Addin Fonua-Blake

I don't know why but I think we might not be completely out of the AFB signing.
I heard Dogs pulled out as AFB was not too keen on them (Looks better if you pull out instead of Media stating you missed out like what happens to us) and if Dragons don't work out as they will need to offer a player Warriors want then we might be back in but on a lower salary..

You never know what could happen, but I agree with us pulling out for his current market price.
 
hsvjones said:
I don't know why but I think we might not be completely out of the AFB signing.
I heard Dogs pulled out as AFB was not too keen on them (Looks better if you pull out instead of Media stating you missed out like what happens to us) and if Dragons don't work out as they will need to offer a player Warriors want then we might be back in but on a lower salary..

You never know what could happen, but I agree with us pulling out for his current market price.
Click to expand...
Warriors got the guy from the Broncos so I think AFB is out the door
 
Needaname said:
Something doesn’t add up with me. Richo also mentioned on his podcast that signing Roy Asatsi was the ice breaker for Souths to start looking like a big player. He goes on to say that in recent years Souths haven’t had the forward pack needed to compete with the big guns. He puts a huge amount of emphasis on building a strong forward pack. It had to only be about the money because AFB would be our Asotasi signing for our forward pack and significantly improve ours.
On that note as he has mentioned you need to target the tier lower; I’d expect him to be hunting around every club for a bench prop that shows the potential to grow over the next couple of years to join our club.
A Royce hunt? Davey Mole, Terrell May type.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't be in a hurry to stop pursuing AFB. I think there are certain types of power forwards that can break games, in the mould of Andrew Fifita and Payne Haas.

You just can't get that kind of output from reliable metre-eater props. I'd easily pay a million for Payne Haas and I think AFB is close. Richo said himself he's arguably in the top 3 props.

Also AFB is not a type of forward we currently have, that wide-hipped power-forward with a good motor. We might have some coming in the juniors, but all the current pack are decent high-effort players.

I have a suspicion it's to do with the player himself - history, type of bloke he is, or the conditions they are asking.
 
jirskyr said:
I wouldn't be in a hurry to stop pursuing AFB. I think there are certain types of power forwards that can break games, in the mould of Andrew Fifita and Payne Haas.

You just can't get that kind of output from reliable metre-eater props. I'd easily pay a million for Payne Haas and I think AFB is close. Richo said himself he's arguably in the top 3 props.

Also AFB is not a type of forward we currently have, that wide-hipped power-forward with a good motor. We might have some coming in the juniors, but all the current pack are decent high-effort players.

I have a suspicion it's to do with the player himself - history, type of bloke he is, or the conditions they are asking.
Click to expand...
Hmmm. Was thinking similar as well.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
I called out a while back that whilst AFB makes us better it creates a massive shift in our team structure just for 1 player.

I doubt it was a Fulton v Benji situation. Richo mentioned squad management is big key rather than getting every name player. AFB signs and we have a heap of cash in the front row limiting Stef and other kids runway whilst having to find a home for Klem which would need to be agreed. If we trade someone it would be Papa probably which then creates a massive weakness in the backrow but inside defensively for our young inexperienced halves/backs.

Still think we need to go hard at Luai but AFB won’t win us more games than it would cost to bring him in & for $1m think it’s a good decision to pull the plug.
Click to expand...
Good points, don’t disagree.
Could make the point that if you are reshaping your forward pack to bring in AFB; you need to be sure your going to be close to a position to win the premiership otherwise your stuffing up your next 10 years to have potentially 1 or 2 years of success.
 
Needaname said:
It basically delivers AFB to St George and they are also forced to pay him the 1.1mil a season they’ve offered him.
Click to expand...
Exactly why Richo stuffed up.

St George doesn't go into a bidding war, they get AFB for 1.1 and not 1.2/1.3
We now go hunting for Luai, but St George know that AFB is 1.1, they can open up the other piggybank and get Luai

Most of all, we loose the chance to change our forward pack from "good" to AWESOME!

Shane Richardson has basically shown all players what cards were holding. Absolute novice move!
 
I was never too sold on AFB, ONLY because we have so many middles coming through already.

Don't sleep on Pole this year.
 
I think the Roosters are lurking in the background with AFB. Retirement of JWH in 2025 is perfect timing. They probably won’t pay as much as other clubs though.
 

Transfer bombshell as Sharks poach Warriors enforcer from under Dragons’ noses​

​

Mark St John from Fox Sports
December 19th, 2023 3:09 pm

The Sharks have secured the prized signature of Warriors enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake on a long-term deal from 2025 after his release from the Warriors.
Addin Fonua-Blake signs with the Sharks.
Addin Fonua-Blake signs with the Sharks.Source: Getty Images

The Bulldogs and Tigers fell out of the race, while the Dragons were believed to be the frontrunners, but the Sharks came from the clouds to get one over their arch rivals after being late to the party.

“The Sharks have added a major strike weapon to their forward pack from the 2025 season onwards in securing the services of highly rated international front rower Addin Fonua-Blake on a long-term contract,” the club said in a statement.

The 28-year-old Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney, played his junior football for the Mascot club and due to his family heritage has represented New Zealand and Tonga, has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Sharks for the 2025-2028 seasons.

Fonua-Blake will play the 2024 season with the Warriors, before linking with the Sharks after requesting and being granted a release from the final years of his contact with the New Zealand club.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon was understandably excited to have bolstered the class and depth of his forward pack from 2025 onwards with the addition of Fonua-Blake.

“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,” Fitzgibbon added.

A member of the NYC Team of the Year in 2014 while at the Dragons, Fonua-Blake would make his NRL debut for Manly in a match against the Parramatta Eels in Round 7 of the 2016 NRL season.

www.foxsports.com.au

‘Stealth-like’: How secret Sharks blindsided NRL rivals in $4m Fonua-Blake bombshell

‘Stealth-like’: How secret Sharks blindsided NRL rivals in $4m Fonua-Blake bombshell
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
 
He will be 30 at the start of that deal . Yikes !! That and thier halves really going backwards after origin , I mean I dunno ! Good luck to them , but I think we made the right decision . At the very least to kick the can down the road and see how our guys develop .
I’m really hesitant about giving a guy who’s known for explosive play , a 1 mil a season deal at 34 .
You give that type of money to a Payne hass who has the power and the motor . Or even Paulo I would consider it . Just about no one else gets near that IMO.
 
TopTiger said:
St George forum would be in melt down missing out on AFB and Dearden on the one day. The Sharks certainly know how to sign a player with minimum fuss, speculation and drama not like the Tigers!!
Click to expand...
Dragons Insta stooges are getting terse...bahaha
 
Deal done and delivered quickly and efficiently, unlike us. Guy was still contracted to the Warriors. No cooling off period? WTH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Total: 377 (members: 25, guests: 352)
Back
Top