Blake Austin

[Tim Sheens]

Upon reflection and now having watched the game on TV, I think that Sunday afternoon was a breakthrough game for Blake. From my seat in the stands, most of the attacking action he was involved in was either down the other end or side of the field and I did not really appreciate his contribution, particularly as the movement and direction of Moses was catching my attention.

He only made a couple of poor choices which were far outweighed by his usual involvement, along with a deft passing game that was better than I have seen from him and an evolvement I was hoping for as the season progressed.

 

[MightyMaggy]

I have written several times over the last year or so about Blake Austin. My son worked at Penrith Football club some years ago and has retained some of his contacts. The people at the Panthers, before Gould and his team arrived, rated Blake as their next Freddy Fittler. He had some injury problems, which slowed his progress, for a season.
Once we signed him, I followed his games for Panthers NSW Cup team. He ran the team and they nearly caused an upset and won the NSW Cup. If we let him go, we are crazy.

 

[innsaneink]

He seemed to take a few ''selfish'' options last week which didnt pan out…I guess the weight of possession we had led to that.

That said, we have seen him come on and add spark indiviudally, and it HAS paid off.

So we have to give latitude here.

He is a player that can make something from nothing, glad he's with us.

 

[tigermaniac]

He seemed to take a few ''selfish'' options last week which didnt pan out…I guess the weight of possession we had led to that.

That said, we have seen him come on and add spark indiviudally, and it HAS paid off.

So we have to give latitude here.

He is a player that can make something from nothing, glad he's with us.

Totally agree as that's the way I see it/him, but how dare you not mention he's a 5/8th.

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[weststigers]

Needs to do like what Lyon did and switch to center

1\. James Tedesco
2\. Pat Richards
3\. Tim SImona
4\. Blake Austin
5\. David Nofoaluma
6\. Mitchell Moses
7\. Luke Brooks

If that can stay full strength….my gosh.

Mate, Lyon debuted at Centre and has always been a centre. He debuted for Australia at centre in his rookie year. He had a short stint at 5/8 with Manly for a year or so. Can't compare Austin to Lyon in this regard.

Telescope would cover centre better than Austin.

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[innsaneink]

LOL auto text

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I worked with a close family friend of his and based on discussions with him, it sounds like he really has it together. Does a lot of work with Doonside juniors as well as coaching one of the sides. Sounds like a really genuine kind of bloke, not to mention a skilful player. We are nuts if we let him go, every game he has had a decent opportunity he has created something for us, even if it hasn't paid dividends with points he still gives the opposition something to think about as a credible threat with the pill.

Living in Penriff, most of my mates are Pamfers fans and the majority of them were spewing he was let go.

 

[tigersrule4life]

His a very good player and it showed this week what he can do and will only get better hopefully we can re sign him long term. What a great spine we have now go u tigers.

 

[weststigers]

LOL auto text

Telescope can be his new nickname!

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[barra]

I was excited that he was coming because he certainly has ability, so it frustrated me to see Anasta at #6 every week.

Austin needs some games back-to-back in his preferred position to properly find his role within the team. We've seen glimpses of what he can do but he needs to better refine his #6 role.

I like the way he straightens the attack, and I like the way he takes the line on as he is a running #6 as much as a play-maker. He breaks the line pretty much every game he plays and carries the ball in two hands so that will always keep the defence in two minds.

Please keep him. Wherever he plays for us he has brought enthusiasm and commitment.

 

[Spartan117]

Blake is a really good addition to the team.

Attack and defense are both very solid and I love his hunger for success

Really happy he is in our team

 

[NT_Tiger]

I hope we find a place for him that he's happy with. He's a real asset.

 

[supercoach]

He always plays whats in front of him and keeps the defensive line guessing, great step,good passing game,good short kicking game and good vision. Thats what you want in a no6

 

[Nors05]

It really comes down to a choice:

A:
1\. Teddy
3\. Austin
6\. Moses

B:
1\. Moses
3\. Teddy
6\. Austin

To be honest, I would rather 1 player play out of their favourite position than two.

 

[guyofthetiger]

I hope we've rolled enough heads down the stairs for the injury gods.

 

[TurnStyle]

i get the sense a lot of people are projecting to next year and that with teddy, moses and brooks that austin wont have a role.
i dont see why they cant just have them all in the side?! i and a lot of others have suggested centre for austin, and would love to see him at least tried there (when the 1, 6 and 7 are set next year). in any case, even if he doesnt nail down the one position he has shown great versatility (even as backup for farah) and i would hate for him to be squeezed out in the future.

 

[Tim Sheens]

It really comes down to a choice:

A:
1\. Teddy
3\. Austin
6\. Moses

B:
1\. Moses
3\. Teddy
6\. Austin

To be honest, I would rather 1 player play out of their favourite position than two.

Makes sense, and probably the best option, particularly if Blake is not already filling in when one of the spine is out through injury or rep duty.

Whilst I praised him in an above post, as Ink stated, he does have a few poor and/or selfish options in his regular game at six, but his level of involvement and versatility are great assets, for both him and the team.

Moses on the other hand, wow, what a good youngster. He is a future superstar for mine, already, apart from defense, a much more complete footballer. On Sunday he was playing in his third game in top grade, after only a half dozen or so in NSW cup, and not in his preferred position, for which he also only has a few matches of experience.

 

[TIGER]

Blake is not a centre anyone with half a football brain can see he is a ball player, he's our first choice 6 for at least next season imo moses still has alot of development to go before he can defend in the line week in week out. Austin should either be 5/8 or lock no more centre talk.

 

[underdog]

Just watched a replay of that try saver he made in the Roosters game again.

Far out that was by far one of the best I have ever seen.

Even usurping Tedescos try-saver against The Dragons Last year.

Such a brilliant player.

 

[Lukic]

1\. Moses
3\. Tedesco
6\. Austin

Moses might not be as quick or strong as Tedesco but is definitely the better player as far as ball playing and link-play goes. He can operate as a 2nd five-eighth essentially which is very valuable. Looks a lot like Lockyer at fullback and with a good offseason adding a bit of size and speed, will be a lot more dangerous.

Tedesco's career would be preserved I feel in the centres too. I cringe after he gets tackled on many kick returns with that very jinky upright style he has, because it seems that whenever he gets tackled around the legs he could get hurt. Running straighter lines using his speed and strength from the centres would still utilise this and he'd still be a massive threat as a support player looking for offloads, as a finisher of back line movements and also in the short kicking game.

Austin's game isn't that suited to the centres either. There's no doubt he could have some success there, but he isn't the type to beat his man on the outside to put the winger away. He works best drifting around the 20m in from the touchline and targeting tiring forwards/much smaller halves with quicker bursts of speed and that huge step of his. He's your prototypical running half in that sense. There's a number of times his running has troubled teams this year. The try against Parramatta just before half time that kept us in the match was awesome, albeit it was from hooker it shows what he can do. Same as the half-bust he made that lead to Brooks' try vs the Dogs and quite a few occasions vs the Cowboys he bent the line and nearly busted them in his first start at 5/8th. That's not to say he isn't a good ball player, because he does a good job with that aspect as well. Moses and Austin in tandem at 1 and 6 with Austin's running threat squaring up defenders allowing Moses space to exploit the overlap was the reason we were able to score that many tries down the right despite having scored barely any earlier in the season.

All in all, it's a good problem to have since we'll be having quality first graders in all positons, but I just feel that there's more potential in the 1\. Moses 3\. Tedesco 6\. Austin combination with Austin being able to take out 2 defenders with the threat of his running game and consistently giving Moses the chance to work his magic in space with Tedesco and Nofoaluma outside of him.