- The New Zealand Warriors have been left with the low star this week
- It comes after he hit the team with a shocking snub in the last match.
The New Zealand Warriors have banned their star forward Addin Fonua-Blake from playing this weekend after he hit the team with a shocking snub following their surprise win against Penrith last Sunday.
In a move that infuriated Warriors officials, the 28-year-old prop refused to stay in the locker room after the win over the Panthers and missed his coach’s postgame speech as well as the traditional victory song. .
“New Zealand Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake has been removed from Sunday’s Indigenous Round match against the Dolphins following a breach of club standards,” the club said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.
Fonua-Blake helped the Warriors to a surprise victory over Penrith last Sunday (pictured) but what he did after the siren sounded got him into big trouble with the team.
‘Head coach Andrew Webster said Fonua-Blake had left the dressing room after the 22-20 win over Penrith and was not present for the post-match team speech or team song.
“This does not meet our standards and Addin accepts full responsibility for his behavior,” he said.
Fonua-Blake, one of the best forwards in the game, will move to Cronulla next season on a four-year deal rumored to be worth $1 million per season.
The news, which broke last December, came as a surprise to Warriors fans after the prop joined the team for the 2021 season after gaining a release from Manly two years before his contract with them ended, citing his desire to return home. New Zealand with his young family as the reason for the move.
The New Zealand international rejected a $4.5 million offer from his former club St George before signing with the Sharks.
The 28-year-old (pictured during last Sunday’s win over Penrith) is rated as one of the best forwards in the game, and his move to the Sharks for 2025 made headlines last year.
Fonua-Blake (pictured with wife Ana at the 2023 Dally M Awards) also caused a stir when he split from Manly in 2020 despite having two years left on his contract, citing his desire to return to New Zealand with his youngster family.
The Warriors granted him a compassionate release despite having three years left on his contract, and he was also pursued by the Bulldogs and Tigers.
His ban from the Warriors is sure to spark speculation that he wants out of the club even sooner than currently planned.
Fonua-Blake’s surprise move from Manly to Auckland sparked wild rumours, which he addressed in December 2020.
“I heard that my manager was making backroom deals, which is completely false,” he said.
‘I heard some motorcyclists were chasing me, which was news to me… I heard he just wanted to leave for more money. All this is false.
‘I wanted a new start for myself and my family. I didn’t leave Manly on bad terms.
“I had no problems, no problems at all.” I laughed at some of the stories.’