Michael Blake (rugby league)

Last updated

Michael Blake
Personal information
Full nameMichael Blake
Born (1961-04-20) 20 April 1961 (age 63)
London, England, United Kingdom
Playing information
Position Centre
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
1979–84 Manly Sea Eagles 66240080
1985–86 Canberra Raiders 72008
1987–88 South Sydney 362008
Total109280096
Source: [1]
As of 11 April 2019

Michael Blake is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played for Manly-Warringah, Canberra Raiders and South Sydney in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

Contents

Background

Blake was born in London, England to British parents, but moved to Sydney with his family at an early age. He is the older brother of former professional rugby league footballer; Phil Blake.

He played his junior rugby league for Forestville and St. Augustines.

Playing career

Blake made his first grade debut for Manly against the Balmain in Round 18 1979 at the Brookvale Oval. It wasn't until the 1982 season that Blake began to establish himself in the starting side. Blake scored 11 tries in 25 games for Manly as they reached the 1982 NSWRL grand final against the Parramatta Eels. Blake played at centre in the match as Manly were beaten 21-8 after trailing 16–3 at halftime.

In 1983, Blake made 17 appearances as Manly reached the 1983 NSWRL grand final in a rematch against Parramatta. Blake played from the bench as Manly were defeated for a second time in the decider 18–6. At the end of 1984, Blake was released by Manly and he joined the Canberra Raiders. Blake only managed 7 appearances over 2 seasons at Canberra before he was released. Blake then went on to join South Sydney where his brother Phil was playing.

Blake became a regular starter for Souths as the club finished 5th in 1987 before suffering an embarrassing 46–12 loss against his former club Canberra in the finals series. The match is remembered for the poor performance of Steve Mavin who made a number of errors and was taken off at half time. Mavin later claimed that he left the ground after being substituted and watched the second half from the Cauliflower Hotel in Redfern. [2]

Blake played one final season in 1988 before retiring. The following year, Souths would go on to win the minor premiership in 1989. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Raiders</span> Australian rugby league football club

The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League (NRL) premiership since 1982. Over this period the club has won three premierships out of six Grand Finals, the last one played being the 2019 NRL Grand Final, resulting in a 14-8 controversial loss to the Sydney Roosters. Canberra currently have the second longest active premiership drought in the NRL totalling 30 years. The Raiders' current home ground is Canberra Stadium in Bruce. Previously, the team played home matches at Seiffert Oval in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, with the move to the Canberra Stadium in Bruce taking place in 1990. The official symbol for the Canberra Raiders is the Viking. The Viking, also a mascot at Raiders' games, is known as Victor the Viking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parramatta Eels</span> Australian rugby league football club

The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta that competes in the National Rugby League (NRL).

The 1989 NSWRL season was the 82nd season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Sixteen clubs competed for the New South Wales Rugby League's J.J. Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup Premiership during the season, which culminated in a grand final between Balmain and Canberra. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1989 Panasonic Cup. This would be the last time a mid-season competition was played concurrent with the regular season. From 1990 it would become a pre-season competition.

The 1982 NSWRFL season was the 75th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and saw the New South Wales Rugby Football League’s first expansion since 1967 with the introduction of the first two clubs from outside the Sydney area in over half a century: the Canberra Raiders and the Illawarra Steelers. Thus a total of 14 clubs competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and newly-created Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the Parramatta and Manly-Warringah clubs. This season, NSWRFL teams also competed for the 1982 KB Cup which was won by Manly-Warringah.

Phil Blake is a British-born Australian former rugby league footballer and a professional rugby union coach.

The 1987 NSWRL season was the 80th season of professional rugby league football in Australia. Thirteen clubs competed for the New South Wales Rugby League premiership's J J Giltinan Shield and Winfield Cup during the season, which culminated in the grand final between the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Canberra Raiders who were the first club ever from outside Sydney to appear in a premiership decider. This season, NSWRL teams also competed for the 1987 National Panasonic Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabramatta Two Blues</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Cabramatta, NSW

Cabramatta Two Blues, colloquially known as Cabra, is an Australian rugby league football club that was originally formed in 1919 and then later completely formed as the Two Blues in 1939. They have always based from the Parramatta Junior Leagues, and their junior teams compete in the Parramatta District Junior Rugby League Association. They currently compete in the Sydney Shield and have previously competed in the Ron Massey Cup however both sides did not field a side for the 2022 season in either competition. They play out of the Cabramatta, New South Wales, Sports Ground Complex which can fit up to 5,000 spectators. The Two Blues have won numerous A-Grade Titles with their last Premiership received in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reece Robinson</span> Lebanon international rugby league footballer

Reece Robinson is a Lebanon international rugby league footballer who most recently played for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Oldfield (rugby league)</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Michael Oldfield is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a winger and centre for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Brown (rugby league, born 1993)</span> Italy international rugby league footballer

Nathan Brown is an Italian international rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Steve Mavin is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs from 1987 until 1990. Mavin played in England for Trafford Borough in 1990, the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in 1991 and then returned to the Rabbitohs in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reimis Smith</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Reimis Smith is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liam Knight</span> Australian rugby league footballer (born 1995)

Liam Knight is an Australian rugby league footballer who primarily plays as a prop or lock forward for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL).

The 1987 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles season was the 41st in the club's history since their entry into the then New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1947.

Phil Carey is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played for the Canberra Raiders, Manly-Warringah and Featherstone Rovers.

Mark Pocock nicknamed "Poey" is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for Manly-Warringah in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

Stuart Davis, nicknamed "The Bug", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer whose career spanned the 1980s. He played for Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

Glenn Mansfield is an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for the Parramatta Eels in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition and Fulham RLFC in England.

Gary Spears is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He played for Balmain and the Canberra Raiders in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition.

David Cruickshank is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played for South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition, plus for Fulham RLFC and Salford in England in 1990-91

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Blake- Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". Rugbyleagueproject.org.
  2. ↑ "NRL Finals 2017: Steve Mavin's epic finals meltdown for South Sydney vs Canberra, 30 years on". www.foxsports.com.au.
  3. ↑ "Canberra Raiders Player Numbers: 1982-2018". www.raiders.com.au.
  4. ↑ Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. (1995 edition) ISBN   1875169571
  5. ↑ "Michael Blake". manlygoldeneagles.com.au.
  6. ↑ "South Sydney Rabbitohs Rugby League Player Report - Michael Blake". www.ssralmanac.com.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.