What a difference a year makes as Fonua-Blake has gone on to have a breakout year for Des Hasler’s top four bound Sea Eagles.
The 23-year-old could command as much as $700,000 if he came on to the open market now.
Fonua-Blake, who was slammed for taunting Raiders fans after Manly’s victory on the weekend, has joined the elite front-rowers in the competition including big money-earners David Klemmer, Matt Lodge, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jesse Bromwich, who he will face on Saturday night.
Regardless of the money he has cost himself, Fonua-Blake has the opportunity to become one of the best front-rowers in the game by the time his next contract talks come around.
However the club’s focus re-signing the Trbojevic brothers could affect Fonua-Blake’s future earnings at the club.
“I’m pretty comfortable with what I signed for,’’ Fonua-Blake told the Herald.
“Dessie and my manager had a big talk about my future. There was some outside interest.
“I could have negotiated with other clubs on November 1 [this year], but I told my manager I wanted to stay, just because when you’re with a club and you go through the tough times, and then seeing how good we’re going this year, it makes you think, ‘What if we can be better again?’
“I’ve been here for the hard times, now I want to be here for the good times. Hopefully they’re not too far away. This time last year everyone was starting to plan their holidays. I couldn’t book much because of the Tongan Test.
“Fast forward 12 months and here we are, in the top four, and everyone is having fun.’’
The 23-year-old could command as much as $700,000 if he came on to the open market now.
Fonua-Blake, who was slammed for taunting Raiders fans after Manly’s victory on the weekend, has joined the elite front-rowers in the competition including big money-earners David Klemmer, Matt Lodge, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jesse Bromwich, who he will face on Saturday night.
Regardless of the money he has cost himself, Fonua-Blake has the opportunity to become one of the best front-rowers in the game by the time his next contract talks come around.
However the club’s focus re-signing the Trbojevic brothers could affect Fonua-Blake’s future earnings at the club.
“I’m pretty comfortable with what I signed for,’’ Fonua-Blake told the Herald.
“Dessie and my manager had a big talk about my future. There was some outside interest.
“I could have negotiated with other clubs on November 1 [this year], but I told my manager I wanted to stay, just because when you’re with a club and you go through the tough times, and then seeing how good we’re going this year, it makes you think, ‘What if we can be better again?’
“I’ve been here for the hard times, now I want to be here for the good times. Hopefully they’re not too far away. This time last year everyone was starting to plan their holidays. I couldn’t book much because of the Tongan Test.
“Fast forward 12 months and here we are, in the top four, and everyone is having fun.’’
