The Warriors have sprung into action over the past 24 hours and have managed to retain the services of star prop Addin Fonua-Blake for at least the 2024 season.
The Kiwi NRL club confirmed reports last night Fonua-Blake had requested a release on compassionate grounds from the last three years of his contract, with the health of his parents in Sydney understood to be the reason.
The Warriors said at the time they were considering the request but an update from club CEO Cameron George this afternoon confirmed he will at Mt Smart for the 2024 season "while assessing his personal circumstances for 2025 and beyond".
“My only motivation for this move is for family reasons,” Fonua-Blake said in the update.
“But I really want all Warriors fans to know that I am fully committed to getting into the 2024 season.
“I can’t wait to get back to training with my teammates with the aim to go even further in the upcoming season.”
Fonua-Blake made a similar request in 2020 to depart the Manly Sea Eagles, saying at the time he wanted to relocate with his young family before joining the Warriors in 2021.
The 27-year-old is currently contracted to the Warriors until the end of the 2026 season and an early exit would be a serious blow to the Kiwi club after his impact on the side this season under Coach of the Year Andrew Webster.
He finished third in the NRL this year for running metres with 4453m but led the competition in post-contact metres with 1670m.
The news comes after the Warriors last week released fan favourite Josh Curran with a few big additions arriving next season with both Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Chanel Harris-Tavita returning.
The Warriors have also retained the talents of wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for at least two more seasons after he signed a contract extension this week too.
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