The Parramatta Eels have bid farewell to five NRL players who will depart the club ahead of the 2024 season.
The Eels said goodbye to Andrew Davey, Josh Hodgson, and Jack Murchie, despite the fact that their departures were already confirmed.
Both Davey and Hodgson have announced their retirement from rugby league, while Murchie has signed a long-term contract with the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League.
However, the Eels have also announced that winger Samuel Loizou and outside back Waqa Blake will be leaving the club and will not be on the 2024 NRL roster.
Loizou is a local junior who has worked his way up through the Eels’ Elite Pathways Program. The winger made one first-grade appearance and spent three seasons with the NRL squad.
His first and only NRL appearance came in Round 25, 2021, against the Penrith Panthers, in a 6-40 loss for the Eels.
Waqa Blake, who signed with the Parramatta Eels on a reported $650,000 per season contract, is the other departure.
Blake played for the Eels for four and a half seasons, making 77 NRL appearances and scoring 28 tries during that time, including a game in the 2022 NRL Grand Final.
According to the AAP, Blake has spoken with the Western Force of Super Rugby and is considering a move to rugby union.
The 28-year-old is said to have options in both Australia and abroad. However, the most likely scenario is that he will remain in Australia.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Blake approached Rugby Australia and offered his services.
“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 earlier this year on 100% Footy 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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