Warriors star could miss season
There are fears Warriors’ marquee signing Addin Fonua-Blake could miss the rest of the NRL season after a report said the star front-rower’s knee injury was worse than first thought.
Fonua-Blake suffered the injury in last Sunday’s loss to the Roosters and it was initially hoped the former Manly prop would need only six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
However, Australia’s Nine News reported Fonua-Blake now requires surgery and that the injury was potentially season-ending.
The Warriors have yet to comment on the report but club consultant Phil Gould appeared to confirm on Twitter that the 25-year-old was facing a long road back, saying it was ‘‘terrible news’’.
‘‘Serious injury results in long period on sidelines. But that’s football. Addin will heal & come back even better,’’ Gould wrote.
On Thursday, assistant coach Justin Morgan said the club did not want to rush into a decision over Fonua-Blake’s recovery plan and were waiting to hear back from multiple specialists.
‘‘It just needs to be the right decision,’’ Morgan said.
‘‘Because it’s an unusual injury on where it is and the impact it could have on other parts of his body, we need to make sure that if they do decide to go down the surgery path it’s the right path to go down.’’
The Warriors have had a tough run with injuries and suspensions to the start the year, but it would be a devastating blow if Fonua-Blake was to be ruled out for the reason.
The Tongan international signed a three-year deal with the club last year. Fonua-Blake joins halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot), backrower Bayley Sironen (shoulder) and first-choice centres Euan Aitken (ankle) and Peta Hiku (knee) in the club’s casualty ward.