Phil Gould has held another not-so-secret meeting, this time with in-demand prop Addin Fonua-Blake.
Warriors star Fonua-Blake, along with Penrith playmaker Jarome Luai, is the hottest target on the NRL open market.
The former Manly forward is seeking a return to Sydney on compassionate grounds in 2025 and the suitors are queuing up for his services. Fonua-Blake has been in Sydney this week exploring his options.
A day after reportedly meeting with Wests Tigers officials, the 28-year-old was on Friday snapped at the airport catching up with Canterbury general manager of football Phil Gould.
He is also expected to meet with St George Illawarra officials about the prospect of rejoining one of his junior clubs.
The meeting with Gould won’t come as a surprise given the premiership-winning coach stated this week that “AFB” was a player of interest.
Canterbury powerbroker Phil Gould meets with Warriors star Addin Fonua-Blake.
“Addin is a quality player,” Gould said on SEN Afternoons with Jimmy Smith. “I spent a little bit of time with the Warriors during COVID and got to see Addin first-hand – he’s a quality player.
“He’s not cheap, though. I’d imagine there’d be a lot of interest in Addin.”
Gould has been sprung in a series of meetings with current or prospective Bulldogs players in recent times. The veteran administrator was recently photographed catching up with out-of-favour Canterbury club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner, who has been allowed to explore his options despite being contracted for a further two seasons.
On this occasion, “Gus” was papped alongside Fonua-Blake and his manager, Tyran Smith.
Speaking at the annual Robert Stone memorial golf day at the Beverly Park Golf Course on Friday, Dragons forward Blake Lawrie said Fonua-Blake would be a welcome addition to the Red V.
“I remember at training one day, he was doing a bit of contact with a couple of boys and he was tearing boys apart,” Lawrie said.
“Addin’s a classy player. I’ve played against him for a number of years now. I remember when was at Manly – he’s got the best footwork as a front-rower.
“[After] the year that he’s had at Warriors, he is a guaranteed top-three prop in the comp, if not number one.
“I don’t really want to comment too much because that’s Flanno’s [coach Shane Flanagan’s role] with recruitment, but to play alongside him it would make everyone’s job a lot easier because of the presence that he has and the sort of player he is.
“He’s a world-class player and he demands respect.
“Look at the stats and the numbers speak for themselves and the solid game that he plays. It takes three to four players to bring him down.
“We’ll try to get that big fish and obviously, like I said, it’d be awesome to play alongside him.”
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