Addin Fonua-Blake faces at least four months on the sidelines after the Warriors confirmed the club’s marquee off-season signing requires surgery on his injured knee.
Fonua-Blake suffered the injury early during last Sunday’s loss to the Roosters and it was initially hoped the former Manly prop would only require six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
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Addin Fonua-Blake hurt his knee during last weeks loss to the Roosters.
But after consulting multiple specialists, the Warriors revealed the Tongan international has fractured his left tibial tuberosity and also has a posterior cruciate ligament injury.
He is scheduled to go under the knife early next week to repair the extensor mechanism in his left knee.
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The announcement comes after a report from Australia’s Nine News earlier on Friday said the injury could potentially be season-ending.
A four-month recovery period could see Fonua-Blake return to the field in mid-August and play a part in the final few rounds of the regular season. Although, that will depend on his progress post-surgery.
The Warriors have had a tough run with injuries and suspensions to the start the year, but this will come as a brutal blow.
One of the best props in the game, Fonua-Blake signed a three-year deal with the club last September and lived up to his reputation in the opening month of the competition.
Prior to the match against the Roosters, Fonua-Blake averaged 175 running metres per game and was among the leaders in the NRL for post-contact metres.
While coach Nathan Brown was forced to name regular back-rower Tohu Harris at prop for Friday night’s clash against Manly, there is some relief on the horizon.
Another of the Warriors’ high-profile recruits, prop Kane Evans was due to make his club debut against the Sea Eagles after an injury-disrupted pre-season, while front-rowers Bunty Afoa and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown return from suspension next week.
But Brown faces a tall order filling the massive void left by the absence of Fonua-Blake, who joins halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot), back-rower Bayley Sironen (shoulder) and first-choice centres Euan Aitken (ankle) and Peta Hiku (knee) in the club’s casualty ward.
