Dragons want Fonua-Blake if Warriors grant him early release
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St George Illawarra are the early frontrunners for Addin Fonua-Blake’s services after the superstar prop requested an immediate release from his deal with the New Zealand Warriors.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has confirmed the club has the salary cap space and the appetite to lure Fonua-Blake back to his junior club from next season if he was granted a release from his deal at the Warriors on compassionate grounds.
Addin Fonua-Blake has requested an immediate release from the Warriors.Credit: Getty
Fonua-Blake is on a deal worth around $1 million a season and the Dragons are desperate to add some starch and firepower to their forward pack.
The new Dragons coach confirmed the club wanted to bring Fonua-Blake, who wants to return to Australia to be closer to his parents, back to the Red V.
“I’m more than interested,” Flanagan told this masthead. “He has some history here with the club. He played under Dean Young as a junior. I’m always looking for quality players and he’s a very good one.”
The Warriors issued a statement confirming that Fonua-Blake had requested a release. Chief executive Cameron George said the club is considering the request.
Shaun Johnson celebrates with Fonua-Blake earlier in the year.Credit: Getty
The Bulldogs are also on the lookout for a premier front-rower but are unlikely to have the salary cap space to fit him into the squad in 2024 without making adjustments to their roster given the number of signings they have made for next season.
It comes as the Dragons have tabled a three-year deal to keep centre Moses Suli at the club until the end of 2027.
Suli, who has made 39 appearances for the joint-venture after stints at Wests Tigers and Manly, is one of more than a dozen Dragons currently off contract.
The Tongan international, who has been linked to a return to Wests Tigers, made history in 2017 by signing a deal that made him the highest-paid player yet to play in the NRL.
In March, Suli told this masthead that he felt at home at the Dragons and had played a key role in bringing young gun Viliami Fifita to the club.
“I love the club and the loyal fans,” Suli said at the time.
This masthead also reported earlier this week that St George Illawarra were also prepared to shell out almost $5 million in a bid to prise superstar Joseph Manu from the Roosters.
The Dragons privately expect Manu to remain at the Roosters but want to give the Kiwi international something to think about.
The Dragons are prepared to offer Manu a seven-figure salary and the chance to play fullback if the star centre is serious about a change of scene.
“From what I see when he plays fullback, his involvement is enormous. I think he could make a real fist of it,” Flanagan told this masthead. “I’d love to have him, but I just don’t know if he’s going to move. In the end, it’s not us, it’s not the Roosters, it’s just what Joey wants to do.
“I know he loves the Roosters, I know Nick [Roosters chairman Nick Politis] loves him. Does he want to leave and have a crack at fullback? He obviously won’t get to play too much there.”
The Dragons are also in the process of trying to retain their off-contract stars. To that end, the club offered Moses Suli a three-year contract extension just days before he officially became a free agent on November 1.
Suli, who has made 39 appearances for the joint-venture after stints at Wests Tigers and Manly, is one of more than a dozen Dragons currently off contract. The Tongan international, who has been linked to a return to Wests Tigers, made history in 2017 by signing a deal that made him the highest-paid player yet to play in the NRL.
In March, Suli told this masthead that he felt at home at the Dragons and had played a key role in bringing young gun Viliami Fifita to the club. “I love the club and the loyal fans,” Suli said at the time.
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