“He also knew family came first, and was one of the guys who came and told me if that was my decision [to leave Sydney], you need to do it.
“It definitely might have been a harder path [without him]. I’m grateful for the time I spent with him.”
Addin Fonua-Blake learnt a lot about leadership from Daly Cherry-Evans when they were together at Manly.Credit: NRL Photos, Getty
Fonua-Blake has not only proven a handful on the park, but has emerged as a wonderful leader for the younger Sharks.
Coach Craig Fitzgibbon praised Fonua-Blake’s selfless performance on Saturday in the win over Canberra after the front-rower was forced to play extra minutes when Tom Hazelton was ruled out with concussion.
Now 29, Fonua-Blake has never been one to call out rivals, nor has he been targeted by rival packs. As Cronulla prop Toby Rudolf rightfully asked on Monday: “Would you call out Addin?”
Former Warriors forward Jazz Tevaga revealed on the This Warriors Life podcast last year how Fonua-Blake once refused to shake hands with Penrith’s Moses Leota when they clashed in a 2023 qualifying final, and wanted to settle their dispute “in the car park”.
Fonua-Blake laughed when told that story, but denied it had happened.
“That’s all fiction,” Fonua-Blake said. “‘Jazza’ [Tevaga] must have had a beer or two before that podcast because I don’t know what he was talking about.
Loading
“Sometimes in the game you need to take things personally. I tried to get our team on the front foot that day [in Penrith], but we ended up getting towelled up, so it didn’t work out well for me. I’ll let my actions do the talking.”
Rudolf said Fonua-Blake was the “most complete front-rower I’ve ever played with”, and while he was never intimidated by him when he played against him, “I was by his ability, and maybe that’s the impression he gives off to other teams”.
Win one of 10 double passes to the 2025 NRL grand final. Click here for details and to enter the competition, exclusive to Sydney Morning Herald subscribers.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now