The Waqa Blake Fan Club

[Matthew Ellis]

For someone who scores so many tries he's pretty underrated by most fans. He might be the 5th or 6th quickest player in the comp but I hardly ever see him brought up in that discussion.

 

[tripster]

He has also developed into an excellent defender.

The try he saved against the Warriors was incredible, when he smashed their winger over the sideline. Very few centres could have done that - Mitchell is probably the only one I can imagine would have the speed to cover the distance that he did and the power out knock him over the sideline.

It also came at a critical time in the game. We were up 12-0 and doing a lot of defending early in the second half. Warriors score that try and we could have had a 12-6 score line and whole different game.

 

[mxlegend99]

He has also developed into an excellent defender.

The try he saved against the Warriors was incredible, when he smashed their winger over the sideline. Very few centres could have done that - Mitchell is probably the only one I can imagine would have the speed to cover the distance that he did and the power out knock him over the sideline.

It also came at a critical time in the game. We were up 12-0 and doing a lot of defending early in the second half. Warriors score that try and we could have had a 12-6 score line and whole different game.

No other player in our team has the pace to get there like that. He was in for all money. Unbelievable try saver.

Blake puts in a lot of effort defensively no matter how unlikely saving the try looks. In so many linebreaks he comes screaming from nowhere to often be the closest to stopping a try. Even if its from the other side of the field.

Not saying he's the only one trying when it happens. He's just so goddamn fast he gets close to them often enough to know he tried.

He has a great attitude.

 

[soc123_au]

When Alexander Greame Bell invented the telephone, he had 3 missed calls from Waqa Blake.

 

[franklin2323]

For someone who scores so many tries he's pretty underrated by most fans. He might be the 5th or 6th quickest player in the comp but I hardly ever see him brought up in that discussion.

I put that down to injury. Makes him hard to get noticed by others

 

[The Realist]

For someone who scores so many tries he's pretty underrated by most fans. He might be the 5th or 6th quickest player in the comp but I hardly ever see him brought up in that discussion.

He is quick over the 100, but he takes a while to wind up and get into his stride. I doubt he'd be Top 20 in the first 30-40 metres, and probably not even Top 2 in our Contracted players list over that distance.

At the very least Peachy is faster off the mark though his speed tapers very quickly.

 

[TheFrog]

He is quick over the 100, but he takes a while to wind up and get into his stride. I doubt he'd be Top 20 in the first 30-40 metres, and probably not even Top 2 in our Contracted players list over that distance.

At the very least Peachy is faster off the mark though his speed tapers very quickly.

I've always thought he should have some off-season training to improve his speed off the mark.

 

[betcats]

I've always thought he should have some off-season training to improve his speed off the mark.

I’d say he does. I think speed off the mark(line) and leg drive has been a big focus of the teams over the offseason, so lots of sprints and fast feet drills.

Waqa has looong legs and is a big man, he’s always going to take a couple steps to get going. That being said I remember sowie talking about him after he dropped all that weight and saying he is much faster off the mark now.

 

[mxlegend99]

I’d say he does. I think speed off the mark(line) and leg drive has been a big focus of the teams over the offseason, so lots of sprints and fast feet drills.

Waqa has looong legs and is a big man, he’s always going to take a couple steps to get going. That being said I remember sowie talking about him after he dropped all that weight and saying he is much faster off the mark now.

To make the tackle he did against Warriors he had to get off the mark pretty quickly. He might not have Peachey acceleration to top speed. But he's still pretty quick off the mark.

 

[OldPanther]

To make the tackle he did against Warriors he had to get off the mark pretty quickly. He might not have Peachey acceleration to top speed. But he's still pretty quick off the mark.

No one else in the team saves that try.

 

[betcats]

To make the tackle he did against Warriors he had to get off the mark pretty quickly. He might not have Peachey acceleration to top speed. But he's still pretty quick off the mark.

Yeah agree he’s pretty good already, he’s never going to be Jennings or Peachey off the mark that doesn’t matter tho. We need someone with his back end speed to finish tries far more than we need a Jennings.

Maloney, peach, Cleary and Dallin are real quick off the mark.

 

[betcats]

No one else in the team saves that try.

Not many players in the comp have the size and speed combination to cover that ground and then smash a huge winger out like that.

Would we swap Waqa for any centre in the game right now? I wouldn’t.

 

[tripster]

Not many players in the comp have the size and speed combination to cover that ground and then smash a huge winger out like that.

Would we swap Waqa for any centre in the game right now? I wouldn’t.

I certainly wouldn't. Particularly when I think he still hasn't reached his peak.

 

[betcats]

I certainly wouldn't. Particularly when I think he still hasn't reached his peak.

Yep he will get much better. Remember his first year? Overweight, shoddy decision making and he kept dropping the ball over the line! He has improved so much.

 

[mxlegend99]

Yeah agree he’s pretty good already, he’s never going to be Jennings or Peachey off the mark that doesn’t matter tho. We need someone with his back end speed to finish tries far more than we need a Jennings.

Maloney, peach, Cleary and Dallin are real quick off the mark.

I think any work done to improve acceleration would require him losing weight and cost him a bit of his strength. His power and speed combination is awesome as it is

 

[OldPanther]

Not many players in the comp have the size and speed combination to cover that ground and then smash a huge winger out like that.

Would we swap Waqa for any centre in the game right now? I wouldn’t.

No chance. He's my favourite centre in the game.

 

[franklin2323]

Not many players in the comp have the size and speed combination to cover that ground and then smash a huge winger out like that.

Would we swap Waqa for any centre in the game right now? I wouldn’t.

I like both our centres but Whare lacks size and speed so eventually we will get a better option. No such problems for Blake

 

[Matthew Ellis]

Not many players in the comp have the size and speed combination to cover that ground and then smash a huge winger out like that.

Would we swap Waqa for any centre in the game right now? I wouldn’t.

Nah, he's more consistent than guys like Roberts and Latrell. And Inglis is pretty old by this stage.

 

[Fangs]

Second game back and he was terrifying again.

Is there a better centre in the game than Waqa right now?

 

[martielang]

Second game back and he was terrifying again.

Is there a better centre in the game than Waqa right now?

Agree. Looks better then before His injury.

I think Capewell done a decent job on him all things considered. A couple of last ditch tackles saved a couple of certain tries.