Addin Fonua-Blake steals show at Dally Ms with intricate gold suit

It’s often the partners that take centre stage at the Dally Ms, but one tough-nosed forward made sure he had the limelight with his outfit.

Addin Fonnua Blake looking sensational at the Dally M Medal.

Rugby league players aren’t often known for their fashion sense, but one player has made it his mission to change that at the Dally M Medal.

Addin Fonua-Blake showed up rocking an intricately detailed gold shirt, an outfit reminiscent of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s now-famous wrestling fits.

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Interviewed on the red carpet by Josh Mansour, Fonua-Blake played down any particular forethought having gone into the outfit, describing it as “just a Versace shirt”.

Fonua-Blake’s outfit sent NRL fans into a spin, with the NRL Roast saying on social media it looked like he was “about to drop the hottest wrestling promo of 2023 at the Dally Ms tonight.”

Fonua-Blake wasn’t the only NRL player to turn heads on the red carpet, with David Fifita mocked for his downright strange sartorial choices.

The Titans second-rower rocked a tuxedo with contrast black buttons, but opting for a waistcoat underneath in lieu of the traditional cummerbund was not his only weird call.

Addin Fonua-Blake at the 2023 Dally M Awards alongside partner Ana Pilimai. Photo: NZ Warriors, Twitter

David Fifita at the 2023 Dally M Awards. Photo: Courier-Mail, Twitter

Fifita went with white sneakers and no bow-tie, leaving his collar undone in an unusual ensemble that copped it on social media.

One fan account got stuck in: “When you’re six years old, rocking a suit at family wedding and all the aunties and grandmas tell you that you are so cute and handsome.”

The Courier-Mail posted a photo of Fifita with the caption: “You can’t teach style!”

It came as the NRL courted controversy early in the night, with St George Illawarra’s Mathew Feagai a surprise winner of the NRL’s Try of the Year for his matchwinning effort against the Roosters in Round 12.

It was thought Newcastle flyer Dominic Young was a certainty to take out the award for his gravity-defying try in the corner against the Dragons in round 27.

One fan wrote on X: “How is that try of the year? I’ve seen better tries every week. Dom Young had the best try.”

Another simply said: “Dom Young robbed.”

One disgruntled fan wrote: “This was just luck with a jaxson paulo assist. Dom young robbed so bad.”

Another said: “Dom Young’s try is probably the best finish there’s ever been but doesn’t win try of the year??”

Newcastle Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga won the Dally M Medal in a shock upset, coming from the clouds to pip Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson by a single point.