NRL news: Warriors star Addin Fonua-Blake signs four-year deal with Cronulla Sharks
A fortnight of stealth-like meetings and secret negotiations has landed Cronulla one of the biggest names on the transfer market. See the contract details behind the Addin Fonua-Blake deal.
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Christmas has come early in the Sutherland Shire with Addin Fonua-Blake signing with the Sharks for the 2025 NRL season.
One of the world’s best front-rowers, Fonua-Blake has opted to join Cronulla ahead of rival suitor St George-Illawarra on a four-year deal worth between $950,000 and $1 million a season.
The Wests Tigers and Canterbury also weighed-in with interest in signing the enforcer, while the Dragons reportedly extended Fonua-Blake a $4.4 million deal.
However, after a fortnight of stealth-like meetings and secret negotiations with the Cronulla executive team, Fonua-Blake has agreed to join Craig Fitzgibbon’s Sharks beginning in 2025.
Crucially, Cronulla have also signed Fonua-Blake without having to immediately release or relinquish a current player to the Warriors.
“Addin is a world class front rower and we are delighted to be adding him to our roster from 2025,” Fitzgibbon said. “Throughout the negotiation process we have been impressed by his attitude, his genuine desire to help make the Sharks successful and to complement and work alongside both those in our leadership group and the young forwards we have coming through our system.
“As Dally M Front Rower of the Year and on the back of a couple of outstanding seasons, everyone has seen what he is capable of and we look forward to Addin playing a major role for us here at the Sharks.”
The recent release of playmaker Matt Moylan and utility Connor Tracey from their 2024 contracts provided the Sharks with salary cap space to make their move.
Fonua-Blake broke the news to his Warriors teammates on Tuesday afternoon.
A major factor in Fonua-Blake’s decision to join the Sharks was the 2023 Dally M Prop of The Year’s belief that Cronulla can challenge for a premiership within the next four years.
It’s ultimately what worked against the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and Dragons, all of which showed genuine interest in the Tongan International, but equally are in a challenging process of rebuilding their rosters in order to once again contend for finals football.
Fonua-Blake, 28, is at the stage of his career where he wants to win a premiership in the next few years.
Other significant lures behind Fonua-Blake’s decision to join the Sutherland Shire club was the chance to lead an already established forward pack, to be part of Fitzgibbon’s no-nonsense culture and the chance to play with cousin Siosifa Talakai.
The Sharks hierarchy of chairman Steve Mace, CEO Dino Mezzatesta, GM of football Darren Mooney and Fitzgibbon secured the deal after meeting with Fonua-Blake and his agent Tyran Smith from Sportsplayer Management over the past two weeks.
Few within the game were ever aware of how serious the Sharks interest was for the 159-gamer.It’s ultimately what worked against the Bulldogs, Tigers and Dragons, all of whom showed genuine interest in the Tongan International, but equally are in a challenging process of rebuilding their rosters in order to once again contend for finals football.
Fonua-Blake, 28, is at the stage of his career where he wants to win a premiership in the next few years.
Other significant lures behind Fonua-Blake’s decision to join the Sutherland Shire club was the chance to lead an already established forward pack, to be part of Fitzgibbon’s no-nonsense culture and the chance to play with his cousin, Siosifa Talakai.
The Sharks hierarchy of chairman Steve Mace, CEO Dino Mezzatesta, GM of football Darren Mooney and Fitzgibbon secured the deal after meeting with Fonua-Blake and his agent Tyran Smith from Sportsplayer Management over the past two weeks.
Few within the game were ever aware of how serious the Sharks interest was for the 159-gamer.
Canterbury boss Phil Gould met with Fonua-Blake, while the Wests Tigers reportedly tabled a deal worth in excess of $1 million per season.
But behind the scenes the Sharks made their intentions clear to Fonua-Blake that he had the game to elevate their premiership claims.
In informing the Warriors of his decision on Monday, Fonua-Blake reaffirmed his commitment to remain at the club in 2024 and to try and win the club’s first premiership before heading to the Sharks in 2025.
The Dragons offer reportedly sat around $4.4 million over four years.
While seemingly a recruitment blow for Saints, head coach Shane Flanagan will waste no time switching the club’s focus towards other major targets including boom Cowboys forwards Heilum Luki and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
The experienced mentor has repeatedly called for patience from Dragons fans, knowing that the rebuild will take time and that importantly, he won’t be pressured into panic buying.
Fonua-Blake - who averaged a devastating 154 run metres and produced 70 tackle busts in 2023 - is considered one of the game’s leading front-rowers alongside Test prop Payne Haas and Penrith enforcer James Fisher-Harris.
The 28-year-old, who plays on average 60 minutes per game, had become the most damaging front-rower on the open market after his shock decision last month to request a release from the Warriors to return home to Sydney at the end of 2024 due to personal reasons.
The Warriors were willing to grant Fonua-Blake the release on the provision that he joined a Sydney club.
Cronulla ultimately won the race for his signature.
Due to the nature of the release, it’s also understood the Warriors have chosen to waive the 10-day cooling-off period that would normally allow them to submit a counter offer.
Several experts and commentators have already stated Fonua-Blake’s acquisition and potential impact on the Sharks is of a standard that hasn’t been sighted at Cronulla since club legend Andrew Fifita was at his peak in 2016.
Cronulla will be Fonua-Blake’s third NRL club having previously played five seasons for Manly before joining his current club the Warriors.
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