Addin Fonua-Blake has finally ended one of the longest-running transfer sagas of the off-season, with the Tongan international prop set to join the Cronulla Sharks for 2025.
He has agreed to a four-year deal estimated to be worth just shy of $1m per season and Cronulla have got their man without having to give up someone in return, with no players being announced as moving to Fonua-Blake’s current club, the New Zealand Warriors.
The player told teammates his decision at training today and the Sharks later posted on social media to celebrate his arrival.
It is a huge coup for Craig Fitzgibbon and the Sharks, who have barely made a signing in the last 18 months, but had a stated desire for an elite big man to help them break their finals hoodoo.
Conversely, the move is a second kick in the guts for former Sharkies coach Shane Flanagan at the Dragons, with his prime target opting to move to St George Illawarra’s biggest rivals on the same day that a key playmaker option, Tom Dearden, announced an extension with the Cowboys.
The Bulldogs and Dragons had been frontrunners for AFB’s signature, but after some swift salary cap moving, Cronulla emerged as a viable option.
They released Matt Moylan to the Super League and Connor Tracey to Canterbury to free up space.
Fonua-Blake had previously shocked the Warriors by asking for an immediate release to return to Sydney to be closer to his family, but the club were able to convince him to stay for one season more to allow adequate time to find a replacement.
The Dragons were thought to be frontrunners has they had salary cap available and Fonua-Blake grew up in the area, but at 28, the player has chosen the most likely option to deliver a Premiership late in his career.
The Tigers were also in the race, but pulled out to prioritise the signing of Penrith star Jarome Luai, who is expected to join in the coming days.
Canterbury GM of Football Phil Gould had been photographed meeting with the prop and was reported to have tabled a $1m per season offer, but it proved insufficient to convince him to sign.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Move to Melbourne for family reasons, move to Brisbane for family reasons, move to Canberra for family reasons, move to Townsville for family reasons, move to NZ for family reasons, move to RU for family reasons ? With the Tigers pulling out, the Bulldogs just fanning the fire and the Dragons still with the "fish rotting from the head stink", it only left the Sharks
Panthers
Roar Rookie
If AFB is Cronulla’s new $1 million dollar player. Doesn’t that kind of limit what they can pay for any other outstanding player, that might come their way? Clubs now usually have that one player, who they’ll pay that kind of money too, but it’s mostly a play maker. They already have Hynes on about $1 million per season, that’ll keep him there until 2029. There’s no way that they can go out & pay really big money for any other player. ( Not unless they are the Bulldogs & a couple of other clubs of course. ) :laughing:
The Barry
Roar Guru
TBH I’d sort of forgotten about him and was thinking more between BHU, Finucane, Rudolf, Hazleton
The Barry
Roar Guru
I thought BHU was going to be better than he’s turned out so far. He’s almost 29 so maybe not head of improvement left. Probably a great 3rd or 4th rotation prop but not a starter Rudolf as well. He was a bit of a late bloomer but I thought he’d be better, particularly with the game moving towards more mobile props Like most, I like Hazleton but again probably a 3 or 4 in the rotation player. Haven’t seen a heap of Colquhuon Yeah, Kaufusi hasn’t been great Having said all that I’d give my left one for any of those blokes to be in the blue and white. That’s left ear lobe. What did you think I meant? :laughing: :laughing:
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Looks like a good signing for the Sharks. This year will be interesting with AFB to see if he has matured. He was outstanding last year, but if his output dips and his interest level falls a way early, it might be a sign that he is still the man child that he was at Manly. But if he can act and perform like a professional for the Warriors, even with his next deal stitched up, that will be an excellent sign for Cronulla.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
Kaufusi for mine. He's lazy.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Except its 2 players salaries for one player
souvalis
Roar Rookie
If he can win the club a premiership which Andrew basically did he'd have earnt a 2 year 'carry'.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
The Barry: Jesse Colquhoun, and BHU are both off-contract at the end of 2024. Oregon Kaufusi has a Mutual Option for 2025. So, dropping one of those three would be the easiest course of action. Jesse is only 22 and has upside. BHU is steady. Oregon has been disappointing. Unless Oregon comes good this year, he will be the guy without a chair (assuming no other prop goes wild and gets himself sacked for doing unspeakable things - always a possibility with NRL players !) Failing that, Craig Fitzgibbon has a quiet word ("Retirement") with Dale Finucane. Dale's pay drops to $350K in 2025, and he might fancy finishing a year early, especially if the club disguises the reason as being "medical" . No-one at NRL Central will dare argue if Finucane utters the C word. (That's "concussion". What did you think I meant ? Go and wash your mind out !)
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
I agree. The Dragons have got a few positions to shore up over the next three years and don't need to get over excited about just one of those positions at the moment. He would be a long way from a Saviour for the Dragons. They've got a lot of problems. By the way, despite my cynicism, I do hope he juices up the Sharks. The Comp is the better for a strong Sharks side in my humble opinion.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
Toby AND Jesse. Toby for what he offers now, and Jesse because he's only 22 and looks like a huge prospect PLUS whatever extra money they will have to pay to cover the salaries of the two guys over and above what they save from AFB. And that is the problem - salary cap spend at both clubs is probably not going to support giving Toby and Jesse a pay increase - which they would want to locate.
Tony
Roar Guru
Probably optimistic to think that he'll see his contract out
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
The Sharks paid $600K a season for Oregon Kaufusi, who can't even crack a bench spot. He is signed for 2024, with a Mutual Option for 2025. The club will not want to take up its side of the option, so in 2025 OK walks out and AFB walks in. Hence the extra cost to the Sharks will be only $400K, even if AFB is on a million. Looked at that way, the salary is not too extravagant.
andrew
Roar Rookie
That’s more than what Cronulla signed him for apparently. Just goes to show it’s not all about the money. He’s a great signing for the Sharks.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Reports say Dragons were knocked back offering $4.4 mill for 4 years.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
You are correct
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Lot of money for a prop.
mudchooks
Roar Rookie
Not a sharks fan but fair play, this is exactly the type of player that their squad is missing and puts them in the frame for 2025… would be concerned about the final 2 years of the deal though not sure I’d want my club carry a 32-33 year old front rower for $1m a season. Would have thought Cronulla had learned their lesson from Andrew Fifita.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Penrith props helped them into 4 GF’s in a row . None of the props there are paid a million per season. Mind you, given the sums offered up for other players, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see some club offer them a million. :laughing:
andrew
Roar Rookie
As much as I would have liked to see him back at Saints HY, I look on the bright side and think the Dragons have saved forking out $1m a year, money which can be better spent elsewhere in the cap.