Manly’s Addin Fonua-Blake fined $20k for offensive spray

Addin Fonua-Blake has been ordered to referee wheelchair rugby league games after his ugly abuse of referees.

Addin Fonua-Blake walks from the field after abusing referee Grant Atkins on Sunday. Picture: Fox Sports

Manly forward Addin Fonua-Blake’s ability to keep playing in the NRL will be contingent on him completing an online refereeing course, taking charge of at least 10 games in the local wheelchair rugby league competition and paying a fine that will cover the cost of at least four state-of-the-art wheelchairs.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo on Friday completed his review into Fonua-Blake’s ugly abuse of the match officials last weekend, handing the Sea Eagles prop a fine of $20,000 to go with the two-game suspension he was given by the NRL judiciary.

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He has also been ordered to undergo education and work in the community, although it is understood Abdo walked away from talks with Fonua-Blake convinced the Manly front rower was ignorant of the wider impact of his comments.

During the course of their conversation, which took place over Zoom on Thursday, it is understood Fonua-Blake told Abdo that a member of his own family suffered from learning difficulties.

“I had a long discussion with Addin personally,” Abdo said. “I believe he is genuinely remorseful for what occurred. I believe he’s reflected on the lack of discipline and importance of he and all players as role models in sport to be better than that.

“Sport is about bringing people together and uplifting their lives. Those words were said, those words were heard and our players need to do better than that.

“What was said on the field was damaging enough and unacceptable. Sometimes players, in the heat of the moment, don’t necessarily associate the impact of what they’re saying with how that would make someone feel. Now, that’s not an excuse for the behaviour and I’ve made that clear. Neither is ignorance around the language we use.

Acting NRL boss Andrew Abdo believes a further ban on Addin Fonua-Blake would not help rehabilitate the Manly prop. Picture: AAP

“However, I genuinely believe that Addin certainly didn‘t mean to offend the group of people that he clearly has offended through this and I believe he has learned through this process.”

Fonua-Blake called referee Grant Atkins a “f..king r….d” after his side’s loss to Newcastle last weekend and then swore about match officials as he made his way off the field and into the dressing sheds.

He immediately apologised and released a statement through the club acknowledging he had been out of line. He also released a video apology on Tuesday.

The Sea Eagles have reached out to former Canterbury and NSW executive Dirk Melton, who has been diagnosed with autism, to provide some guidance to Fonua-Blake.

They have also contacted local charities to see whether the club itself can repair some of the damage that has been done in recent days.

“The past week has been very challenging,” chief executive Steve Humphreys said in a statement.

“The distress and offence caused to people with a disability and their loved ones by the language used by Addin Fonua-Blake on Sunday is totally unacceptable.

“Both Addin and the club apologises unreservedly to the disability community for the offence caused.

“Addin continues to acknowledge his mistake, express his remorse as well as his deep regret for what he did and he now fully understands the offence his words caused to so many people.

“He has also talked about his desire to repair the damage caused and to make amends for it as best he can. He has been working with the club on specific ways in which he can best achieve this objective.”

Fonua-Blake is due to return in round 11 against North Queensland but is unlikely to play that game in Townsville because he has declined to take a flu shot. As such, he is currently forbidden from travelling to Queensland.

“I don’t believe that suspending the player further would achieve a result that will make people feel any better about what was said or make Addin rehabilitate any faster,” Abdo said.

Abdo will use the next meeting of the ARL Commission to push for stricter rules around abuse of match officials, including the prospect of referring players directly to the judiciary. “They have a tough job, it’s important that we all respect them,” Abdo said.