Name Waqa Blake Date joined 2015 Weight 93 kg | Height 1.9 m Role Rugby Player | |
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Similar People Reagan Campbell‑Gillard, Bryce Cartwright, Isaah Yeo, Tyrone Peachey, Robert Jennings | ||
Waqa Blake-The Fijian Juggernaut.
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Waqa Blake (born 26 October 1994) is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers of the National Rugby League. A Fiji international and New South Wales City representative, he plays at centre and wing.
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Background
Born in Lautoka, Fiji, Blake moved to Sydney, Australia as a 9-year-old and played his junior football for the Brighton Seagulls. Blake then moved to Perth and played for Joondalup Giants in the Western Australian Rugby League competition before making the Perth Pirates S. G. Ball Cup representative team. At the end of 2012, after being spotted playing for the Pirates, Blake was signed by the Penrith Panthers.
2013
In 2013 and 2014, Blake played for the Penrith Panthers' NYC team. Blake played in the Panthers 2013 NYC Grand Final match against the New Zealand Warriors at centre, scoring a try in the Panthers 42-30 win.
2014
In May 2014, Blake was named on the interchange bench for the Fiji international team for the Pacific Rugby League International test against Samoa but was lately replaced by Petero Civoniceva. In the second half of the 2014 season, Blake moved on to the Panthers New South Wales Cup team, later earning selection in the New South Wales Residents team at centre in the 24-16 loss against Queensland Residents at Suncorp Stadium. On 28 September 2014, Blake played at centre in the Panthers 2014 New South Wales Cup Grand Final match against the Newcastle Knights and scored a try in the Panthers 48-12 win. On 5 October 2014, Blake scored a try in the Panthers 32-28 loss to the Northern Pride in the 2014 NRL State Championship.
2015
On 26 February 2015, Blake extended his contract with the Panthers from the end of 2016 to the end of 2017. In Round 5 of the 2015 NRL season, Blake made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers against the North Queensland Cowboys at centre in the Panthers 30-10 loss at Penrith Stadium. In Blake's next match in Round 6 against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, Blake scored his first NRL career try in the Panthers 22-12 win at Penrith Stadium. On 3 May 2015, Blake played for New South Wales City against New South Wales Country, playing at centre in City's 34-22 loss. He finished off his debut year in the NRL having played in 18 matches and scoring 5 tries for the Panthers.
2016
In February 2016, Blake was named in the Panthers 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. After New Zealand international representatives and usual backline starters Peta Hiku and Dean Whare suffered season ending knee injuries, Blake made the right centre position of his own, having some blockbusting performances in the late rounds of the season during the Panthers charge into the finals, a great transformation after he explained that he returned to pre-season training 12 kilograms overweight and coach Anthony Griffin mentioning to him that "if you want to play in the outside backs, you need to trim down, otherwise you’ll be playing in the forwards". Blake enjoyed his 2016 NRL season with him playing with playing in 21 matches and scoring 8 tries for the Panthers.
2017
In February 2017, Blake was named in the Panthers 2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad where he was named in the Team of the Tournament.