Reigning Dally M Prop of the Year Addin Fonua-Blake could link up in the front row for NSW with Payne Haas under new State of Origin eligibility rules unveiled in February 2026. After years watching the sport's most brutal spectacle from the sidelines, the Cronulla enforcer has now made his intentions clear: he is all in for the Blues.
Fonua-Blake grew up in Mascot and currently captains Tonga but was previously unable to represent his state because he played one Test for New Zealand at the 2017 World Cup. That single appearance in the Kiwis colours consigned him to permanent ineligibility under the old rules, a decision he has described as one of youthful misjudgement. The changes announced in February will clear the path for the Sharks prop to wear a Blues jumper for the first time.
The emotional weight of this opportunity cannot be understated for Fonua-Blake. Growing up a Blues fan in Sydney, State of Origin games were must-watch television for Fonua-Blake. As the prop got older, he began to appreciate the physicality and brutality of Origin and dreamt of what it would be like to play in that arena. Now, with the rule change, that dream has become tangible. "It's the sort of game I fell in love with," Fonua-Blake said. "Just the brutality of it and the referees putting the whistle away a little bit. Big rivalries like that, it's something in sport that people love. Being a part of that would be a great feeling."
The partnership with Haas is the compelling narrative here. NSW could be the biggest winners from the changes if Fonua-Blake and Haas link up for the series opener at Accor Stadium, given the pair are the two best props in the game and were named in the front row in last year's Dally M Team of the Year. While he's yet to hear from Blues coach Laurie Daley, Fonua-Blake is excited by the prospect of forming a dominant one-two punch with Haas. The 30-year-old has been explicit about his ambitions: "It would be pretty special," Fonua-Blake said. "Payne's a generational talent and when he's finished up he'll probably be an Immortal of the game. If I get the chance to play alongside him it would be pretty special. You want to play either against or alongside the greatest in the game and I put him in that regard. He's a beast and if I do get the chance to rub shoulders or lace up the boots with him, then I'm going to take a lot of notes off him and it would be pretty special."
But Fonua-Blake is careful not to assume the path is automatic. "While I'm available now, I still haven't made the team, I'm still going to have to work hard and try and get a look in." A world-class prop with a potent blend of aggression, power, stamina and skill, Fonua-Blake won Cronulla's 2025 Player of the Year award in his first season at the club. His performance on the field during the 2026 season will ultimately determine whether he gets his Origin chance.
The new NRL eligibility rules allow players who've represented New Zealand or England at Test level to now be eligible to play for New South Wales or Queensland, provided they were born or lived in either state before the age of 13, or had their father play for the Blues or Maroons. "Rugby league has changed, the international game has grown and our rules need to reflect that," ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys said. "If a player is eligible to play State of Origin, it makes no sense to exclude them simply because they've represented New Zealand or England at Test level."
Fonua-Blake's case represents a broader recognition that the sport has evolved. The rule change allows the NRL to activate genuine home-state connections that were previously locked away. For Fonua-Blake, it offers a belated chance to compete in the arena he has dreamed about since childhood. Whether he earns his call-up will depend on his form over the coming months, but he has made one thing abundantly clear: he wants this.