League: NRL Sport: Rugby Country: Australia Category: Scores & Results

Addin Fonua-Blake criticizes NRL decision to move Sharks home final

Zero Tackle NRL • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 11:54 PM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Addin Fonua-Blake criticizes NRL decision to move Sharks home final

Summary

Cronulla Sharks forward Addin Fonua-Blake has expressed disappointment regarding the NRL's decision to move the club's Week 1 finals match away from Shark Park. The league ruled that the venue is currently unfit to host the fixture, forcing the team to relocate to Allianz Stadium for the encounter against the North Queensland Cowboys this Saturday at 7:50 pm. Fonua-Blake described the move as unfair, noting that the team earned the right to a home advantage through their performance during the regular season. While acknowledging the need to accept the decision, the forward emphasized the value of the home crowd in fostering a competitive edge. ARL chairman Peter V'landys stated that while the league prefers suburban venues, stadium capacity and facilities must meet specific standards for finals matches. The NRL plans to evaluate future home finals on a case-by-case basis.

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By the Numbers

•Addin Fonua-Blake labeled the loss of a genuine home final unfair for the Sharks players.
•The NRL cited insufficient capacity and facilities at Shark Park as the primary reasons for the relocation.
•The Sharks are scheduled to host the North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium this Saturday.
•Peter V'landys confirmed that the NRL will assess suburban venue viability for future finals individually.
•Shark Park has been restricted to a 13,500-fan capacity due to recent eastern-side club developments.

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