The New Zealand Warriors have barred their star forward Addin Fonua-Blake from playing this weekend after he hit the team with a shocking snub after their upset win against Penrith last Sunday.
In a move that left Warriors officials furious, the 28-year-old prop refused to stay in the dressing room after the victory over the Panthers and missed the post-match speech from their coach as well as the traditional victory song.
‘New Zealand Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake has been stood down from Sunday’s Indigenous Round match against the Dolphins on Sunday following a breach of club standards,’ the club said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.
‘Head coach Andrew Webster said Fonua-Blake had removed himself from the dressing room after the 22-20 win over Penrith and wasn’t present for the post-match team address or the team song.
This doesn’t meet our standards and Addin accepts full responsibility for his behaviour,” he said.’
One of the game’s best front-rowers, Fonua-Blake is due to switch to Cronulla next season on a four-year contract rumoured to be worth $1million a season.
The news – which broke last December – came as a shock to Warriors fans after the prop joined the team for the 2021 season after getting a release from Manly two years before his contract with them was due to end, citing his desire to return home to New Zealand with his young family as the reason for the move.
He was granted a release on compassionate grounds by the Warriors despite having three years left on his contract, and was also chased by the Bulldogs and Tigers.
His ban from the Warriors is sure to lead to speculation that he wants out of the club even earlier than currently planned.
Fonua-Blake’s surprise switch from Manly to Auckland prompted wild rumours, which he addressed in December 2020.
‘I heard my manager was doing under-the-table deals, which is completely false,’ he said.
‘I heard some bikies were after me, which was news to me … I heard I only wanted to leave for more money. All of it is untrue.
‘I wanted a fresh start for myself and my family. I didn’t leave Manly on bad terms.
‘I was in no trouble – no trouble at all. I laughed at some of the stories.’
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