NRL 2021: Parramatta Eels centre Waqa Blake opens up on talk of rift with Blake Ferguson

Waqa Blake has opened on claims of a rift between himself and Eels teammate Blake Ferguson.

Waqa Blake (left) and Blake Ferguson of the Parramatta Eels during a training session in Sydney, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett) NO ARCHIVING

Parramatta centre Waqa Blake has downplayed suggestions of a rift between himself and Blake Ferguson, saying of the enigmatic winger: “I love hanging around him”.

Despite starting this year together on the Eels’ right edge, a run of defensive errors between the pair has seen Blake subsequently switched to the left side of the field while Ferguson is only now back after being dumped by coach Brad Arthur for six weeks.

Speaking on NRL 360 recently, host Paul Kent revealed a rift between the pair had resulted in them not even talking to one another, which had likely played a part in their defensive issues.

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Yet speaking for the first time about the allegations on Monday, Blake insisted he had no issues with Ferguson, who made a strong return to first grade in last week’s loss to Canberra.

Asked about suggestions the pair weren’t talking, Blake stressed he and the Eels’ No.5 were not only fine but effectively “roomies” inside their Gold Coast team bubble.

Waqa Blake and Blake Ferguson have shrugged off talk of a rift between the pair. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

“It’s all wrong,” Blake said. “He (Ferguson) is my roomie. Or in the room next door to me.

“So I see him all the time. He’s a joker. I love hanging around him.

“He’s one of my best mates.”

Quizzed on why Arthur had split the close mates up defensively, Blake continued: “It was a team decision.

“At the time, we weren’t playing … we had a few areas that we let through on our edge. But I’m on the left edge now, Fergy is back and we’re all happy.

“It’s all about the system.

“We have systems in place and when we stick to it we come away with it.

“At the moment I’m playing next to Maika Sivo with Mitch (Moses) inside, or young Jakey (Arthur) and that’s been good for me.”

Back in May, Arthur first moved Blake from the right side while conceding the former Penrith flyer’s combination with Ferguson wasn’t working.

“I just thought, to be really honest, that it hasn’t been working between Fergo and Waqa,” Arthur said. “Sometimes things just don’t work.”

Blake Ferguson and Waqa Blake were working as an on-field combination. Picture: Brett Costello

Then, before the Eels Round 13 match against Newcastle, Ferguson was axed from the side after both South Sydney and Manly ran in 11 tries through the Eels’ right edge within consecutive games.

Speaking on NRL 360 recently, Kent revealed it was not only coach Arthur that Ferguson fell out with after being dumped.

“There was also a bit of a problem with Waqa Blake too — between the pair of them,” Kent said.

Asked by co-host Yvonne Sampson if it was a communication problem, Kent added: “Well, they didn’t speak, so I’d say yes”.

After being upset by Canberra last weekend, Parramatta now face a tough Thursday Night Football test against the Roosters, who sit just two competition points behind them.

The game forms part of a tough run home for the Eels, who play every side who joins them in the top six.

“Our run home is a tough one,” Blake conceded. “We’ve got a big game Thursday against the Roosters and we have to come away with a win.

“Looking back at the (Canberra loss), we had a couple of moments that went against us.

“A few opportunities that we didn’t take.

“It was a close game and Maika almost won it at the end, but there was a heap of other opportunities where we could have finished it but didn’t get the job done.

“Against Roosters, we have to take our opportunities.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Parramatta Eels centre Waqa Blake opens up on talk of rift with Blake Ferguson