HaroldBishop
Megalodon
And he hasn't shown enough to date to warrant three years imo.
Official Addin Fonua-Blake
- Thread starter SF
- Start date
100% agree mate.
I’d be offering 525k a year on a 2 year deal. For me that’s what he’s worth currently.
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Gotta remember that 500k is the equivalent of what 300k was 5 years ago or so. I think he's still worth more than that on the cap. I'd be okay with 600 over two years, but if the third is the deal breaker, he'd have to come down a bit.
Either way, doesn't come close to the nz offer.
Tiger Shark
Jaws
It’s not over yet
They won’t budge. If they start the year slow maybe but highly unlikely he gets allowed to leave
Proud Shark
Jaws
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Just putting my hopeful hat on. Saints and Warriors both want BHU. Warriors don't want to risk losing him as there isnt much left on the market. So we say we'll release him this year but only if he goes to NZ. AFB comes to us in exchange and BHU gets a serious pay rise a year early.
That, or warriors are dead in the water come trade deadline probably the only shouts
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Tatus
Not-So-Great White
And I think I like it this way. If AFB comes this year and we stink it up, the alarm bells will be ringing and the boys will be desperate. I don’t want this to happen, even if it’s only a hypothetical.
If AFB comes when he is supposed to, our young squad is another year older and experienced to compliment him. If we have a good year, the belief in the boys will be huge.
Two different scenarios but two that would affect our team massively in different ways
Tiger Shark
Jaws
Yeah was thinking I’d rather wait for one of the best props in the game to come a year later
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
I get what @Tatus is saying but nup, you're 100% getting him this year it at all possible.
deano the p
Jaws
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It’s an absolute no brainer you get him here early if you can. I have held out hope ever since we signed him but not looking likely at this point. Him not being able to be here for next season is actually one of the things that worries me about the signing.
Tatus
Not-So-Great White
On the plus side, getting him here early, even if we do stink it up. We’ve got enough players off contract to know who’s worth keeping and who isn’t.
@Tiger Shark you sort ur inbox messsges out yet bro?
@Tiger Shark you sort ur inbox messsges out yet bro?
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
Nice write up on how we conduct business.
One face-to-face meeting. No club tour. No photos. And no leaks.
Cronulla begin their 2024 season as genuine outsiders against their Warriors on Friday night in New Zealand, opposite Addin Fonua-Blake – the prized signing few in the game knew about until the deal was sealed.
Fonua-Blake’s status as Dally M prop of the year, and a free agent when the Warriors granted him permission to explore a compassionate grounds release, sent the NRL player market into a spin late last year.
During a whistle-stop tour of Sydney, where Fonua-Blake was destined to be closer to his family, the 28-year-old met with Wests Tigers officials at Haberfield Rowers Club.And Bulldogs boss Phil Gould at Sydney airport. And new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, who went hardest in pursuit of Fonua-Blake’s game-breaking talents, to the tune of $4.5 million across four years.
In the background, Cronulla quietly went about landing the biggest fish in a front-row market decidedly short on quality big men, adopting the same softly-softly approach that is fast becoming Craig Fitzgibbon’s recruitment hallmark.
The Sharks haven’t made many signings since the start of John Morris’s final year in charge – with Cameron McInnes, Dale Finucane, Nicho Hynes and now Fonua-Blake the club’s four major acquisitions since 2021.
One 24-hour flying visit, and one face-to-face lunch with Fonua-Blake, Fitzgibbon, general manager Darren Mooney, chairman Steve Mace and CEO Dino Mezzatesta convinced the club he was worth the $4 million, four-year outlay.
A few Zoom chats had preceded Fonua-Blake’s sit down, and a few more conversations with his agent Tyran Smith and the Warriors hammered out the details of Cronulla’s biggest signing in years.
It was a similar story when newly announced co-captain McInnes negotiated his own $2 million, four-year deal.
Despite intense focus on McInnes’ future as the Dragons wavered on an extension, there really were no stories about Cronulla until the deal was done.
“I don’t know how they’re doing it, but the club is keeping things quiet, it’s not very rugby league is it?” McInnes said.
“First impressions in life are important. So for any player, if you go and talk to a club and you haven’t signed a contract or anything, but they’ve got your interests at heart, it matters to you.
“It makes an impact, because you know you’re not being used as a bargaining chip or something might leak out if you don’t sign with them.
“That’s also on the player and the management to keep something quiet and it goes both ways. It creates trust and it’s a special place to play. It’s pretty unique, it’s a privilege to be part of it.”
With Fonua-Blake on his way next season, Sharks officials feared Braden Hamlin-Uele would become collateral damage given the Warriors’ three-year offer, worth around $2 million, far exceeded Cronulla’s own two-year extension.
Hamlin-Uele himself told this masthead he was an hour away from accepting the Warriors deal, but broke down when he pictured himself telling his Sharks teammates he was leaving.
He won’t play against his old Junior Kiwis teammate Fonua-Blake on Friday due to a knee injury that will keep him out for another few weeks.
But the pair shape as an impressive front-row pairing in a middle rotation featuring McInnes, Finucane, Toby Rudolf and Royce Hunt and little fuss or fanfare – much like Cronulla’s recruitment tactics.
Secret Sharks business: The signing tactic landing Fitzy’s marquee recruits
Addin Fonua-Blake was wined and dined by the Tigers, Dragons and Bulldogs late last-year, but it was Cronulla that emerged with little fanfare and a million-dollar front-rower.www.smh.com.au
Western Sharkie
Jaws
Thx for posting
HaroldBishop
Megalodon
The main takeaway for me was the fact we don't engage with players to inflate their price for other clubs. No shenanigans. I really like that, it means if we're talking to a player it's because we genuinely want them and I reckon that would be very comforting for players to know.
Sevshark
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It really is impressive to see us operating like this.
We're proving to players we can be trusted before they've even made a decision. You can't tell me that isn't power.
Probably puts us in position agents are less likely to waste our time too
Western Sharkie
Jaws
Yep.
I love the “Under the radar” approach.
Also means we are not “embarrassed” if we miss out on someone we‘ve gone hard after.