St George Illawarra have offered Addin Fonua-Blake a four-year, $4.5 million deal to join the club from 2025.
It comes as the future of Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma remains uncertain after he turned up late to training on Tuesday.
Nofoaluma was present for a session at Concord on Monday, albeit on the sidelines nursing a calf injury, having refused to turn up to training the previous week over perceived unfair treatment by the club’s football department.
This masthead reported on Monday 30-year-old winger has struggled since returning to pre-season training, to the point he failed to beat home some front-rowers in a time trial.
New coach Benji Marshall has driven a greater standard of training among his players since taking over from Tim Sheens and made it clear he would not afford the veteran – or any other player – special treatment. Nofoaluma has voiced his concerns at the club’s demands on his fitness with the Rugby League Players’ Association.
Sources with knowledge of the situation told this masthead that Nofoaluma turned up late to training on Tuesday, giving the Tigers greater cause for concern over his commitment to the club.
Meanwhile, St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan has added some depth to his backline by signing former Queensland Origin player Corey Allan for the 2024 season.
It comes as the Red V up the ante in their pursuit of Warriors forward Fonua-Blake, offering the hulking prop forward a four year, $4.5million deal to join the club from 2025.
The Wests Tigers are believed to have made him a similar offer. The Dragons have also shown Cowboys back-rower Heilum Luki around the club’s facility in Wollongong.
Flanagan is desperate to add some star power to his roster but also some depth in other positions. Allan, who joins the Dragons after stints at the Broncos, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs and Roosters, fits that criteria.
Allan was without a contract after his deal with the Sydney Roosters expired at the end of the 2023 campaign and will now join the Dragons for pre-season training.
As for the Tigers, they believe they have the salary cap space to accommodate both Fonua-Blake and Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai on deals worth over $1million per season each.
Luai is still mulling over his future as he decides between remaining with the three-time reigning champions or accepting big money deals at the Tigers or Bulldogs
