Parramatta Eels star Waqa Blake linked with Super League move

CALLUM WALKER 15/03/2023

PARRAMATTA EELS star Waqa Blake could be on his way to Super League for the 2024 season and beyond.

Currently on a wage of $500,000 at the Eels – a deal worth almost £275,000 – Blake is set to leave the Eels at the end of the year when his contract ends, prompting a potential move to Super League League Express understands.

The 28-year-old has found form hard to come by in previous years after signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with Parramatta midway through the 2019 season.

Blake came through the ranks at the Penrith Panthers, debuting for the Mountain Men in 2015 and going on to play 88 times, scoring 34 tries in the process.

Whilst at the Eels, the 28-year-old has added to those NRL appearances with a further 28 tries in 72 games.

Born in Lautoka, Fiji, the Blake family moved to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia when the current Eel was just nine.

League Express understands that rival NRL clubs have shown little interest in the Parramatta star, however, Super League are on red alert for the potential to have a Fiji Test star in their ranks.

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"With their injury issues, they are maybe not in a great position to do swaps, but they have always managed to have fast and athletic backs, maybe running around in one of their many feeder sides! They certainly don't breed them that way at Parra. "

"First question first....Pezet has been signed by Broncs already....cap position is theIr Problem...I am guessing and loathe to think about it but NO SURELY not.... if we were offered to keep him.....I would go so far to call that a COACH KILLER!…"

"If only 3 players from here make FG then the pathway system has failed because there is so much talent here. But to play along, I would say Petrus, Koina and Seuseu (if he picks league over union)"

Replies

Blue Eel March 19, 2023 at 9:06pm

So who comes in to play centre - albeit next year. $500k should be enough to pick up a fairly decent centre.
- Frank The Tank > Blue Eel March 19, 2023 at 9:40pm
  
  It will be someone significantly cheaper than him, that you can be assured of.
  - Kurupt - Your Mums Favourite Thug > Frank The Tank March 19, 2023 at 9:58pm
    
    I heard BA is chasing someone really hard to take Waqas centre position next year. Yep it's Michael J Fox, BA thinks he can bring the teen wolf out of him.
    - Frank The Tank > Kurupt - Your Mums Favourite Thug March 19, 2023 at 11:21pm
      
      Hahahaha that might still be an upgrade.
- Brett Allen > Blue Eel March 20, 2023 at 10:59am
  
  We've got the internal talent. I'd be playing either Russell or Dunster there.
EA March 19, 2023 at 10:03pm

Our future backline is Sivo and Dunster on the wings. Penisni and Russel in the centres. Then we will have two quality depth outside backs in Simonson and Cini. I doubt Loizou is going any anywhere since he is in jersely flegg.
- BEM > EA March 19, 2023 at 10:34pm
  
  Simonsson - Quality depth?
  
  Are you serious?
  - EA > BEM March 19, 2023 at 11:25pm
    
    At centre he is good depth based of his final series last year.
  - Brett Allen > BEM March 20, 2023 at 10:59am
    
    As a back up, yes.
Clintorian March 19, 2023 at 10:13pm

He'll kill it at wing or centre in the Super League, but I'm really glad a decision has been made and we're looking to the future. Shame we couldn't sort out a trade before the start of the season. Hopefully he can score an early release and we can pinch someone for our run home.

Not sure who's available, but for $300-500k we should be able to get someone decent. I really wish we had gone for Herbie before the Dolphins.