Manly Sea Eagles’ Addin Fonua-Blake fined $20k under NRL anti-vilification laws
Manly Sea Eagles star Addin Fonua-Blake has received further punishment for his foul-mouthed tirade aimed at referee Grant Atkins but will still only spend two weeks on the sidelines.
NRL
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Addin Fonua-Blake has escaped further suspension for his expletive-laden rant directed at referee Grant Atkins after the NRL announced further sanctions for the Manly prop.
Fonua-Blake was suspended for two matches by the match-review committee earlier this week and acting NRL CEO Andrew Abdo announced on Friday the 24-year old would be hit with a $20,000 fine for breaching the game’s anti-vilification laws.
Fonua-Blake will also be required to complete a series of education courses with Wheelchair Rugby League, which will include refereeing a wheelchair rugby league match.
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“Addin’s words and his actions were contrary to the anti-vilification rules that exist for all players and registered officials,” Abdo said.
“In addition to the two match suspension, Addin is also going to be fined an amount of $20,000, none of which will be suspended and all of which will be payable to Wheelchair Rugby League Australia.
“That will go towards making a significant difference in people’s lives in providing wheelchairs for that league.
“Further to that, Addin will be required to complete an online education course in wheelchair rugby league, he will be required to referee a number of those matches, he will spend some time in the national camp for wheelchair rugby league and he will undergo some education and rehabilitation directed by the NRL education department.
“Everything that occurred, whether it was on the field or in the tunnel was reviewed by the match-review committee and was reviewed in the determination of the anti-vilification breach.”
Fonua-Blake was sent from the field after full-time of Manly’s loss to the Knights in Round 8 for calling Atkins a “f****** r*****” after the Sea Eagles were denied a potential match-levelling penalty.
He was suspended for two matches by the judiciary after being charged with Grade 3 contrary conduct.
The NRL had the power to impose a longer ban under the code’s anti-vilification guidelines, but Abdo claimed further suspension would not have been an effective salve for the damage caused by the incident.
“In this particular case I don’t believe suspending the player further would achieve a result that would make people feel any better about what was said, or make Addin rehabilitate any faster,” Abdo said.
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“I don’t believe personally that increasing the match ban would have made the difference that we need to do in order to take a positive out of this situation.
“What was said was said on the field, on national television, in a free-to-air match. I don’t care who it was directed at, I don’t care if it was meant to be heard or not, it’s unacceptable. It’s black and white, as far as I’m concerned.
“I have had a long discussion with Addin personally and I believe he is genuinely remorseful for what occurred.
“I believe he has reflected on the lack of discipline and the importance of all players and all of us, as role models in sport, to be better than that.”
“I believe Addin will positively change for this experience.”
Abdo revealed he would recommend the ARLC change the scope of the match review committee so further instances of serious referee abuse would be sent directly to the judiciary.
Originally published as Manly Sea Eagles’ Addin Fonua-Blake fined $20k under NRL anti-vilification laws