Fonua-Blake often courted controversy when he was younger and credits a move to the Warriors in 2021 as reviving his career and getting him on the straight and narrow.
“When you’re younger you get your priorities mixed up and I had to grow up a bit too,” Fonua-Blake said.
In 2020, Fonua-Blake was sanctioned by the NRL for using an ableist slur.
Two years later he was warned by the NRL for celebrating with a hand sign that appeared to be a show of support for ex-Manly teammate Manase Fainu, who was jailed for stabbing a youth leader at a church dance in 2019.
In 2024, Fonua-Blake was stood down for one game by the Warriors for failing to show up for coach Andrew Webster’s post-match address.