FonuaBlake injury a blow to Warriors

NRL

SYDNEY: Warriors coach Nathan Brown fears star prop Addin FonuaBlake will miss a lengthy chunk of the NRL season after suffering a suspected lisfranc (foot) injury in their 2418 loss to St George Illawarra.

The blow from Saturday’s match could not have come at a worst time for the Warriors, who released fellow frontrower Matt Lodge earlier in the week.

FonuaBlake is likely to miss more than three months if scans show he has sustained the suspected injury. Brown said he would go for further assessment in the coming days.

‘‘I’m not sure on Addin’s foot at the moment,’’ Brown said.

‘‘It’s possibly a lisfranc which isn’t great. He’s our best player — along with Tohu Harris — and you want your best players playing.’’

Depending on the severity of the injury, it could rule FonuaBlake out of Tonga’s Rugby League World Cup campaign.

The loss of FonuaBlake would be a hammer blow for the Warriors’ finals hopes with the club having won just one game in their last five.

The Warriors offloaded Lodge earlier in the week because they claimed he did not want to sign a new deal and return to New Zealand next year.

Currently based in Queensland, the Warriors will not be based in New Zealand again

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until the 2023 preseason starts, meaning Lodge has walked out on the club despite having more than six months to run on his current deal.

Brown said it was the prop who raised the topic, despite having no club to go to.

‘‘It was Tuesday night when Lodgey sent me a message that he wouldn’t be playing, which was a nice show of respect,’’ Brown said.

‘‘We knew moving back to New Zealand (next year) wasn’t something he wanted to do. He was very consistent for us this year.

‘‘Lodgey was more keen the other way. He wished all the boys well and he built up a good relationship with the boys and you shake hands and move on.’’ — AAP

Addin FonuaBlake