Waqa Continues To Soar Above Pack
I’m trying to give back to the team after being dropped-Penrith centre
Waqa Blake is no longer flying under the radar and is grabbing every opportunity at Penrith with both hands.
The underrated Fijian Bati has now combined with winger Dallin WateneZelezniak for eight tries in their last five outings, and will look to trouble North Queensland on Saturday night.
It is easy to forget Blake, 22, kept his centre spot ahead of Kiwi international Peta Hiku, and eventually forced him to find a new deal in England. Blake was also one of three players stood down by coach Anthony Griffin for staying out late in Melbourne, which he d escribed as a “turning point’’ in his own season earlier this year.
One of the most powerfully-built and smoothest movers in rugby league — Panthers officials often claim the flying Fijian has the perfect running technique — Blake told The Daily Telegraph he made a point of never letting his teammates down again after the late night down south.
“I take that as a lesson I learned, it was not a good thing I did, and you have to cherish what you’ve got,’’ Blake said.
“I’m trying to give back to this team, and trying to do that every week.
“When the boys are playing with confidence, you feed off that, and that’s what I put my own form down to.’’ When Blake started out, he was good for a kamikaze pass or one-handed bobble, but those errors have quickly disappeared from his game.
He looks comfortable playing at 98kg. Fullback Dylan Edwards said Blake worked hard, was in form and had ‘’springs for legs’’.
As Blake reached for the heavens on Wednesday, skipper Matt Moylan helped call the shots without actual running.
He is expected to test out his troublesome hamstring in a bid to join Friday’s captain’s run.
The return of the No. 6, against their former fiveeighth in Te Maire Martin on the same side of the field, will be one of the highlights at Pepper Stadium.
Penrith are shooting for their sixth straight win and the chance to retain at least eighth spot ahead of Sunday week’s tough trip to Canberra.
I’m trying to give back to this team, and trying to do that every week. When the boys are playing with confidence, you feed off that, and that’s what I put my own form down to. Waqa Blake Penrith centre