NRL news: Addin Fonua-Blake set to start player market frenzy as clubs prepare to make room for Warriors star

Despite giving assurances over his immediate NRL future, Addin Fonua-Blake is set to kick off a player market frenzy, as clubs prepare to re-jig their rosters to accommodate the star prop.

Addin Founa-Blake in action for the Warriors.

Addin Fonua-Blake is expected to start a player market frenzy despite giving assurances to the Warriors that he will remain at the club for at least another 12 months.

Fonua-Blake formally requested a release on Thursday morning but a Zoom meeting with club bosses later that day prompted both parties to agree to put any potential departure from the club on hold until the end of the 2024 season.

Fonua-Blake is in England as he prepares to play for Tonga in the final game of the three Test series against the host nation.

The stance the Warriors have taken is similar to that taken by the Dragons after their skipper Ben Hunt sought a release to move back to Queensland.

St George Illawarra remain extremely keen to sign Fonua-Blake but will now have to wait until 2025 to get their hands on one of the game’s best props.

Addin Fonua-Blake has committed to the Warriors for at least another 12 months. Picture: Getty Images

The Bulldogs are also on the lookout for a marquee front rower and it is expected other clubs will enter the mix as they assess the potential to sign the 27-year-old, regarded as one of the premier props in the game.

The Warriors had begun canvassing potential swap deals after being blindsided by Fonua-Blake’s request but in the end there was little that the clubs who could afford him had to offer the Warriors in exchange.

Now that Founa-Blake has delayed his exit it will allow more clubs a better opportunity to re-jig their roster to accommodate his million dollar contract.

Given Fonua-Blake wants to return to Sydney on compassionate grounds, the Warriors are unlikely to grant the Tongan international a release to a club outside the area.

That will be a hammer blow to the Dolphins, who would have likely pursued Fonua-Blake given he has a close relationship with Dolphins assistant Kristian Woolfe – who is also the Tongan coach – and Jesse Bromwich is coming to the end of his career.

Fonua-Blake would seem a perfect fit but the Warriors may kill off their hopes. The Warriors adopted the same stance with Reece Walsh prior to him joining Brisbane this season.

Fonua-Blake is contracted until at least the end of 2026. He was granted an early release from Manly to join the Warriors for personal reasons at the end of 2020.

It is understood Fonua-Blake is looking for a move back to Sydney to be near his parents. Picture: Getty Images

It is understood Fonua-Blake has asked for the release to be closer to his parents, who are battling health issues.

Fonua-Blake said he was committed to the Warriors’ 2024 campaign.

“My only motivation for this move is for family reasons,” Fonua-Blake said .

“But I really want all Warriors fans to know that I am fully committed to getting into the 2024 season.

“I can’t wait to get back to training with my teammates with the aim to go even further in the upcoming season.”

He will return to pre-season training in December. Fonua-Blake is one of just three Warriors players — forward Marata Niukore and returning star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck being the others — to be contracted to the club beyond the 2025 season.

The remainder of the squad are on deals that expire in the next 24 months.

Originally published as NRL news: Addin Fonua-Blake set to start player market frenzy as clubs prepare to make room for Warriors star