Latest news with #AddinFonuaBlake

‘Challenge I'm keen to accept': Naufahu Whyte has become a ‘beast' in 2025

News.com.au

15-07-2025

Sport
News.com.au

‘Challenge I'm keen to accept': Naufahu Whyte has become a ‘beast' in 2025

Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte hopes that one day TV networks can include front-row rivalries in their pre-game graphics instead of focusing on playmakers, but he's more than happy to let his footy do the talking when he goes up against one of the big dogs in the NRL on Friday night. Whyte is in career-best form and was recently rewarded with an extension that'll keep him at the club until the end of the 2029 season. He plays in a pack with State of Origin representatives Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu, but the Kiwis star has arguably been the club's best prop this year after getting the chance to replace legend Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the starting side. He's relished battles up front against Payne Haas and James Fisher-Harris, but he now has his eyes set on Sharks superstar Addin Fonua-Blake when the teams come together on Friday night in a game that has major finals implications. 'My respect goes out to all the top dogs out there because front row isn't an easy position. Players that do it every week by leading the pack deserve their respect,' he said. 'It's always good to go up against the likes of Payne Haas, Joe Tapine, James Fisher-Harris, Terrell May and now it's another challenge with Addin Fonua-Blake. 'Much respect to him, but when I cross that white line, it's a challenge for me and a challenge I'm keen to accept.' Young forwards like Taylor Losalu, Blake Steep and Salesi Foketi have played key roles for the Roosters in 2025, but Whyte has been their most dominant big man in the middle. He's averaging about 20 more minutes per game than he played in 2023, while his running metres have more than doubled from 70m per game to 143m this year, with Whyte cracking triple digits in every match since round 1. He had 231m against the Tigers earlier this month and credits coach Trent Robinson for trusting him to deliver after patiently waiting for his opportunity. 'He has stepped into that leadership role with Jared and a few other players going,' teammate Egan Butcher said. 'He's got such a calming presence for a front-rower, but I know that when he takes the field that he's going to take control and be the beast that he is. 'I don't know if I've seen a massive change in him, but I always know that he's never going to shy away from a challenge and he'll own his battle whoever he comes up against.' The Roosters have quietly risen to eighth spot but are one of several teams fighting for a place in the finals. They are level on points with the Sharks who concede they were 'embarrassed' when the teams met earlier in the year, with the Roosters beating them 42-16 despite being without their Origin stars, Whyte and a few others. 'It was a special win,' Butcher said. 'I feel like people may have written us off before that game with Origin players out, and people may have thought we had a depleted side. 'But that's what I love about this club. When the next people step up, we don't take a backwards step and we try to stick it to teams.'

Why NRL star Addin Fonua-Blake played footy just hours after family funeral

Daily Mail

14-07-2025

Sport
Daily Mail

Why NRL star Addin Fonua-Blake played footy just hours after family funeral

Addin Fonua-Blake has been hailed as 'selfless' for playing in Cronulla's breakthrough win only hours after a family funeral, but the prop says he only did what his grandfather would have wanted. Now the Sharks' prized recruit is preparing to honour his family name again in his 200th NRL game. The Sharks' coaching staff gave Fonua-Blake the option to miss last Friday's home game against the Dolphins after the death of his grandfather Talakai earlier in the week. Talakai was instrumental in Fonua-Blake's upbringing and had regularly cheered his grandson on from the stands, until travelling to games became too difficult in his later years. Last Friday, Fonua-Blake was determined to face the Dolphins not just to boost the Sharks, who had lost four of their previous five games, but to pay tribute to his grandfather. 'Going through the week that I had last week, I just thought he'd probably want me to play. He was probably one of my biggest fans,' Fonua-Blake said. Fonua-Blake said his late grandfather was one of his biggest fans 'He contributed a lot in my upbringing. I thought it was only right if I went out there and did my last name proud and carried his name, and just sort of represented him. 'I'm extremely proud that I get to carry his last name.' Fonua-Blake made an impression on his teammates with his decision to play, and ultimately help the side to a vital win over fellow top-eight hopefuls the Dolphins. '(He's) just a selfless person,' said Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo. 'He put the team first the whole week and didn't miss a beat. 'Just the confidence that he gave the group being in that locker room was massive.' The prop will have another chance to do Talakai proud when he reaches the coveted 200-game milestone against the Sydney Roosters this week. Since his 2016 rookie season with Manly, Fonua-Blake has developed into one of the NRL's premier front-rowers, proving particularly instrumental on the Warriors' charge to a preliminary final berth in 2023. He has had a mixed first season at hot-and-cold Cronulla, but will be crucial to the Sharks' hopes of a top-eight finish as the alpha male of their forward pack. 'I'm extremely grateful that I get this opportunity (to play a 200th game),' Fonua-Blake said. 'Not many people do. I'll just be looking forward to getting out there and representing my last name and the club well.' The match is significant for the Sharks, who are hoping for consecutive wins over sides in the mix for finals. 'It's no secret we've had an up-and-down year this year, but I feel like the boys have had a bit of a wake-up call,' Fonua-Blake said. 'It would be massive for our confidence to get this job done.'

'Selfless': why NRL star played hours after funeral

Yahoo

14-07-2025

Sport
Yahoo

'Selfless': why NRL star played hours after funeral

Addin Fonua-Blake has been hailed as "selfless" for playing in Cronulla's breakthrough win only hours after a family funeral, but the prop says he only did what his grandfather would have wanted. Now the Sharks' prized recruit is preparing to honour his family name again in his 200th NRL game. The Sharks' coaching staff gave Fonua-Blake the option to miss last Friday's home game against the Dolphins after the death of his grandfather Talakai earlier in the week. Talakai was instrumental in Fonua-Blake's upbringing and had regularly cheered his grandson on from the stands, until travelling to games became too difficult in his later years. Last Friday, Fonua-Blake was determined to face the Dolphins not just to boost the Sharks, who had lost four of their previous five games, but to pay tribute to his grandfather. "Going through the week that I had last week, I just thought he'd probably want me to play. He was probably one of my biggest fans," Fonua-Blake said. "He contributed a lot in my upbringing. I thought it was only right if I went out there and did my last name proud and carried his name, and just sort of represented him. "I'm extremely proud that I get to carry his last name." Fonua-Blake made an impression on his teammates with his decision to play, and ultimately help the side to a vital win over fellow top-eight hopefuls the Dolphins. "(He's) just a selfless person," said Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo. "He put the team first the whole week and didn't miss a beat. "Just the confidence that he gave the group being in that locker room was massive." The prop will have another chance to do Talakai proud when he reaches the coveted 200-game milestone against the Sydney Roosters this week. Since his 2016 rookie season with Manly, Fonua-Blake has developed into one of the NRL's premier front-rowers, proving particularly instrumental on the Warriors' charge to a preliminary final berth in 2023. He has had a mixed first season at hot-and-cold Cronulla, but will be crucial to the Sharks' hopes of a top-eight finish as the alpha male of their forward pack. "I'm extremely grateful that I get this opportunity (to play a 200th game)," Fonua-Blake said. "Not many people do. I'll just be looking forward to getting out there and representing my last name and the club well." The match is significant for the Sharks, who are hoping for consecutive wins over sides in the mix for finals. "It's no secret we've had an up-and-down year this year, but I feel like the boys have had a bit of a wake-up call," Fonua-Blake said. "It would be massive for our confidence to get this job done."

Cronulla Sharks to debut historic Pasifika jersey in game against the Warriors this weekend

ABC News

06-06-2025

Sport
ABC News

Cronulla Sharks to debut historic Pasifika jersey in game against the Warriors this weekend

This evening the Cronulla Sharks NRL team will debut their historic 'Tangata Moana' Pasifika jersey when they run out against the Warriors at home, honouring and acknowledging the Sharks Pasifika players who have laid down the foundation for the players today and for those who will continue to be leaders. The jersey design and concept had been driven by the club's Pasifika and Maori NRL players - KL Iro (Cook Islands), Braden Hamlin-Uele, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Oregon Kaufusi (Samoan), Addin Fonua-Blake, Sione Katoa, Siosifa Talakai and Chris Vea'ila (Tongan) and Briton Nikora, Mawene Hiroti, Tuku Hau Tapuha and Niwai and Hohepa Puru (Maori). The jersey itself 'Tagata Moana' honours the strength, resilience and legacy of Pasifika people. Cronulla Sharks prop and Tonga Rugby League co-captain Addin Fonua Blake says that these qualities show up in the Pasifika community here in Australia. Cronulla Sharks prop Addin Fonua-Blake is also Tonga Rugby League's co-captain. ( Supplied: Cronulla Sharks ) "Obviously moving countries, working so hard to provide for their families and for their children for a better opportunity in their upbringing," he said. "So you know, they're very resilient people, obviously get knocked about a lot but the determination to keep working hard for their families, it's a strong pillar." Sharks Centre KL Iro agreed, pointing out that most Cook Islanders live abroad but as a nation they're strong and when they go home, everyone's just family. "I think there's 200,000 that live in Australia or New Zealand or everywhere else and there's only 16 or 18 thousand back home," he said. "We've always been a voyaging country but we're proud to be Cook Islanders." Renowned Pasifika artists Allen Vili and Katrina Iosia from the Katal Creative Studio in New Zealand and with Samoan/Maori and Niuean heritage respectively, are behind bringing the designs to life on the jerseys incorporating symbols and patterns from the Pacific. Now that Pacific representation in the NRL is over 50 per cent, fellow Sharks Centre Siosifa Talakai says it's special to have pacific culture represented on the jersey because growing up there weren't many Pacific Islanders in the game. "There wasn't much representation when we were younger in the NRL, but now to have our culture on a jersey, yeah that's something special to all of us," he said "It makes it that much more special that we're going to run out in it come Saturday night." Siosifa Talakai says it'll be special running out wearing the Pasifika jersey. ( Supplied: Cronulla Sharks ) Some of the patterns on the jerseys have special meaning to the players and are patterns that they also have inked on their own bodies. Iro says the Cook Islands designs used on the jerseys are designs he has tattooed and asked to have included on the jersey, the main one being the Tiki Tiki Tangata. "It represents our people holding hands, I've got it tatted on my back as well as the spearhead pattern which represents our warriors as well," he said "It's pretty special to actually see it on our jersey, I don't think an actual Cook Islands design in itself has been on a (NRL) jersey before." This round also doubles as the 'Sharks have heart' round in celebration of the community coming together as one and will be a memorable round for Iro with at least 75 people coming from Rarotonga to watch the game including his father, former Cook Islands and Kiwi international Kevin Iro. The senior Iro is in town coaching the Arorangi Bears Under 13s team, a club that the younger Iro grew up playing for in Rarotonga. KL Iro heads over the try line to score for the Cronulla Sharks. ( Supplied: Cronulla Sharks ) The team played the Kurnell Stingrays last night with cultural performances and a BBQ to celebrate the unity between the clubs after the game. KL who has just recently decided to go by his unofficial birth name which are the initials of his father Kevin Leslie, has fond memories growing up in Rarotonga and is one of only two Cook Islanders who grew up in the Cooks to have made it to the NRL. "Hopefully I can be a role model to younger kids looking up to me, and they can know that it's possible and they can know that they can get here as well," he said. One memory in particular stands out when his father used to coach the Titikaveka Bulldogs and would make the team train longer if they couldn't beat a young KL. "When I was a little kid, I used to be really fit, just a little crazy fella and I used to join the fitness drills with the adults," he laughed. "I think my Dad used to give them a challenge, if I beat them, then they'll keep going so yeah, it's pretty funny. With his father and a big group of Cook Islanders watching on tomorrow, KL and the rest of his Pasifika Sharks team mates will be hoping to emulate the strength, resilience and legacy that their jerseys represent.

Cronulla Sharks to debut inaugural 'Tangata Moana' Pasifika jersey against Warriors