New Zealand Warriors star Addin Fonua-Blake has chosen Cronulla as him new NRL home beyond 2024.
That the world-class front-rower would leave the Warriors to return to Sydney on compassionate grounds has been known for some time, but his club of choice has until now been the subject of much speculation.
But news emerged on Tuesday that the Sharks had pulled off the ultimate heist of securing Fonua-Blake, despite rival interest from St George-Illawarra, Wests Tigers and Canterbury.
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He is set to join Cronulla on a four-year deal believed to be worth up to $1 million per season.
It’s understood the Tigers and Bulldogs’ offers were inferior to that of the Dragons, which was more lucrative than the Sharks’ offer that the player eventually accepted.
The Tongan international was sold on the belief that the Sharks are in the window to challenge for a premiership, a dream that the Tigers, Dragons and Bulldogs — who occupied the bottom three spots on the 2023 NRL ladder — could not so easily sell.
He was also excited by the chance to play with his cousin, Siosifa Talakai, within Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon’s celebrated no-fuss culture.
“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.”
Having offloaded playmaker Mott Moylan and utility Connor Tracey ahead of next season, the Sharks had enough space in their salary cap to make their play for Fonua-Blake.
Fonua-Blake is believed to have told his Warriors teammates of the decision on Tuesday.
Photos emerged of Canterbury boss Phil Gould meeting with Fonua-Blake in recent weeks, but the veteran NRL figure was unable to get his man over the line.
For the Dragons it was a twist of the knife mere hours after North Queensland playmaker Tom Dearden had also rejected a move to instead ink a five-year contract extension.
The Dragons had set the pace to lure 22-year-old Dearden south on a big-money deal.
But Dearden has opted to remain true to his Queensland roots and secure his future until the end of the 2029 season.
“This is a great day for our club, locking in one of the most talented young playmakers in rugby league to remain in a Cowboys jersey until the end of the decade,” Cowboys general manager of football Micheal Luck said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Today’s announcement finalises what we believe is a solid foundation for our club to build around, with Tom, Scott Drinkwater and Reece Robson all locked into long-term deals.
“We were always confident Tom wanted to remain part of our club because he has thrived in our environment.
“His improvement as a player has been considerable since he first arrived in 2021, and we believe he’s only scratched the surface.”
– With AAP.