Sharks star vows to 'step up' and help marquee man

Sharks forwards have vowed to take some of the workload off marquee signing Addin Fonua-Blake to ensure the big man is fresh for the big end-of-season matches. The former Warriors prop has been a great acquisition for the Sharks, leading the way up front across the opening nine weeks of the competition. In a tight win over the Eels in Magic Round, Fonua-Blake ran for 140 metres with the ball - more than any Cronulla forward. But his teammates realise there is a chance of burnout over a long season and want to ease the burden on the giant front-rower. "Addin has been massive for us - on and off the field," in-form back-rower Briton Nikora told Wide World of Sports. "His leadership is proving a real asset and he is great with the young blokes, but we can also use him better - we know that. "We don't want to rely on him to do everything and want to try to keep him fresh and fit for when we really need him in the big games. "It's up to the rest of us in the forwards to step up and not make him have to push himself so hard." Nikora is in career-best form for the Sharks, running off well-timed passes from halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall to create havoc for defences. "I've been playing with these guys for a few years now and we know each other's games," the Kiwi star said. "They have the ball skills and it's up to me to run the right lines, but I'm happy with the way things are going." Cronulla face a big test of their credentials against Manly at Brookvale on Sunday. "That's a hard place to win and they have a good team so we will need to be at our best," Nikora said.

Finals race heats up after wahs win

The Warriors are right back in the hunt for finals footy after a win over a weakened Broncos side - and boast arguably the most destructive bookends in the race for the eight. Props Addin Fonua-Blake and Mitch Barnett were outstanding as the Wahs won the battle up front in heavy conditions, combining for 337 metres between them. The pair will prove a handful for any team in the crucial games to come and both have size, speed and the ability to offload. They set the stage for a desperately needed win after last week's disaster on the Goldy, coming up with 248 metres in the first half. That gave the Wahs the momentum - and it was enough to ensure they claimed a vital two points.

Major concern for star after 'two wasted years'

Two players likely to be playing their final seasons for the Warriors hold the key to the club breaking its long premiership drought. Veteran halfback Shaun Johnson - who turns 34 this year and is uncontracted for 2025 at this point - has the brilliance to get the Warriors to the promised land. And prop Addin Fonua-Blake, who is quitting the club next year to return to Australia with the Sharks for personal reasons - has the grunt up front to subdue rival packs in the big games. Johnson was superb last season, scoring and creating tries, but is entering his 14th season in the big league. Few players hit 15 years - but he has the professionalism and dedication to go the extra mile despite the wear and tear on his body… time will tell. Fonua-Blake is rated among the premier front-rowers in rugby league and was a big factor in the Warriors' shock rise to the top four last season. His decision to return to Australia next year is a body blow and he will be difficult to replace.

Warriors coach responds to looming AFB exit

Warriors coach Andrew Webster has given his blessing to departing star Addin Fonua-Blake, with the representative enforcer set to join the Sharks in 2025 in a blockbuster deal.After requesting a release from the final year of his contract on compassionate grounds, the 28-year-old sent shockwaves through the NRL on Tuesday after inking a deal with Cronulla.Despite being heavily linked to his former club, St George Illawarra, Fonua-Blake opted to sign with the Dragons' cross-town rivals, adding further misery to the struggling Red V outfit.Fonua-Blake will remain in Auckland next season and in an interview with SEN radio, Webster was full of praise for the Tongan international and reiterated his commitment to the Warriors for their upcoming campaign."I've loved what he's given to the club ... I love what he wants to give to us this season as well, Addin is as motivated as I've seen," he said."It's been really obvious to me in all my discussions with Addin and Ana, his wife, [they have] made it clear that it's not about not loving here."They absolutely love it, they love the club and the country. They've got a real family thing that they need to attend to, they need to get home and be there."That's hard to take but we've got to be supportive of that, we support Addin and his family 100 per cent."Fonua-Blake's departure leaves the club without a marquee forward for 2025 and beyond, with chief executive Cameron George keen to negotiate a player swap with the Sharks."The arrangement excludes a player swap but we will continue to consider our options," he said.Braden Hamlin-Uele comes off contract in the Shire at the end of next season and could head over to New Zealand, offering the Warriors a genuine like-for-like replacement for Fonua-Blake in the middle of the field.Jack Williams and Jesse Colquhuon are the only other NRL-level forwards available at this stage at the end of 2024, with cult hero Toby Rudolf recently signing an extension.

Rival team joins race to lure departing Warrior

Another club has reportedly joined the line to make an offer to departing Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake, with Cronulla discussing a possible big money splash for the Tonga international.The Sydney Morning Herald reports along with the Tigers, Dragons and Bulldogs, the Sharks are also seriously considering an approach to lure one of the NRL's hottest free agents.It's understood Cronulla has not yet made a formal approach, but is mulling the possibility along with the NRL's bottom three clubs."Why wouldn't any club consider a player like Addin? He'd be a valuable asset to any team," he said.The Sharks have confidence in their young forwards and believe they can evolve into better players but also see an opportunity to snare the star prop.Since all the other suitors are positioned low on the ladder, the Sharks believe being a finals team can give them an a huge advantage in convincing him to make the move.The Warriors have already signed Broncos veteran Kurt Capewell to an immediate switch while Fonua-Blake is contracted to stay in New Zealand until the end of 2024,Fonua-Blake, 28, was named alongside Payne Haas at prop in the Dally M Team of the Year and will have a steep asking price, with the forward set to can command one of the highest salaries for a forward in NRL history.

Crisis meeting called after $1m star's exit plea

The Warriors aren't about to give up on the game's most expensive prop Addin Fonua-Blake without a fight.The giant front-rower has put the club in a difficult position, requesting a release from his rich deal on compassionate grounds to return to Sydney.It is believed that Fonua-Blake's parents, who live in Sydney, are in poor health and the star forward wants to be closer to them.One official from a Sydney club interested in signing Fonua-Blake told Wide World of Sports, "It's no guarantee they will release him"."They want an equivalent trade. There are not many options available to them."They are Zooming with Fonua-Blake from England tonight (Thursday) and the general feeling is that he will stay in New Zealand for at least another 12 months."The Dragons have already put up their hand for Fonua-Blake, while several other clubs are also keen to secure his services.The Warriors put out a brief statement on Thursday stating "chief executive Cameron George said the club is considering the request".

Up the Wahs movement making waves

The Warriors' superb run in 2023 has had a stunning response at grass roots level.The club is having an SG Ball trial in the middle of next month - and has already had over 1300 applications from young hopefuls - from both New Zealand and Australia.Gone are the days when every young Kiwi footballer dreamed of becoming an All Black - the Warriors' stunning efforts this year have captured the imagination of the players of the future.

Addin(g) up the metres

Addin Fonua-Blake is proving himself one of the best middle forwards in the NRL in the early rounds of 2023.The big prop was outstanding for the Warriors in their 22-14 win over the out-of-sorts Cowboys on Saturday afternoon.Fonua-Blake set the tone for the game, scoring the opening try after just three minutes, and terrorised the Cowboys pack all afternoon.He finished with 149 running metres in 46 devastating minutes and is spearheading the Warriors' shock charge up the ladder with his fearsome presence.