Cronulla enforcer free to play for NSW Blues after eligibility rules change

“Payne [Haas] is a generational talent, when he finishes up he’ll be an immortal of the game; if I get the chance to play alongside him, it will be pretty special.”

Fonua-Blake played the bulk of his football in the premier state, including as a junior for Mascot Jets, makes him eligible for the Blues.

Fonua-Blake was crowned NRL Dally M prop of the year in 2023, 2024 and 2025, a form line that would surely have had him picked in every NSW team.

And when you consider players receive $30,000 for every Origin game, it follows that the previous eligibility rules cost Fonua-Blake a sum in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. But he was not complaining.

“I can’t be too greedy, and I’m happy with what I’ve been paid the past few years,” Fonua-Blake said.

“I would have loved the rule to have been changed a few years ago so my good mate Jason Taumalolo could have played [Origin] in his prime. It’s done now, the rules have changed. I know a lot of lads in the game are happy because they finally get the chance to go up against the best.

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“I loved the brutality of it when I used to watch [Origin] growing up. I loved how the refs would put the whistle away and let the players decide who the winner of the game is. Big rivalries like that, it’s something in sport people love.”

The Blues now have serious front-row depth, with Fonua-Blake and Haas, Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu, South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and Mitch Barnett, once he makes a full recovery from a ruptured ACL, competing in the position.

McLean was an Under-19s NSW player who knew he was giving the chance to play Origin when he chose to represent New Zealand in Tests, but last year said he was open to playing for the Blues if the rules changed after coach Laurie Daley made some discreet inquiries.

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McLean told this masthead last September: “I’m happy I’ve had the chance to represent my culture. Mum and dad grew up in New Zealand, so there are no regrets there.

“If the rules were to change, that would be cool, not just for myself, but other players in the same boat – especially given I grew up here in Sydney.”

Meanwhile, Canterbury recruit Leo Thompson is out of the season opener in Las Vegas – and will miss up to ten weeks with a grade-three calf tear.

Given Thompson’s injury occurred on representative duty, and he will miss club football as a result, Dogs officials have begun conversations with the NRL salary cap auditor about receiving cap relief. The Dogs will be eligible for compensation should Thompson miss up to three months of football.