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Blake Austin

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Blake Austin
Personal information
Full nameBlake Robert Austin[1]
Born (1991-02-01) 1 February 1991 (age 33)
Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)
Weight15 st 4 lb (97 kg)
Playing information
PositionStand-off, Scrum-half
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2011–13 Penrith Panthers 15 2 8 0 24
2014 Wests Tigers 19 7 3 0 34
2015–18 Canberra Raiders 88 34 0 1 137
2019–21 Warrington Wolves 66 33 0 6 138
2022– Leeds Rhinos 22 4 0 0 16
Total 210 80 11 7 349
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–12 Portugal 3 0 2 0 4
2015 City Origin 1 3 0 0 12
2019 England 9s 3 1 1 0 6
2019 Great Britain 2 1 0 0 4
Source: [2][3][4]
As of 26 September 2022

Blake Austin (born 1 February 1991) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a stand-off for the Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Super League.

Austin previously played for the Warrington Wolves (Heritage № 1147), Canberra Raiders, Penrith Panthers and the Wests Tigers in the NRL. He played for the City Origin team in 2015 and Portugual and Great Britain at international level. He has also represented England at 9s.

Early life

Austin was born in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, to parents Robert and Maree. He is of English descent through his grandmother.[5]

A Doonside Roos junior, Austin was also a baseballer and sprinter as a child.[6] In 2001, he appeared on The Footy Show as the winner of the "league of their own" video contest for best junior rugby league try. He won a brand new Holden Jackaroo, which his parents sold in order to move out of a Doonside housing commission and into their own home in Mount Druitt.[7] In 2009, Austin represented the Australian Schoolboys team while attending St Dominic's College, Penrith.[6][8]

Playing career

Penrith Panthers

With the Penrith Panthers incapable of making the semi-finals in 2011, Austin made his NRL debut for the Penrith club in round 25 against the Canberra Raiders. He scored a try in his second game, against the St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 26. During the 2012 pre-season, Austin re-signed with the Penrith club on a two-year contract.[9]

Austin playing for the Windsor Wolves in 2012

He played 13 games in 2012, scoring a try and kicking 8 goals from 9 attempts. In 2013, Austin played just one game for Penrith before suffering a foot injury.[10]

Wests Tigers

On 7 August 2013, Austin signed with the Wests Tigers on a two-year contract starting in 2014. Future coach Mick Potter described him as, "a player with plenty of potential. He can cover centre, half, five-eighth and lock and is also an excellent goal kicker."[11] Austin began the 2014 season playing in the NSW Cup for the Tigers' feeder team, the Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers. He was said to be "dominating" the lower grade. He made his club debut for the Tigers in round 6, after Braith Anasta was suspended.[12] The following week, Austin was a late inclusion on the bench after Liam Fulton withdrew with a shoulder injury. He continued to be chosen on the bench, until moving to five-eighth in July after Anasta suffered a career-ending bicep injury.[citation needed] He appeared in every game for the remainder of the year, scoring seven tries.

Commentator Peter Sterling named Austin as one of the bargain buys of the season, saying it was "obvious he’s a natural footballer with good skills and an ability to play what’s in front of him."[13]

Austin in 2014

Canberra Raiders

On 14 October 2014, Austin was released by the Wests Tigers to sign a three-year deal with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2015.[14][15] Austin entered the Canberra side as a starting line-up five-eighth and was selected to play the first game of the season against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Austin set up and scored his first try with the club in the Raiders' round 3 loss to the St. George Illawarra Dragons.[citation needed] After several tries and a countless number of strong performances, Austin scored his first career hat-trick against Newcastle in Round 18, incredibly scoring all three tries within eleven minutes.[6] On 28 September 2015, Austin was named as the Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year. He finished the 2015 season playing a total of 23 matches, 16 line-breaks, 7 try-assists and 14 tries. In 2016, Austin played 19 games for Canberra as they finished second on the table at the end of the regular season. 2016 was also the first year that Austin had played finals football.[16] At the start of 2018, Canberra lost their opening 4 games of the season and as a result Austin was demoted to reserve grade by coach Ricky Stuart.[17]

On 24 June 2018, it was reported that Austin had rejected a contract extension with the club which was confirmed by Canberra's recruitment manager Peter Mulholland. Mulholland told the media "Blake had an offer on the table last year and he rejected that offer, and as in the game you've got to move on and unfortunately he didn't take the offer and we've moved on, basically, It's unfortunate, but that's the way it works with the salary cap, you cannot keep everybody". On 30 June 2018, Canberra led Brisbane 16-0 at halftime until a second half fight back from Brisbane made the scores 24-22. With the game on the line, Austin attempted a goal line drop out which went over the touchline on the full giving Brisbane a penalty goal shot right in front of the posts to win the match 26-22.[18][19] On 9 July, Austin signed a three-year deal to join English side the Warrington Wolves[20]

On 12 August 2018, Canberra were trailing the Wests Tigers 22-20 with three minutes left in the game. Austin attempted to tackle Wests winger David Nofoaluma but was penalized by the referee after Austin lifted Nofoaluma in a dangerous position which was similar to a "WWE-style powerbomb". The costly penalty gave Wests a much needed reprieve and ended up holding on for the victory.[21]

Warrington

Austin made his competitive debut for Warrington in the seasons opening 26-6 win against Leeds. Scoring his first try in the second half. Austin was part of the Warrington side which finished 4th during the Super League XXIV season but were eliminated in the first week of the finals series by Castleford 14-12.[22]

On 4 August 2021, Austin signed a one-year deal to join Leeds for the 2022 season.[23]

Leeds

In round 2 of the 2022 Super League season, Austin made his club debut for Leeds in their 34-12 loss against Wigan.[24] On 24 September 2022, Austin played for Leeds in their 24-12 loss to St Helens RFC in the 2022 Super League Grand Final.[25]

Representative career

At age 16, Austin was invited to play for Portugal in their match against Malta on 6 October 2007, kicking two goals in Portugal's losing effort.[4][26] In October 2009, Austin represented Portugal in the Australian Mediterranean (Aus-Med) Shield at Marconi Stadium in Sydney, a tournament made up completely of Australian residents, such as Cameron Ciraldo, John Skandalis and Jarrod Sammut.[27] Austin represented Portugal at the 2012 Cabramatta International Nines. Austin has said, however, that he does not have Portuguese ancestry.[28] The Sydney Morning Herald joked that he qualified "because he had eaten a Portuguese chicken burger".[29] Austin later explained Portugal national team coach Mal Speers invited him to play because he knew Austin's father. Austin attended because he was young and didn't feel like turning down any invitations to play rugby league and thought playing international league could be an interesting experience.[30]

Austin was selected to represent City Origin in 2015.

In July 2019, Austin was selected by Wayne Bennett for England's 27-man Elite Performance Squad.

He was selected in England 9s squad for the 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.[31]

He was selected in squad for the 2019 Great Britain Lions tour of the Southern Hemisphere.[32]

Personal life

Having suffered a foot injury early in 2013, Austin volunteered to coach the under 16 Doonside Roos team, a group of boys dubbed "the uncoachables" due to their poor discipline. The team was defeated by the Colyton Mt Druitt Colts 26-16 in their Grand Final.[29] Austin coached them again as under 17s in 2014.[33]

Austin was highly praised by the media after he drove a disabled Raiders fan to the team's game on 3 July 2016.[34][35]

References

  1. ^ Companies House
  2. ^ loverugbyleague
  3. ^ "Blake Austin". Rugby League Project.
  4. ^ a b "Stats Centre". Portuguese Rugby League. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Canberra Raiders' Blake Austin leaves door ajar for England jersey under Bennett". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Bosworth, Tony (23 September 2016). "Canberra Raider and former Doonside player Blake Austin calls on youngsters to persevere". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Canberra Raiders star Blake Austin got his family out of housing commission as a nine-year-old". Fox Sports. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Australian Schoolboys". Sporting Pulse. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013.
  9. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (4 March 2012). "Panthers splash out $700,000 on rising star". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Penrith Panthers lose play maker Blake Austin to foot injury for six weeks". Fox Sports. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  11. ^ Greco, John (7 August 2013). "Tigers snap up Austin, Paterson". Sportal. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013.
  12. ^ Lane, Daniel (9 April 2014). "For Wests Tigers Blake Austin training starts long before he gets to Concord work". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  13. ^ Sterling, Peter (21 August 2014). "Unknown and underestimated ... Sterlo picks his best bargain buys of the 2014 NRL season". Fox Sports. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Blake Austin Signs with the Raiders". raiders.com.au. 13 October 2014.
  15. ^ Wilson, Chris (14 October 2014). "Blake Austin released from Wests Tigers to join Canberra Raiders on three-year deal". Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ^ "Season Review: Blake Austin". 17 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Raiders drop the axe on fan favourite".
  18. ^ "Raiders have 'moved on' from Blake Austin".
  19. ^ "Josh Hodgson can't save Raiders from dud rugby league". TheGuardian.com. July 2018.
  20. ^ "Wire sign Canberra stand-off Austin". BBC Sport.
  21. ^ "Canberra Raiders Blake Austin penalised for WWE-style powerbomb tackle on Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma | Sporting News". Archived from the original on 7 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Super League elimination final: Castleford hang on for 14-12 win over Warrington". BBC Sport.
  23. ^ "Leeds Rhinos to sign Warrington Wolves playmaker from 2022 season". BBC Sport.
  24. ^ "Leeds 12 Wigan 34 Match Report". www.therhinos.co.uk. 18 February 2022.
  25. ^ "St Helens sink Leeds to win record fourth consecutive Grand Final". www.theguardian.com.
  26. ^ "Portugal 12 v Malta 58". Portuguese Rugby League. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008.
  27. ^ "Aus-Med Shield Tournament". NSWRL.com.au. 6 October 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009.
  28. ^ Kerr, Jack (2 July 2016). "Back in the game: Blake Austin, 25, rugby league player". The Saturday Paper. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  29. ^ a b Lane, Daniel (15 December 2013). "Wests Tigers recruit Blake Austin taught life lesson as coach of troubled teens". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  30. ^ "Expansionist Blog: Blake Austin explains how playing for Portugal came about". LoveRugbyLeague.com. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  31. ^ "Sam Tomkins eager to lift inaugural World 9s title with England Down Under". Mirror. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Zak Hardaker shock inclusion in 24-man Great Britain squad for tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea". Telegraph. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  33. ^ Molan, Erin (20 March 2014). "Austin's power is helping wayward youth". NRL.com. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  34. ^ Glover, Ben (3 July 2016). "Blake Austin praised for incredible act of kindness hours before running out for Canberra Raiders". Fox Sports. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  35. ^ "Raiders Blake Austin Gives Fan a Ride To The Game". Triple M. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
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