Addin Fonua-Blake

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Addin Fonua-Blake is a professional rugby league prop who plays for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. He has represented both Tonga and New Zealand at international level and previously played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the New Zealand Warriors.

Early life and junior career
Fonua-Blake was born in Meadowbank, New South Wales, Australia, and is of New Zealand and Tongan descent. He played junior rugby league for the Mascot Jets and spent time in the youth systems of South Sydney, Parramatta and St. George Illawarra. He captained St. George Illawarra’s NYC team in 2014 and was named in the 2014 NYC Team of the Year.

NRL career
He faced a disciplinary setback in 2015, when his contract with St. George Illawarra was terminated after pleading guilty to assault. He then trained with Manly and, after completing an off-field development program, made his NRL debut for Manly in 2016. He quickly established himself, winning the Ken Arthurson Rookie of the Year award in 2016 and going on to play regularly for Manly through 2020.

Move to the Warriors
In 2021 Fonua-Blake joined the New Zealand Warriors. He played for them across the 2021–2024 seasons, with some injuries and strong periods of form. The club had mixed results, including a finals appearance in 2023 and a 13th-place finish in 2024. He was granted a compassionate release to return to Sydney late in 2024 but chose to finish the season with the Warriors.

Cronulla debut
Fonua-Blake signed with the Cronulla Sharks for 2025. He made his club debut in Round 1 of the 2025 season, scoring a try in a 28-22 loss to Penrith. He went on to play 27 games in 2025 as Cronulla finished fifth and reached the preliminary final, where they were defeated by Melbourne.

International representative career
Fonua-Blake has international experience with both Tonga and New Zealand. He has played for Tonga since 2017 and also earned a cap for New Zealand in 2017. He was part of Tonga’s squad for the Rugby League World Cup campaign.

Off-field note
In 2015, he admitted to assaulting his partner, was fined, required counselling, and his contract with St. George Illawarra was terminated.