Parramatta Eels bid farewell to five players
Two of the outgoing players were not identified.
The Parramatta Eels have bid farewell to five NRL players who will depart before the 2024 season begins.
The Eels bid goodbye to Andrew Davey, Josh Hodgson, and Jack Murchie, whose departures had already been revealed.
Davey and Hodgson have declared their retirement from rugby league, while Murchie has secured a long-term contract with the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.
However, the Eels have also revealed that winger Samuel Loizou and outside back Waqa Blake will leave the club and will not be on the roster for the 2024 NRL season.
Loizou is a local youth who has risen through the club levels via the Eels’ Elite Pathways Program. The winger would play one first-grade game and spend three seasons with the NRL team.
His debut and only NRL appearance came on Round 25, 2021, against the Penrith Panthers, in which the Eels lost 6-40.
Waqa Blake, who signed with the Parramatta Eels for an estimated $650,000 per season, is the other player who has left.
Blake completed four and a half seasons with the Eels, appearing in 77 NRL games and scored 28 tries, including the 2022 NRL Grand Final.
The AAP has reported that Blake has spoken to the Super Rugby club, Western Force and is considering making the switch to rugby union.
It is understood that the 28-year-old has options in both Australia and overseas. However, the likeliest scenario will see him remain in Australia.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Blake reportedly offered his services to Rugby Australia after approaching them.
“I don’t know if Waqa Blake is necessarily on that hit-list, but he has been offered to Eddie Jones and rugby union,” Danny Weidler said on 100% Footy earlier this year in April.
“There’s been a lot of talk about his future at Parramatta, and Parramatta is looking for X-factor players with Clint Gutherson being moved to the centres because its centres aren’t strong.”
“Well, it appears that maybe Waqa Blake is reading that information, and there has been a reach-out by his management to Eddie Jones.”
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