OFFICIAL Blake Austin [Discussion]

2014 Season Awards: Members Player of the Year
Dan Talintyre

Fri 3rd October, 02:00PM

Wests Tigers would like to congratulate Blake Austin on being named the 2014 Members Player of the Year at today’s Grand Final Luncheon.

Following on from thousands of votes, Austin finished on top of the Members’ tally after a stellar first year with the Club.

Austin joined the Wests Tigers from the Penrith Panthers at the beginning of the year and made his debut for the Club in Round 6 against North Queensland.

The 23-year-old played every match from that point, often filling various roles within the team including five-eighth, hooker, fullback and centre.

Austin finished the season with seven tries, just two behind the Club’s leader try-scorer Pat Richards on nine. The Doonside junior also finished the 2014 season on a positive note, with six line-breaks in the final five matches of the season.

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I did watch Holden cup Jerry and agree Matin is a fine prospect. But that's all Brooks, Moses and Martin are at this stage- prospects All three have huge defensive issues at this point in their developing careers. The Austin release was crazy
 
Blake had a fair season ,but guess what .we finished closer to the bottom so big deal .moses will be our starting five eight and in all honesty where would Blake fit in .JT keeps making the hard tough decisions that will turn our club around .we have a great spine when all are fit .all I'm waiting for is for JT to announce the signing of two first graders in the next few weeks .
 
Being old school a contract is a contract but things have changed, when someone throws a bucket load of money at you and you have a young family to support the pressure is on . If he was contracted for next season who initiated the talks himself or the Raiders?. To be honest the guy has shown his true colors and that was money , he is going to struggle finding a position in Canberra as I do not rate him in the halves the successful halves can kick and pass unfortunately Blake can do neither .Yes a strong runner of the ball and that is about it ,defence is sketchy at best.
I am putting a lot of hope in the way the club is evolving at the moment and I feel there is a definite plan emerging, good luck Blake it could be a very cold place in loserville.
 
And this is why the NRL needs to introduce a transfer fee much like the Premier League. Now that would be exciting.
Players leaving when contracted is the bain of the NRL and upsets fans of all clubs. Blake might be getting a better deal from the Raiders but what do we get out it. He wasnt on massive money so it is not like we are saving alot within the salary cap. Maybe a player exchange would of been better. One of the raiders young prospects for Blake would of been a better outcome.
 
He was on a second tier contract, just as he would have continued being second in line for various positions with us next season.

Like a couple of others released earlier this season, there is more behind the change of club than just dollars, but good luck to him, he tries hard.
 
so with Blake Austin going to the raiders is it the end of Terry Campese down there?
It will be interesting to see how Blake does go here in season 2015.

As we have seen over many seasons, players who are in need of a contract, all of a sudden are in career best form and once a deal is secured, the form drops off.
 
Just listen to JT on 2sm Austin had already signed with Canberra for 16 and 17 so that brought everything forward I guess he wanted out for next year as well . If you can listen to interview on 2 sm very enlightening.
 
Thought Blake was a handy player but I think in terms of potential he has reached his best. Moses is the future, wait till he is bigger and stronger and can take on the line with confidence, I just cant wait for the moses/brooks combo to reach 50 NRL games under the guidance of JT. These two will carve up most teams in the NRL. Thanks Blake, you were great at times this year, good luck at Canberra.
 
@Snake said:
To be honest the guy has shown his true colors and that was money , he is going to struggle finding a position in Canberra as I do not rate him in the halves the successful halves can kick and pass unfortunately Blake can do neither .Yes a strong runner of the ball and that is about it ,defence is sketchy at best.
I am putting a lot of hope in the way the club is evolving at the moment and I feel there is a definite plan emerging, good luck Blake it could be a very cold place in loserville.
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Harsh call, he's entitled to support himself and his family as best he can, but maybe he's gone for the challenge of cementing a starting position in first grade.

Enjoyed watching him play in our colours, good luck to him.
 
@shakey4d said:
Austin wanted stability in a position and we couldn't give it. I understand why he want stability.

But what i cant grasp is how often contracts are broken and players released. Two years ago austin was offered a second tier spot at the club and would have lunged at the chance to play any position in first grade. One good season, his stocks rise and all of a sudden he is able to negotiate with other clubs. In my opinion, you sign a two year deal you should honour what you signed up for. I find it very frustrating.

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And that is the frustrating part about the whole thing. Nobody can blame Austin for trying to grab this. But the Tigers were in the driver's seat and could quite reasonably have insisted on him playing 2015 with us - this sort of thing happens all the time. Why wouldn't they? Completely bizarre.
 
It was OK before he came here, it'll be OK after he is gone.

Put any players name in there btw

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My favourite player of 2014, very sad but not unexpected.

He laid it down in the pre season trials, he wanted the no.6 . imo Potter deserved to go for rating Anasta over Austin alone.

Unfortunately the club had already invested big in Moses and Brooks so the story was inevitable really unless Blake compromised and played centre.

Canberra's gain. GL to the future Blake. Just don't let Ricky get in your head. :crazy
 
Can't say I blame him. He's good enough to play FG and wants to play 6 but in reality, next year he'd either be on the bench or in State Cup behind Moses and Brooks. Plus he has a family so he's doing right by them. Good luck to him at the Raiders.
 
I'm pretty unhappy. Blake's a champ dude and a great footballer. I would have done anything to keep him and earmarked him our future captain.
 
I really think he's one of those guys we'll look back on in a couple yrs and laugh for being so upset over losing.
 
@Snake said:
Being old school a contract is a contract but things have changed, when someone throws a bucket load of money at you and you have a young family to support the pressure is on . If he was contracted for next season who initiated the talks himself or the Raiders?. To be honest the guy has shown his true colors and that was money , **he is going to struggle finding a position in Canberra as I do not rate him in the halves** the successful halves can kick and pass unfortunately Blake can do neither .Yes a strong runner of the ball and that is about it ,defence is sketchy at best.
I am putting a lot of hope in the way the club is evolving at the moment and I feel there is a definite plan emerging, good luck Blake it could be a very cold place in loserville.
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Well, lucky for him you're not making the decisions down there. Pretty sure they wouldn't have signed him a yr in advance, then got him an early release if they didn't intend on starting him. Whose going to be his competition down there? Campo's gone, Milfords gone, Whighton's better in the centres. Who else is going to challenge him?
 
@Defiant said:
My favourite player of 2014, very sad but not unexpected.

He laid it down in the pre season trials, he wanted the no.6 . imo Potter deserved to go for rating Anasta over Austin alone.

Unfortunately the club had already invested big in Moses and Brooks so the story was inevitable really unless Blake compromised and played centre.

Canberra's gain. GL to the future Blake. Just don't let Ricky get in your head. :crazy
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anasta was there for his talk and defence. Both of which he was far superior to austin in. Brooks and farah continually lauded him for his talk, and brooks was noticeably less composed after braith tore his bicep.
 
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