‘Grow up’: Manly’s Addin Fonua-Blake slammed for post-game antics
Addin Fonua-Blake’s antics after Manly’s thrilling win over Canberra left fans furious, but was the act beneficial for the game or does it simply have no place in rugby league?
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Canberra boss Don Furner says Addin Fonua-Blake should “grow up” after the Manly forward delivered a brutal message to Raiders fans.
Fonua-Blake was caught waving to Canberra fans and gesturing that they should have a cry after Manly’s thrilling 18-14 win at GIO Stadium.
Furner was less than impressed with Fonua-Blake’s antics, which enraged the big crowd of 20,265.
“He should grow up,’’ Furner said.
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“You can win graciously but maybe he doesn’t know what that word means.
“We have the best fans that come out in all conditions and that was our biggest home crowd of the year.
“That is just a childish act.”
Fonua-Blake finished with a game-high 153 metres while adding 23 tackles.
The prop has four tries this season, and had a sly dig at Jake Trbojevic after he scored his second try of the year.
“He’s all class man, but we’ve got to share the tries around, him and Marty (Taupau) are getting a bit upset with me getting them all,” Fonua-Blake told the ABC.
Speaking on Monday Bunker, Courier Mail reporter Robert Craddock defended the antics of Fonua-Blake.
“I must say sometimes I don’t mind a little bit of showmanship,” Craddock said.
“This sort of thing, you wouldn’t want to see it every week but it gives us something to talk about and it’s a little bit of mischief. I don’t think there’s too much damage done.
“I remember when Mick Ennis clapped the Canberra faithful and they weren’t too happy about that either.”
Fellow panellist and Canberra supporter Fatima Kdouh agreed, believing a bit of colour is good for the game.
“You don’t need to do it, and yeah as a Raiders fan it riled me up a bit, but at the same time I love the theatre of it,” Kdouh said.
“As a Raiders fan I can’t wait for the Raiders to play the Sea Eagles again so some of our big men can have a crack at him.
“There’s not too much in it, it’s a bit of cheek, you need a villain.”