Warriors v Bulldogs: Departing star Addin Fonua-Blake confident of Kiwi club’s future success as goodbye beckons

While his own future might lie elsewhere, Addin Fonua-Blake believes the Warriors’ future is in safe hands.

After moving to secure a release at the end of 2023, Fonua-Blake’s time with the Warriors is almost up, after signing for the Cronulla Sharks in 2025.

With their NRL finals hopes ended by last week’s defeat to the Manly Sea Eagles, the 28-year-old has a maximum of two games left in Warriors colours.

Named to play against the Canterbury Bulldogs at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Friday, Fonua-Blake’s time with the Warriors could finish away to the Sharks next week.

 

Despite the messy exit, though, Fonua-Blake’s time with the Warriors has been exceptional.

After making his name with the Sea Eagles, Fonua-Blake arrived at the Kiwi club in 2021, and spent the first two seasons of his Warriors career based in Australia during their Covid exile.

However, 2023′s return to New Zealand got the best out of the front-rower.

Fonua-Blake’s 26 games last year yielded 17 wins, and a career-best season that saw him named as the NRL’s best prop, alongside Brisbane Broncos rival Payne Haas.

And while his numbers this year haven’t quite hit the same heights amid the Warriors’ struggles, Fonua-Blake still leads the NRL in post-contact metres (1512), and is third for run metres (3682) – the most by a forward.

Now, as he prepares to say goodbye to Go Media Stadium in the Warriors’ final home game of 2024, Fonua-Blake is optimistic about how the club will fare once he leaves.

“It’s definitely helped me grow, coming to the Warriors,” he said. “We’ve had some difficult times, but I feel like the club’s in good stead.

“Even though we didn’t get the results we want this year, the group of kids coming through and the core of older boys staying on next year, it feels like the club’s not too far away from success.”