‘World-class’ Addin Fonua-Blake shows Titans big money stars how it’s done

The Gold Coast Titans were stacked with big name recruits from the off-season but a new Warriors giant has shown them how it’s done.

The Warriors have started well.

The New Zealand Warriors have started their second stint based in Australia with a brilliant 19-6 win over the Gold Coast Titans on the Central Coast.

In the NRL world’s first look at Queensland Origin stars David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui in Titans colours, prop Addin Fonua-Blake showed he was loving life as a Warrior.

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In oppressive heat on Saturday, the Tongan international was a standout with a game-high 202m in 19 runs, along with five tackle breaks.

Post-game, Michael Ennis told Fox League that Fonua-Blake had already added plenty to the Warriors.

“It added to what was already a strong forward pack with young Katoa in there, Tohu Harris, Leeson Ah Mau back and fit. But Addin Fonua-Blake was superb,” he said.

“He has brought a real fear factor to the Warriors pack. They kicked down the front door and went straight through the middle of the Titans.”

Addin Fonua-Blake showed the big money forwards how it's done.

Fonua-Blake joined the Warriors after demanding a release to leave Sydney for “personal reasons”.

Fonua-Blake had a tough finish to his time at Manly, having been banned for two matches weeks after a derogatory remark at a referee that sparked a headed debate.

But after his release he quickly signed a reported three-year $2.5m deal and new Warriors coach Nathan Brown revealed how he was stunned the side could land the hulking prop.

“He’s a world-class player isn’t he?” Brown said in his post-match press conference. “I said before, we were fortunate to get Addin. The recruitment is the key to any successful club. If you don’t recruit well, you don’t do well and being able to recruit a player of Addin’s skill and talent is very important. He plays a very important position, he’s a very important player for our club as he was for Manly and he’s only 25-26 so his best years are coming.

“I still remember getting the call from Peter O’Sulivan saying we were a chance of getting this bloke and I didn’t really believe him. I nearly fell off the chair because they don’t come along every day.”

Warriors skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said Fonua-Blake made a big impact “Brings that aggression and confidence to the pack”.

Fonua-Blake was a handful.

Brown said he was looking forward to seeing the big forwards against the Knights after Daniel Saifiti and David Klemmer had huge games against the Bulldogs and said his forwards would need to go up another gear.

The Warriors play the Knights at 6pm on Friday night.

Greg Alexander called Fonua-Blake “outstanding”.

“All the hype around the new signings, but the Warriors were just too good for them,” he said.

While Fonua-Blake was tough to handle all game, $3.5m recruit Fifita managed 117m from 13 runs in 71 minutes, while $2m star Fa’asuamaleaui had 17 runs for 149m.

Michael Ennis told Fox League that the Titans have a challenge to get the best out of them.

“That is going to be the challenge for the Titans,” he said.

“They’ve had some wonderful recruits. Tino was good today, David had some moments where he was a handful but the challenge for them will be to create positions for them.

“Mitch Rein from dummy-half didn’t really have any attacking impact in the game neither did Ash Taylor or Jamal Fogarty.

“AJ Brimson was threatening when he had chances but not enough for the Titans to be excited yet.”

David Fifita will get better.

It’s not all downhill for the Titans with a long way to go this season.

Fifita told Fox League that he had an infection through the week but said his first game of the season was good to “get the cobwebs out”.

Sounds like a warning ahead of the Titans clash against his former team the Brisbane Broncos next Friday night.