Excitement Over New Front Row Combination
Addin Fonua-Blake has shown great enthusiasm about joining Payne Haas in the front row for the NSW Blues in Game 2, aiming to create chaos for Queensland’s engine room. Haas is set to return to selection discussions for Laurie Daley after recovering from a six-week layoff due to a knee injury.
The man-mountain made his comeback for the Brisbane Broncos in their defeat to the St George Illawarra Dragons on Sunday. He carried the ball 23 times, covering an impressive 281 metres with ball-in-hand. This sets up a formidable duo for Game 2 in Melbourne, with Fonua-Blake expressing his eagerness to play alongside Haas and make an impact.
“That’d be an ideal situation to go out and get to play alongside him. I definitely think he’s one of the best players to ever play the game,” Fonua-Blake said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I’ve played against him a lot of times and obviously seen what he’s capable of. I feel like that would be a really good one-two punch.”
Fonua-Blake started in the front row for the Blues alongside Mitch Barnett. Despite a strong start from the Maroons, which saw them lead 20-0 after 20 minutes, the Blues managed to make a comeback and eventually secure a victory. This performance gives Daley plenty to consider for the second selection, which is likely to include Haas in the starting line-up to prevent the Maroons from gaining an early advantage.
“[They] had no ball and him, and Mitch Barnett were off before they had one or two carries each,” said Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon following the Sharks’ match on Friday.
“Then [in] their second stints, both of those front-rowers got them back in the game.”
Fonua-Blake delivered a significant effort after Wednesday night’s thrilling match in Sydney, helping his Cronulla Sharks teammates overcome the high-flying Manly Sea Eagles in the Shire. He played 44 minutes in the middle, accumulating 159 metres in 16 runs against Manly, and almost scored a try after backing up following an attacking kick.
Although Fitzgibbon praised Fonua-Blake for his noticeable contributions, he also highlighted the player’s less visible but crucial efforts.
“Guys like Addin are notorious for their metres and tries and the things that everyone notices, but … he saved three tries in three weeks in a row for us, like on the last plays. [On] kicks down the field [he] turned up on the tryline,” Fitzgibbon added.
Haas and Fonua-Blake will have one more match at club level before Daley announces his squad for Melbourne. The Game 2 fixture is scheduled for June 17.
