Canterbury Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould meets with New Zealand Warriors Addin Fonua-Blake

Phil Gould has laid out the welcome mat for another big NRL star as he’s caught wooing another massive potential signing to the Bulldogs. SEE THE EXCLUSIVE PHOTO.

04/07/23. The Daily Telegraph. Sport. Belmore, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Pictures of Phil Gould, General Manager of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, taken at the press conference he gave this morning at Belmore Sports Ground following the teamÕs 66-0 thrashing at the weekend. Picture: Julian Andrews

Canterbury head of football Phil Gould has been caught in another clandestine meeting, this time with a potential signing — New Zealand Warriors forward Addin Fonua-Blake.

This masthead has obtained a picture of Gould meeting Fonua-Blake and his management team of Tyran Smith and Ahmad Merhi on Friday, part of a recruitment drive aimed at turning the Bulldogs into a powerhouse once again.

Fonua-Blake has three years remaining on his mega-deal with the Warriors but has been given permission to explore his options on the open market after requesting a release to return to Sydney for personal reasons.

Phil Gould meets with Addin Fonua-Blake.

The Bulldogs are at the front of a long queue for the Tongan and New Zealand international, who is regarded as one of the elite front rowers in the game.

Gould took to social media this week to air his concerns after he was captured on camera at a meeting last weekend with former Bulldogs club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who is on his way out of the club.

He is unlikely to be pleased that a private meeting has again been captured by a member of the public, particularly given the coterie of clubs chasing the prized signature of Fonua-Blake.

The Warriors forward is regarded as one of the elite props in the competition and he has a pay packet to match. Fonua-Blake is on more than $1 million a season at the Warriors and the Bulldogs are one of the few clubs with the salary cap space to accommodate his salary demands.

Gould has made no secret of their desire to strengthen the middle of the field, having made a failed attempt to sign former Roosters front rower Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

Taukeiaho’s bid to move to the Bulldogs was scuppered after it emerged that he needed surgery to repair a foot injury.

It appears they have now turned their attention to Fonua-Blake as they look to strengthen their forward pack for the 2025 season.

This masthead revealed that Fonua-Blake had requested an immediate release on personal grounds to be closer to his parents in Sydney.

Gould is keen to land another big signing. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Fonua-Blake wants to return home to Sydney. Picture: NRL Photos

The Auckland-based side rejected his request to leave immediately but the parties struck an agreement that he would be able to return to Sydney at the end of the 2024 season.

Fonua-Blake and his camp are keen to put things in place as soon as they can as they look to remove any distractions and allow him to focus fully on his final season at the Warriors.

Rival clubs are likely to watch developments closely given the interest in Fonua-Blake.

It is understood Fonua-Blake met the Wests Tigers on Thursday and spoke to the Bulldogs and St George Illawarra on Friday as he looked to gain some clarity over where he will spend the 2025 season.

Originally published as Canterbury Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould meets with New Zealand Warriors Addin Fonua-Blake