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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"Why are there so many blogs with the same theme (and the same people with the same responses)? Thank goodness it's game day and there will be something else to talk about come 3pm"

"It's the worst and I mean worst time to resign players for a club like ours now.If you are a young up n comer a clubman coming off contract an elite talent it's perfect timing with more money and opportunities on the market the options are there for…"

"It's not just 1 game, he's played a handful of games and look like a pretty slick player. Sean Russell is no gun. He's developed into a decent 1st grade centre but has never appeared to be a player with a high ceiling. Mate our outside back…"

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.