NRL 2021: Wrecked car could cost Manly Sea Eagles sponsorship

A long-term deal between the Sea Eagles and a local car dealership could be over following a crashed car. FULL DETAILS

Addin Fanua-Blake returned his sponsored club car to Manly.

This is the car wreckage that has potentially cost the Manly Sea Eagles a long-term sponsorship.

The Mitsubishi SUV was on loan to front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake as part of his contract before he quit the club to join the New Zealand Warriors.

The Tongan international crashed the car on the October long weekend last year.

He rang Manly’s football general manager John Bonasera to report the accident and have the car towed back to the dealership, Brookvale Mitsubishi.

As a result, the dealer principal, Chris Williams, is no longer providing cars for the players and is not renewing his sponsorship. He has declined to comment.

Addin Fonua-Blake returned his sponsored club car to Manly.

The Daily Telegraph is seeking comment from Fonua-Blake’s manager Tyrone Smith.

Manly CEO Stephen Humphreys had few details about the accident.

“I’d suggest you talk to Addin,” Humphreys said.

“He was the one who was in it.

“There’s no joy for anyone other than the smash repairer.

“The sponsor has stopped providing us with cars. To be fair their agreement was up, we were hopeful of continuing the relationship but they chose not to renew. It’s rather costly.”

Addin Fonua-Blake . Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Fonua-Blake was released by the Sea Eagles from the final two years of his contract in September last year on compassionate grounds.

It was a shock because he was considered one of the top few front-rowers in the competition.

There was concern at the time about bad influences in his life and the need for him to get out of Sydney.

Originally published as NRL 2021: Wrecked car could cost Manly Sea Eagles sponsorship