AFB

[Woodsie]

I can't believe he hasn't been mentioned for NSW squads.

To think some on this forum were calling him a plodder a year or 2 ago!

Pepi, give yourself an uppercut .... he is a KIWI.

(and we all know that is in Queensland)

 

[Mitch]

It has to happen this way for us because the T bros got expensive too quickly unfortunately.
When 2020 comes around we will have DCE on about 1.3 million, TT on almost a million and Jake not far behind.
I'm not too stressed about renewals in 2020 as some big bucks guys will move on.
We can't keep them all and will need to shed some of our other top line guys to keep them, and make way for cheaper options we have grown.
I'm guessing Kapow and Dylan will be unaffordable for us next contract and Thommo will be just about done.

There is a salary cap and as our players get better, they get more sought-after and expensive. That's why we NEED to keep grooming very talented youngsters.


Our 2020 side needs to be something like:
1 Turbo
2 Anderson
3,4,5 Kelly/T Wright/Suli/Parker
6?
DCE
AFB
Fainu
Tanga
Paseka
Gojetski
Jake

AFB was great today.

The thing to remember with blokes like Marty and Dylan is that whilst their value will go up so will the cap. Marty is contracted until the end of 2020 and I’d be highly surprised if Dylan doesn’t extend leading into the last year of is contract next year. Fingers crossed they are both part of our team for many years to come!

 

[HappilyManly]

https://www.seaeagles.com.au/news/2018/04/03/strong-40-gives-addin-plenty-of-confidence/

Strong 40 gives Addin plenty of confidence
Author
Wayne Cousins
Timestamp
Tue 3 Apr 2018, 12:09 PM
Addin Fonua-Blake has taken plenty of confidence from his strong first half performance against the Canberra Raiders.

The hard running prop punched out a quality 40 minutes after the side lost interchange forward Kelepi Tanginoa with a season ending knee injury.

“I felt pretty happy that the coaching staff trusted me to play that first 40, ‘’ Fonua-Blake said.

“It just came as a result of the injuries. I was pretty stoked to get it out and it gives me more confidence going forward.


“At some stages there in the first half, I felt a bit tired but it is all a mental thing.

“I kept telling myself that I could do it, so to do it in the end was pretty good.”

Fonua-Blake’s efforts were not lost on Coach Trent Barrett who praised the Tongan and Kiwi international post match for his tireless efforts. All up, the 22-year-old played 66 minutes, made 18 runs for 189 metres, and completed 27 tackles.

His work-rate was not lost on his team-mates either.

“Addin did very well to get those (first) 40 minutes out for such a big lad and with how fast the game is now. It was pretty impressive,’’ said forward Shaun Lane.

“The amount of work that he has put in over the last few years has been really impressive.

“He is just getting better and better with each game, and the results are really starting to show now.

“To be putting out the minutes that he is and all the work he does, he doesn’t even look tired now when he is out there.”

Centre Brian Kelly said Fonua-Blake has taken his game to another level alongside fellow Kiwi international Martin Taupau.

“This year Addin has shown a lot of energy. On the weekend, he was carrying two to three players a good 20 metres,’’ Kelly said.

“It is a good way to start our sets and at the back end, it really helps us out.

“Addin and Marty have got their little plays they do and have got a few little weapons under their belt. They are working together really well, so it is a plus for us.”

 

[TimmyQ]

https://www.seaeagles.com.au/news/2018/04/03/strong-40-gives-addin-plenty-of-confidence/

Strong 40 gives Addin plenty of confidence
Author
Wayne Cousins
Timestamp
Tue 3 Apr 2018, 12:09 PM
Addin Fonua-Blake has taken plenty of confidence from his strong first half performance against the Canberra Raiders.

The hard running prop punched out a quality 40 minutes after the side lost interchange forward Kelepi Tanginoa with a season ending knee injury.

“I felt pretty happy that the coaching staff trusted me to play that first 40, ‘’ Fonua-Blake said.

“It just came as a result of the injuries. I was pretty stoked to get it out and it gives me more confidence going forward.


“At some stages there in the first half, I felt a bit tired but it is all a mental thing.

“I kept telling myself that I could do it, so to do it in the end was pretty good.”

Fonua-Blake’s efforts were not lost on Coach Trent Barrett who praised the Tongan and Kiwi international post match for his tireless efforts. All up, the 22-year-old played 66 minutes, made 18 runs for 189 metres, and completed 27 tackles.

His work-rate was not lost on his team-mates either.

“Addin did very well to get those (first) 40 minutes out for such a big lad and with how fast the game is now. It was pretty impressive,’’ said forward Shaun Lane.

“The amount of work that he has put in over the last few years has been really impressive.

“He is just getting better and better with each game, and the results are really starting to show now.

“To be putting out the minutes that he is and all the work he does, he doesn’t even look tired now when he is out there.”

Centre Brian Kelly said Fonua-Blake has taken his game to another level alongside fellow Kiwi international Martin Taupau.

“This year Addin has shown a lot of energy. On the weekend, he was carrying two to three players a good 20 metres,’’ Kelly said.

“It is a good way to start our sets and at the back end, it really helps us out.

“Addin and Marty have got their little plays they do and have got a few little weapons under their belt. They are working together really well, so it is a plus for us.”

I tell you one thing - the improvement in AFB's fitness this year has been astounding - the kid has a good motor for such a big unit. I watched him fairly closely the other day and there was no bludging at all and he was always willing and able to rip in. Also he seems to be talking more, showing better body language and really becoming a leader out there. The only thing that frustrates me is his speed and intent PRE contact. If he ran into defensive lines at 100 mph off the back fence he would be absolutely amazing. Instead its more of a casual amble then he carries em and swats defenders for another 10 metres lol. Go Manly

 

[Sheikheagle]

I can't believe he hasn't been mentioned for NSW squads.

To think some on this forum were calling him a plodder a year or 2 ago!

Probably because he is a Kiwi and played for them in last years world cup.

 

[manlyfan76]

Imagine if Barrett could coach.

 

[Althewomanspal]

He was very impressive, so happy to see him coming on. Only 22, could be one of the best props in the comp. Personally I’m sad to loose Darcy, but also more than happy to have Marty and afb as our starting props.

 

[Leho]

On Fox Sports site pooper has Addin in contention for nsw spot but he played for the kiwis last year. Has he changed allegiance?

 

[Technical Coach]

If TB wants big minutes out of him though, he may feel that he needs to pace himself ?

Yeah but he can still hit the line harder,very reserved and hesitant---he obviously can run much harder even though most players don't run full throttle at the line like Crazy Lang.

Not all post contact metres are the same--- too many people think this stat is the be all and end all without looking into the stat in more detail.

Great potential though and every team would like to have him.

 

[HoldenV8]

I tell you one thing - the improvement in AFB's fitness this year has been astounding - the kid has a good motor for such a big unit. I watched him fairly closely the other day and there was no bludging at all and he was always willing and able to rip in. Also he seems to be talking more, showing better body language and really becoming a leader out there. The only thing that frustrates me is his speed and intent PRE contact. If he ran into defensive lines at 100 mph off the back fence he would be absolutely amazing. Instead its more of a casual amble then he carries em and swats defenders for another 10 metres lol. Go Manly

100% agree with that. It wasn't too long ago, last year in fact, where we said it would be a while yet before AFB becomes a starter because his fitness just wasn't up to the faster pace when everyone was fresh. The one time he started last year (Rd.7 vs Melbourne at Brookie) he got caught out a lot in defence because of his lack of mobility and a lot of us, probably myself included, declared him a bench player better suited to coming on after 20 or so when others were getting gassed.

But with no BJ or Myles this year and with Darcy having that pre-season injury he was thrust into the starting role (before the injury most were certain that Lussick would get the front row spot and AFB would continue coming off the bench) and he has just blossomed. No way this time 12 months ago would AFB have been able to start a game and still be going strong at half time without a break. The work he has done on his fitness has been amazing.

 

[nightster]

I don't mind the way he carries it forward, running flat out into the opposition like BJ and Darcy did created a lot of dropped balls ... AFB holds onto the ball and gains great post contact metres he also seems to be getting a few penalties awarded for being stripped when he is gaining those metres with half a dozen or more would be tacklers all grappling for the ball ...