Prop Addin Fonua-Blake signed off his four seasons with the One New Zealand Warriors by winning the players’ player of the year honour at the club’s 30th annual awards dinner at the Aotea Centre in Auckland tonight.
Appearing in 23 of the club’s 24 games, Fonua-Blake backed up his superb 2023 campaign by earning the title from his peers ahead of Simon Mannering Medal winner Mitchell Barnett and halfback Te Maire Martin.
The 28-year-old Fonua-Blake headed all players in the NRL for most post-contact metres with a career-best 1698 and ranked fourth for metres gained (4031), the most by any forward.
His average metres gained per game (175) was also a best, just ahead of last year’s 171 per game, while he backed up his nine tries last year with eight this term to establish himself as the game’s pre-eminent try-scoring front rower.
He complemented his 175 metres a game with an average of 27 tackles (including only 27 missed tackles all season) plus a total of 84 tackle breaks (another career best) and 24 off loads.
The rookie of the year accolade went to 20-year-old second rower Jacob Laban ahead of centre Ali Leiataua (21) and prop-back rower Demitric Vaimauga (formerly Sifakula)..
Laban made his NRL debut against South Sydney in round five and went on to make seven appearances while also impressing in the New South Wales Cup side.
Nominated for the NRL club man of the year were fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, utility Chanel Harris-Tavita, half Luke Metcalf and winger Marcelo Montoya.
The honour went to Metcalf who had a promising start to the season ruined when he had his right leg broken in the round four clash against Newcastle.
He was sidelined for more than four months before returning in round 24 against the Sea Eagles to finish the season with seven appearances.
As the longest-serving member of the NRL squad’s recovery group, Metcalf excelled with the responsibilities he had with community visits and making sponsor appearances.
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