My best is yet to come: AFB's warning as Sharks eye killer instinct
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“I can get even better this year.”
It’s the declaration that should send shivers down the spines of forward packs around the NRL and give hope to Sharks fans in the Shire and beyond.
Addin Fonua-Blake, the 2025 Dally M Prop of the Year and one of the recruits of the season, is determined to take his game to another level in 2026.
It’s a prospect few considered possible, given the remarkable stats he produced last year. Fonua-Blake led the league in post-contact metres, topped the props run metres tally and added a new dimension to the Cronulla attack.
But the Tongan skipper is here to make the seemingly impossible possible.
Addin Fonua-Blake sets the tone up front
“I’m looking to be better this year,” Fonua-Blake told NRL.com. “Father time is catching up with me but I’m going to put my best foot forward, regardless of how I feel.
“I’m keen to keep going and find a new level."
The Sharks went all out in their efforts to lure Fonua-Blake to Cronulla when he came off contract in November 2023.
While they had to wait more than a year for the prop to arrive, it was certainly worth it.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon watched on in awe as Fonua-Blake instantly lifted the ceiling of how good Cronulla could be.
“He was open in the fact he just wanted to have his head down, bum up and earn the respect of his teammates,” Fitzgibbon said. “He sure did that.
“Blayke [Brailey] and he took out our awards last year and they were incredible. They both played the whole season and led the attack.
“Now he’s earned the respect, Addin has stepped up with his leadership. He understands the combinations and the nuances to the way we do things. It was a big change for him, moving back home from New Zealand.
“I thought he had a good year, he was so reliable and consistent. If he says he can get better, I can see him going up another gear.”
Match: Sharks v Titans
Round 1 -
home Team
Sharks
away Team
Titans
Venue: Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Fonua-Blake will start his second season at the Sharks with a showdown with the Titans’ representative-laden pack on Saturday evening.
The prop will go face to face with Queensland stars Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, with the battle up front set to go a long way to determining the winner at Ocean Protect Stadium.
While Fonua-Blake lays the foundation up front, it's his teammates who are the biggest beneficiaries of his impact.
Brailey had the best season of his career and developed into a dynamic ball-running hooker. Halves Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall had more time and space to attack and even the other middle forwards were able to carry with more punch through the middle because Fonua-Blake was drawing the attention of so many defenders.
It’s a recipe the Sharks are looking to recreate in 2026, as they chase the grand final berth that has so far eluded this squad.
Fonua-Blake recognises the importance of his role on the field but said it’s not until he catches a breather that he fully appreciates the impact he has on games.
Addin Fonua-Blake Try
“I don’t focus on stats or trying to be the top run metres, I like to focus on putting my hand up for the tough carries coming out of our end,” Fonua-Blake said. “That’s where most of those metres come and if that’s my job, that’s my job. I love doing that for the team.
“The continuous reps that you have to put in make this position so tough. You have kick chase, kick pressure, hit ups, running lead [lines] for the outside backs. Someone’s got to do it and while it’s one of the hardest positions, it’s definitely one of the most rewarding.”
While he boasts an unmatched ability to make metres and break tackles, Fonua-Blake is not the biggest offloader.
Instead, he possesses a skill Fitzgibbon views as both more challenging and more important for the Sharks attack.
A dominant ball carrier, Fonua-Blake draws in multiple defenders every time he touches the ball. He can then pass close to the defensive line to teammates who have additional space to attack.
“He’s got the ability to offload but he’s got an excellent pre-line pass,” Fitzgibbon said. “There’s post-line, which would be an offload, and then there’s pre-line, which is an early pass but you don’t get a stat for that.
“He had a decent number of pre-line passes last year. We don’t tell him not to offload but he has more pre-line passes. It’s hard for him to offload because he’s got people jumping all over him.
“He gets between the defenders and usually when you get between the defenders they are up the top holding his upper body. He’s getting post-contact metres because those defenders are hanging on and he’s driving his legs.”
Sharks v Titans: Round 1
Fonua-Blake knows his honeymoon period at the Sharks is over. After producing a dominant season in 2025, the expectations will be even higher this year.
Having made two-straight preliminary finals, the bar is already incredibly high. Anything less than a grand final appearance will be considered a disappointment.
It’s a high-pressure position to be in, but Fonua-Blake is ready for the challenge.
“We know what went wrong and what we need to improve this year,” he said. “It’s not easy but we need to start the way we finished and the boys are confident if we build on that platform.”
