‘I am fully committed’: Addin Fonua-Blake set to stay with the Warriors next season before reassessing his future

There’s been a major twist in Addin Fonua-Blake’s future, with the star forward set to remain with the Warriors in 2024 despite asking for an immediate release from the club on Thursday.

Fonua-Blake still has three years left to run on his current deal but told the club he wanted to return to Sydney on compassionate grounds.

Clubs began scrambling to see if they had enough space in the salary cap to sign the Dally M Prop of the Year, but a meeting on Thursday night between Fonua-Blake and the Warriors calmed things down, with the rep star set to stay in New Zealand for at least the next 12 months before reassessing his future.

“My only motivation for this move is for family reasons,” Fonua-Blake said.

“But I really want all Warriors fans to know that I am fully committed to getting into the 2024 season.

“I can’t wait to get back to training with my teammates with the aim to go even further in the upcoming season.”

The 27-year-old is one of the most important players at the Warriors and is a key reason why they returned to the finals this season and helped the New Zealand public fall in love again with the club.

He was the highest-paid prop forward in the NRL last season, but his price tag won’t stop several clubs from going after him, with Dragons coach Shane Flanagan confirming he is interested in signing Fonua-Blake given he played his junior footy with the Red V.

The Bulldogs are also in desperate need of an elite middle forward having lost several big men but will have to wait another year if they want to sign Fonua-Blake.

The Tongan star finished the 2023 season with the most running metres among front-rowers, while he also scored nine tries and had 35 offloads in his best year since he moved across from the Sea Eagles.