bulldogs clear up utility puzzle
TIGERS: Benji Marshall breaks silence on Nofoaluma drama in Leichhardt
SIGN HIM UP: Walsh stuns as Broncos star reels in go from NFL GOAT
Fonua-Blake cemented his place within the competitors’s prime echelon of props final season, averaging over 150 working metres and 24 tackles a recreation.
He put that type right down to his teammates as a result of “a lot of the boys had their best years and it’s a lot of easier when everyone’s enjoying footy — things just happen.”
But he additionally credited the teaching workers, particularly Webster, who challenged him initially of the yr.
“He set a few goals for me, he felt that I had a bit left in the tank and I wasn’t reaching my full potential,” the Tonga and New Zealand worldwide shared.
“It was a bit of a shock to me hearing those words but it’s the push I needed and I can’t be more thankful to him. He helped me open my eyes to know that I can go to another level under his coaching and I did.
“Now the challenge is to not fade away, to try and take it a step further and keep growing.”
It’s a scary thought for opposition gamers that Fonua-Blake has plans to be larger and higher this yr however they higher buckle up as a result of when requested if there’s certainly one other degree to come back, he stated “I hope so, that’s the plan.”
“We’ve got a good group of young forwards coming through, they’re all big, fit and fast so the minute I take my foot off the pedal I know of those guys are going to put their hand up for a spot,” he added.
The imposing Fonua-Blake is “proud” of being the Warriors’ main enforcer however was fast to credit score the gamers round him, particularly “workhorse” skipper Tohu Harris and Mitch Barnett, who’s “a bit of a kamikaze.”
“I know there’s boys here that help me a lot and do the dirty work… It’s easy for me to get off the back of those guys (Harris and Barnett), seeing them doing it week-in, week-out makes me more hungry to play at their level and not let them down,” he stated.
Someone should step up in 2025 although to fill the large gap Fonua-Blake will go away within the pack.
In phrases of main the way in which up entrance, he stated Barnett may “definitely” do it, including: “I rate him highly as a player and he’s a real good talker amongst the group.”
But there’s additionally the subsequent technology of forwards coming by — Siua Wong, Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima — that Fonua-Blake has huge raps on.
“If the club can hold onto them, they’re going to be in very good shape in the future,” he stated.
“I like to think I’ve been around footy for a while and I’ve seen a lot of players… I think these guys are freaks.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
