Addin Fonua-Blake Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Departing Warrior Addin Fonua-Blake fronted media yesterday in Auckland but was quick to reaffirm his commitment to winning a premiership with the Auckland club. The one test Kiwi and Mate Ma'a Tonga prop will move to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2025, after a messy saga played out over his employment late last year.
"The goal every year is to win a trophy," Fonua-Blake told media on Thursday.
"It's a bittersweet pill to swallow, it being the last (season) here, but I want to make sure I do everything right, leave no stone unturned and leave this club in a good place.
"I've got a lot to give, and I owe this club a lot."
Fonua-Blake also confirmed he'd addressed the issue with his teammates when he re-joined the squad for pre-season training.
"The Warriors isn't about me. I didn't want to come in and be the talking point of the team, but once I addressed it I felt like we moved on. I feel now like no one can remember I'm going."
Fonua-Blake also dispelled the notion that he wanted an immediate release from his Warriors contract, saying that came from a "miscommunication".
"I never wanted to go straight away," he said.
"This was always going to be my final year here…I'm glad it's all behind me."
While Warriors coach Andrew Webster has started to plan for the future, it will be interesting to see if Fonua-Blake can put up the same phenomenal numbers he did in 2023. He made a career-best 714 tackles, scored nine tries and ran for 4,453 metres at an average of 171 per game - career best stats and good enough for Fonua-Blake to be named in the Dally M team of the year.
"I've always got confidence in myself. Hopefully Tohu (Harris) and Dylan (Walker) can put me in a few more holes this year…the harder you work, the luckier you get."
Webster said he appreciated Fonua-Blake fronting the issue with the team.
"You can't move forward if you don't know what the future is, and you can't be present and do what your job today is. It was super important that it was cleared up, the group's handled it great," he said.
"All he wants to do is win," Webster added when asked about Fonua-Blake's commitment.
"He loves the club and he loves his team mates. Circumstances are what they are…everyone's handled it really well."
Warriors Dally M 2023 winners - Prop of the year Addin Fonua-Blake, halfback of the year Shaun Johnson and wing of the year Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Photo: NRL Photos / www.photosport.nz
Webster also hinted that Fonua-Blake's workload will likely be taken up by new signing Kurt Capewell and the potential movement of Marata Niukore to a middle forward role.
"Marata knows it's clear that I want him to play both roles (edge and middle)," Webster said.
"Last year it was always our plan, we just never really got to execute it…Marata is 'I'm going to own this right this second' and put everything he's got into one effort."
It is slightly ironic that the Warriors' first opponent this season is the Sharks on 8 March at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart. Fonua-Blake admitted that it will feel "a bit weird" after the long discussions he'd had with coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
"I had a few meetings with Craig and a few boys over there, I wanted to go to a club that would be a like-for-like with the Warriors. Craig is a man's man, I feel like I got a real connection with him.
"But come round one, the Warriors is the only one that matters to me."