The NZ Warriors have won the race to sign Manly Sea Eagles star Addin Fonua-Blake.
On Tuesday, the Tonga international took to social media to confirm he's heading to the Auckland NRL club.
"The hardest decision I've had to make of my career but after six years with this family my time has come to an end," he said on Instagram.
"I’d like to thank everyone from the coaching staff and all the players to all the loyal fans that stuck with us/me through every hard time we had over the past 6 years.
"Excited/Nervous about what waits for me next at the Warriors."
The 24-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the Warriors, after requesting an early release from his Manly deal to relocate his young family out of Sydney.
"He's one of our major signings," Warriors chief executive Cam George tells Newshub.
"We've really been looking around for someone of his stature, his make up as a player. He’s certainly going to bring a lot of aggression, size and impact to our team. That’s going to enable other players in our team to excel and play a different role."
The Warriors were one of the few teams who had the cap space to bring Fonua-Blake aboard, competing with Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans to secure his signature.
"We were advised by Addin’s management that he was able to speak to other clubs outside of Sydney," says George.
"We're in a fortunate position, by the virtue of [recruitment manager]Peter O'Sullivan, to wait and be poised to pounce when the right option came up."
The Warriors were well posied to strike when the opportunity arose, leading to a hastily arranged Zoom call with Fonua-Blake and his family.
"We really spoke about what we can do with him and his family here at the club," George recalls. "The next day, he phoned me and said he was keen to join the club."
Having missed out on the likes of Jack de Belin, David Fifita and Toby Rudolf in recent months, signing Fonua-Blake will be a relief for the club, which has been eager to bolster its front-row stocks.
One of the most damaging runners in rugby league, Fonua-Blake - alongside incoming fellow Tonga international Ben Murdoch-Masila and Eels giant Kane Evans - should certainly provide a significant boost to the team's horsepower upfront.
"You look at our forward pack now and Addin just tops it off," George says. "Big bodies, a lot of leg speed, a lot of aggression and a really intimidating style of a pack with a lot of youth as well."
Coincidentally, the Warriors will have an ideal opportunity to get to know their new teammate on Sunday, when they take on the Sea Eagles in their final game of the 2020 season, which will double as Fonua-Blake's farewell from the club where he's spent his last four years.
George insists there is plenty of recruiting yet to come for next season and beyond.
"We've got a plan in place and we're executing it bit by bit," he adds. "We're very happy with where we're at and where we're going to go over the next three months.
"We haven't finished yet there’s still a few more pieces of the puzzle."
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