With Newcastle roaring back from a diabolical first 25 minutes, Addin Fonua Blake’s hit on a crouched Mitchell Pearce threatened to set fire to an already combustible Saturday night game in Newcastle. With Manly leading 26-18 with two minutes on the clock, a high kick-off saw Pearce settle under the ball and fold into a defensive position. Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake came flying through and hit the Newcastle half at hip level – right across the descending Mitchell’s eyes. Watch the brutal shot in the player below. With Pearce sporting a rapidly darkening black eye and forced off for a HIA assessment, Fonua-Blake’s future was sealed. The only question was: sin bin or send off? MORE: Manly fans blow up at The Bunker after Knights forward Aidan Guerra's try Judged as serious foul play, Fonua-Blake may have more to answer for after gesturing towards the referee when sent on his way and goading the crowd as he left the field (who, in Fonua-Blake’s defence, were absolutely rinsing him). Fonua-Blake came back on with just over two minutes to play and the Sea Eagles held on, 26-18 While fans may be scratching their heads over Fonua-Blake not being put on report instead of binned, it appears Michael Jennings set the precedent in round 1. With Pearce off and Newcastle disadvantaged, the decision appears clear.<doc-sep>Apr 13th, 2019 Apr 13th, 2019 Manly have condemned Newcastle to their fourth-consecutive NRL loss, holding on to win 26-18 despite prop Addin Fonua-Blake being sin-binned late in the match for flooring Mitchell Pearce. The Sea Eagles had appeared in control of Saturday evening's match when they led 26-12 with 13 minutes to play, before Mitchell Barnett ran onto a Danny Levi pass to score. Fonua-Blake was sin-binned from the ensuing kickoff, collecting a falling Pearce in the head while chasing a ball that hung high in the air. He exchanged jeers and gestures with the rival crowd which could see punishment handed down by the MRC. Manly hold on to beat Knights (FOX Sports) "I'm not really too fussed about next week," he said following the game "Some of them couldn't hack it...they were giving it to me so I just wanted to give some back." Conversely, NRL great Michael Ennis was not as blasé about the incident. "I love a rivalry, but it was unnecessary," he told Fox Sports. "I'd be highly surprised if Des Hasler doesn't pull him in the office and tell him, 'We don't need that garbage'. Des Hasler (AAP) Pearce failed his HIA and didn't return, prompting Fonua-Blake to be sent on his way by referee Peter Gough. However, the Sea Eagles held on resolutely, as the Knights failed to crack the 12-man defensive line. It followed a similar incident earlier in the match, when Curtis Sironen was put on report for a high shot on Kalyn Ponga. Sironen was allowed to stay on the field after Ponga initially continued playing, before later going off for a head check. Second-rower Aidan Guerra also suffered a suspected broken ankle late in the match, adding to a horror night for a Newcastle team who had been expected to challenge for the NRL's top four. Guerra's gruesome injury After beating Cronulla in the opening round, the Knights have lost to Penrith, Canberra, St George Illawarra and the Sea Eagles. They were particularly slow out of the blocks on Saturday, as Manly raced to an 18-0 lead before Ponga kicked them into gear with a short grubber for Edrick Lee, who powered himself over the line just before halftime. Ponga at least looked dangerous at the back, breaking the line three times in one of the few positives for Newcastle. Manly have won three games straight, entrenching themselves well within the top eight. Fonua-Blake was their best before the late sin-binning, providing plenty of early muscle alongside Martin Taupau and scoring a crucial second-half try as he ran through a gaping hole in the Knights' line. Apisai Koroisau was also better out of dummy-half, breaking through in the lead-up to one try, while Kane Elgey set up one four-pointer with a lofted ball to Jorge Taufua and Jake Trbojevic kicked short for Joel Thompson for another. Daly Cherry-Evans was also strong as he celebrated his 200th NRL game, running 143 metres, kicking a 40-20 and busting through three tackles. ©AAP2019<doc-sep>Aidan Guerra suffers a potentially season ending injury against the Sea Eagles. Knights forwards Aidan Guerra faces an extended period on the sidelines, after a horror mishap in Newcastle’s 26-18 defeat to Manly. Guerra attempted a tackle on Manly winger Reuben Garrick in the second half at McDonald Jones Stadium, in which he suffered a suspected fractured ankle. NRL Physio tweeted: “Concern for Aidan Guerra is significant syndesmosis injury with possible ankle fracture/ dislocation. Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > “Would be at least a three plus month recovery period if either confirmed. Fingers crossed for him.” That prognosis would see Guerra return no sooner than Round 17, however that would depend on how he recovers. Guerra gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he came off the field, but that possibly speaks more to his toughness than any indication of the severity of the injury. “That’s a bad one, we believe he may have broken his leg from what we’re hearing initially,” Brown said. Aidan Guerra is given attention from the trainer after his horror ankle injury. Source: FOX SPORTS “That’s a double whammy, after a really poor performance and then a broken leg for one of our players.” The injury was similar to that suffered by Cowboys winger Nene Macdonald on Friday night. MORE NRL NEWS REF PROBE: NRL to investigate after Macdonald’s broken leg ‘disgrace’ MILESTONE MAN: Smith overtakes El Masri’s all-time pointscoring record EYE OF THE STORM: McGuire escapes charge for alleged gouge against Melbourne CALMING INFLUENCE: Roberts steers Titans to first win of the season ONE IN, ALL IN: Shoulder charge sparks wild melee between Titans and Panthers<doc-sep>
Fonua-Blake winds up the Newcastle fans after his high tackle on Pearce Newcastle v Manly games are usually fiery affairs. Whether it’s Mark Carroll on Paul Harragon, or the 1997 Grand Final, there’s plenty of bad blood between the two sides. Now it looks as though Addin Fonua-Blake and David Klemmer have started their own feud for the 21st century. Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > Fonua-Blake had scored in the 63rd minute and when he crossed the line he gave a sarcastic wave in the direction of Klemmer, whom he had just steamed past with ease. Then five minutes later from the restart, Fonua-Blake hit Mitchell Pearce with a high shot. MORE NRL NEWS IT’S A BAD ONE: Graphic images show Guerra’s suspected broken leg IT RISES: Brown aware of building pressure after fourth straight Knights loss HASLER’S DAZZLERS: Manly end two-year wait to seal victory Fonua-Blake hits Mitchell Pearce with a high shot Source: FOX SPORTS Pearce shows his bruised eye after the high shot Source: FOX SPORTS It was ugly and Pearce was clearly dazed. As he stood up, receiving treatment from a trainer, a huge black eye was clear to see. The No. 7 then underwent a HIA. Referee Peter Gough called Fonua-Blake over. Would it be a sending off? It wasn’t but the Manly forward was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes. He is now facing a two-match ban for the hit after the match review committee charged him with a grade one careless high tackle. As he was going off, it all erupted. Klemmer flicks the V at Fonua-Blake Source: FOX SPORTS Fonua-Blake winds up the Newcastle fans Source: FOX SPORTS He waved at Klemmer as he went off, with the Knights prop smirking and flicking the V in the direction of the Sea Eagles boppier. Fonua-Blake continued to make his way to the sideline, and it was there he gesticulated and mouthed at the angry Newcastle crowd. He returned to the field shortly before full-time to a chorus of boos. His behaviour may have appeared like theatrics, or something usually seen in wrestling, but Corey Parker described the forward’s behaviour as “sour”. Michael Ennis was also scathing of Fonua-Blake’s behaviour. He said: “I think he’d like his time over again. “He was the best forward on the ground. It was unnecessary, he brought all his good work undone carrying on like a goose, and the Newcastle fans let him know.” MORE NRL NEWS REF PROBE: NRL to investigate after Macdonald’s broken leg ‘disgrace’ MILESTONE MAN: Smith overtakes El Masri’s all-time pointscoring record EYE OF THE STORM: McGuire escapes charge for alleged gouge against Melbourne CALMING INFLUENCE: Roberts steers Titans to first win of the season ONE IN, ALL IN: Shoulder charge sparks wild melee between Titans and Panthers