Tigers grab up a promising talent as Benji continues his signing binge; ex-Eel resolves his future: Transfer Whispers
After failing to land a new NRL contract, former Eel Waqa Blake has finally made up his mind about his future.
Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers have returned their focus to Justin Olam in the hopes of signing the dominant center right away after acquiring Jarome Luai for 2025.
There are rumors that a Queensland Cup premiership champion has joined the Tigers, proving that the team is actively recruiting.
The Panthers could lose two more players in other areas, but the defending champions have added a former Storm prop.
The Eels decided not to re-sign Waqa Blake, thus he’s off to the Super League.
The 29-year-old has reportedly signed with English Super League powerhouse St Helens, according to League Scene.
Blake has played 165 NRL games over the last seven seasons. He made his debut for the Panthers in 2015 before a mid-season switch to the Eels in 2019.
The five-time Fiji international played on the wing in Parramatta’s 2022 Grand Final appearance but fell out of favour last season, managing just seven games in first grade.
Blake’s preference was to remain in the NRL but after not being able to land a new contract he has agreed to terms with St Helens.
It comes after it was reported in October that Blake was considering a switch to rugby union and even spoke with the Western Force about a potential opportunity.
Q CUP GUN MAKES MOVE TO SYDNEY
Solomona Faataape has been rewarded for his impressive 2023 season with an NRL opportunity.
That is according to Zero Tackle, who reports Faataape has signed with the Wests Tigers.
The 23-year-old won the Queensland Cup premiership last season with Brisbane Tigers — a Melbourne Storm feeder side. He scored 16 tries, set up 10 and got 14 linebreaks in 21 games while averaging four tackle busts and 155 running metres per game.
Faataape, a powerful centre, was also named Players’ Player for 2023 at the Brisbane Tigers’ end of season awards night.
It’s Faataape’s second full-time NRL pre-season having spent last summer with the Storm’s top squad.
The Tigers confirmed Faataape’s one-year supplementary contract on Monday afternoon.
PANTHERS JUNIOR RETURNS TO FOOT OF THE MOUNTAINS
Jordan Grant has returned home to Penrith after three years in the Melbourne Storm system.
The Western Weekender’s Peter Lang reports Grant has signed a train-and-trial contract with the Panthers with his eye on one of the two Top 30 spots available for 2024.
Grant St Clair Comets junior but had stints with the Eels and Tigers in the lower grades.
The 29-year-old made the move to the Queensland Cup in 2018 to play for the Mackay Cutters before joining the Dolphins the following year.
He signed with Storm feeder club Brisbane Tigers ahead of the 2021 season and made his NRL debut for Melbourne later that year.
Grant, who was on a Top 30 contract last season, has played seven NRL games — including two in 2023 — and was a key member of the Brisbane Tigers’ drought-breaking Queensland Cup premiership-winning side in 2023.
