Wests Tigers have also added to their backline stocks with the signing of 23-year-old centre Solomona Faataape on a one-year development deal for 2024.
Faataape comes off a premiership-winning season with the Brisbane Tigers in Queensland’s Hostplus Cup in which he scored 16 tries in 21 games.
Elsewhere, the Dolphins have bolstered their future roster with the signing of Wests Tigers speedster Junior Tupou.
The 21-year-old Tonga Interntional will join the club in 2025 on a three-year deal as another impressive backline acquisition after English centre Herbie Farnworth and former Bulldog Jake Averillo joined the club for the 2023 pre-season.
Dolphins’ chief executive Terry Reader said Tupou will add even moredepth to the squad as the Dolphins continue to establish themselves in the NRL.
“He is one of the most exciting young backs in the NRL at the moment so we will be excited to have him join our evolving roster,” Reader said.
“Junior is a powerful runner out of the back of the field so he will give us plenty of punch.
“At his age he also has plenty of room and time to improve his game, so we see him as a really valuable addition to the long-term future of the club.”
The Sharks have landed a major recruitment coup for the 2025 season with the signing of Dally M Prop of the Year Addin Fonua-Blake.
The Tongan front-rower has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Cronulla which will run from 2025-2028, but will remain with the Warriors in 2024 before moving on, having requested and been granted an early release from his contract with the Kiwi club.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said he is excited to have bolstered the class and depth of his forward pack from 2025 onwards with the addition of Fonua-Blake.
“Addin is a world class front-rower and we are delighted to be adding him to our roster,” Fitzgibbon said.
“Throughout the negotiation process we have been impressed by his attitude, his genuine desire to help make the Sharks successful and to complement and work alongside both those in our leadership group and the young forwards we have coming through our system.
