Blake Austin
 | ||||||
| Austin in 2014 | ||||||
| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 1 February 1991 Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia | |||||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | |||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | Five-eighth, Halfback, Fullback | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2011–13 | Penrith Panthers | 16 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 24 |
| 2014 | Wests Tigers | 19 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 32 |
| 2015– | Canberra Raiders | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Total | 43 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 68 | |
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2007–12 | Portugal | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| As of 7 September 2014 | ||||||
| Source: [1] | ||||||
Blake Austin (born 1 February 1991) is an Australian rugby league footballer of Portuguese descent, who currently plays for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL. A utility player, he primarily plays five-eighth and Halfback. He has also played fullback and centre.
Playing career
A junior baseball player and sprinter, Austin decided to focus on rugby league from the age of 12,[2] playing his early football with Doonside Roos in Western Sydney. In 2009, he represented the Australian Schoolboys team whilst attending St Dominic's College, Penrith. [3]
With the Panthers incapable of making the semi-finals in 2011, Austin was chosen to play from the bench in the last two games of the season, scoring a try in his second game
Before the start of the 2012 season, The Penrith Panthers announced a potentially lucrative two-year deal with Austin. This contract was to allow Austin to keep playing with the Penrith Panthers until season 2014.[4] Austin started the season as regular on the bench, but from round eight was chosen at five-eighth. He played in thirteen games in 2012, and was accurate with his goal-kicking, kicking eight from nine attempts.
In 2013, Austin played one game at halfback, but soon after suffered a foot injury and failed to make another first grade appearance.[5] In August it was announced that Austin would be joining Wests Tigers on a two-year contract. 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."[6]
Starting the 2014 season in NSW Cup, Austin was said to be "dominating" the lower grade.[7] He made his first grade debut in round 6, playing five-eighth after Braith Anasta was suspended, and scoring a try. The next week he was a late inclusion on the bench after Liam Fulton withdrew with a shoulder injury, and scored another try in the Wests Tigers' fourth consecutive win. Austin continued to be chosen on the bench, until moving to five-eighth in July after Anasta suffered a career-ending bicep injury.[8] He appeared in every game for the remaider of the year, scoring seven tries. Commentator Peter Sterling named him 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."[9]
On 14 October 2014, Austin has been released by the Wests Tigers to take up a three-year deal with the Canberra Raiders starting in 2015.[10][11]
Representative Honours
In 2009, Blake was given the opportunity to play for the Australia Schoolboys. He also has the ability to play for the Portugal national side.
References
- ↑ Rugby League Project
- ↑ Adrian Proszenko (4 March 2012). "Panthers splash out $700,000 on rising star". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ↑ "Australian Schoolboys". Sporting Pulse. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ↑ Profile at Panthers
- ↑ "Penrith Panthers lose play maker Blake Austin to foot injury for six weeks". Fox Sports. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ↑ John Greco (7 August 2013). "Tigers snap up Austin, Paterson". Sportal. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ↑ "For Wests Tigers Blake Austin training starts long before he gets to Concord". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
- ↑ Carayannis, Michael (16 August 2014). "Braith Anasta retires on air". The Examiner. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ Sterling, Peter (21 August 2014). "Unknown and underestimated ... Sterlo picks his best bargain buys of the 2014 NRL season.". Fox. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ http://www.nrl.com/austin-signs-with-canberra/tabid/10874/newsid/82509/default.aspx?cid=NRL_HP_Latest
- ↑ http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/blake-austin-released-from-wests-tigers-to-join-canberra-raiders-on-threeyear-deal-20141014-115nom.html