McInnes has only shared the training ground with Fonua-Blake for a week but is already assured that the former Warriors prop will take the Sharks to the elusive NRL premiership.
Fonua-Blake joins Craig Fitzgibbon's side in a rich vein of form, playing a starring role in Tonga's fairytale Pacific Cup campaign.
He begins a four-season deal at Cronulla, having put pen to paper at the end of the 2023 season.
AFB x Sharks � — Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) pic.twitter.com/SVO2Hx6xmZDecember 7, 2024
So impressed with Fonua-Blake's early display of talent that McInnes believes it is up for the already existing Sharks squad to mould their playing styles to the 29-year-old.
"He is the elite, probably the No.1 front-rower in the game the last couple years - 100 per cent he is that missing piece," McInnes said.
"We all have a job to do as well, because you can't just throw him in and go, yeah, he's a missing piece.
"He's been in a system at Warriors and at Tonga where he thrives in that system, so we need to make sure that probably we have to change the way we play for him.
"It's not for him to fit into us. It's for him to take us to another level."
Fonua-Blake has chosen to be modest in response to the praise.
"I've heard a bit of talk like that, but I'll just kind of keep my head on my shoulders, you know, keep working hard," he said.
"This game, it's a funny game. Nothing comes easy. I know if I'm reading into it too much, I'm not going to be playing as best as I can."
Tonga captain Addin Fonua-Blake leads The Sipi Tau ahead of facing New Zealand in Auckland. (Andrew Cornaga/AAP PHOTOS)
Still, the star prop is well aware of his responsibility of driving Cronulla to a second premiership, after they finally took a step to the third week of the finals in 2024 before being knocked out by Penrith.
"Everyone's obviously got that burning feeling in them, obviously bowing out one game before the big dance," Fonua-Blake said.
"It's a team that's always entrenched into the finals. I'm just looking to help them take the next step.
"Given the roster that the boys have here and the quality of talent that they have here, it's a bit of a no-brainer to come down.
"The team being on the cusp every year, it's something that you get a bit jealous of watching the finals."
McInnes, who will remain with the club until at least the end of 2026, is as bullish as ever about claiming a premiership.
Entering his 11th NRL season next year, he will be 32 when his current contract ends.
"You can't shy away from what our goals are and the sort of evolution of our squad. We're going after nothing but that now," McInnes said.
"Other teams are going to improve. There's obviously a couple that in the grand final that I can't see them taking a backward step either, so it's only gonna get tougher."
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