Tonga star Addin Fonua-Blake to join New Zealand Warriors

Drew Darbyshire

Tonga and Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake will join New Zealand Warriors on a three-year contract from 2021.

The 24-year-old’s acquisition follows the signing of Warrington’s Ben Murodch-Masila, Parramatta’s Kane Evans, St George Illawarra centre Euan Aitken and ex-Canberra forward Jack Murchie.

Fonua-Blake, who has made 97 appearances for the Sea Eagles, earned one cap for New Zealand in 2017 and has earned six caps for Tonga.

Warriors recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan said: “Addin’s signing could be one of the most important the club’s history.

“He is exactly what we have been looking for to bring into our squad.

“The transformation of our pack is almost complete having Addin along with Kane Evans and Ben Murdoch-Masila plus the rise of young players like Eliesa (Katoa), Jamayne (Taunoa-Brown) and Jack (Murchie) and injured players returning to complement the skill and work rate of Tohu (Harris) and Jazz (Tevaga).

“Addin has a big motor, power, the skillset and the body shape we were looking for to take our pack to a new level.

“He’s very close to a lot of players in our squad having cemented relationships with them over a number of years at test level and with the Junior Kiwis. At 24 years of age, he has the best years in front of him as a premier front-rower in the NRL.”

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NRL Addin Fonua-Blake

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