Rival NRL club tables huge four-year contract to lure wantaway Fonua-Blake - report
Wests Tigers have reportedly tabled a formal offer to sign wantaway forward Addin Fonua-Blake, as the first NRL rival to attempt to sign the NZ Warriors' key man.
Fonua-Blake, 28, has
requested a release from the final two years of his contract with the Warriors on compassionate grounds, in order to return to Sydney.
Newshub understands Fonua-Blake and his management met with the Tigers at the end of November.
The Daily Telegraph reports Wests will offer the Dally M medal winning prop a four-year contract, worth $1 million per season.
Fonua-Blake has
agreed to play out the 2024 season with Andrew Webster's side but what happens after that is still unknown.
The Warriors are understood to have
set conditions to see Fonua-Blake released after next season, namely allowing him to only return to a Sydney-based club while also wanting a player in exchange from his new team.
Should the Tigers be the club to lure Fonua-Blake away from Mt Smart, former Warrior Isaiah Papali'I has been linked with a return to Auckland after his first season with Wests in 2023.
Fonua-Blake was also pictured meeting with Canterbury Bulldogs, while St George Illawarra Dragons
have made no secret of their interest.
In terms of players to exchange, the Warriors have
reportedly drawn up a four-man shortlist of players they would want in return for Fonua-Blake.
New South Wales and Samoa prop Stefano Utoikamanu is another Tigers forward who has reportedly caught the Warriors' eye, while the pair of Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs) and Jaydn Su'a (Dragons) are understood to be targets as well.
Cronulla Sharks are another club that appear to have entered the race for Fonua-Blake, after clearing close to $1 million from their salary cap in recent weeks, with the departures of Connor Tracey and Matt Moylan.
Fonua-Blake is already understood to be the highest paid prop in the NRL.
The
Daily Telegraph also reports Fonua-Blake will tour all four prospective clubs in the coming weeks, before any decision over his future is made.
MSN