Blake Wilson signs with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL

A highlight video from a year plagued with injuries has landed Sunshine Coast Falcons product and Noosa River cafe manager Blake Wilson a professional NRL contract. Watch the video.

Noosa Pirates junior and Sunshine Coast Falcons player Blake Wilson has signed a professional contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Noosa Pirates junior and Sunshine Coast Falcons product Blake Wilson has edged another step closer to his elite level dream after signing a professional contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.

Wilson, who graduated from Sunshine Beach State High School in 2017, played 12 games for the Falcons in 2022 scoring nine tries, two try assists, 56 tackles breaks and an average of 121 running metres.

The 22-year-old said he was excited for the coming months.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be honest, I had a patchy year with injuries and how many games I played because with the Melbourne Storm players coming back it sometimes pushes us out of the team but with the games I played I put some highlights together with my manager and sent them off to a few clubs,” he said.

“We had a few clubs bite back but the Bulldogs were the most keen so I went down for a meeting and signed from there.”

The Waterline Espresso cafe manager and talented fullback said he was thankful for the support he had received.

“I started playing when I was six at the Noosa Pirates and then worked through the Falcons system for the last four years,” he said.

“I had a pre-season with the Melbourne Storm last year which was great so now I’m really looking forward to making the transition to Sydney and focusing on improving myself full time.”

Wilson joins Tyson Smoothy (Brisbane Broncos) and Grant Anderson (Melbourne Storm) to have signed NRL contracts from the Falcons this season.

A young Blake Wilson with former Noosa Pirate and NRL star Moses Mbye (left) and Wilson celebrating with the Noosa Pirates (right).

Wilson would begin his one-year-deal in November and said he hoped to make a good first impression.

“I’ve really looked up to those guys with more experience and maturity on the Sunshine Coast and it’ll be good to get down there and learn even more from those professional players and coaching staff,” he said.

“Obviously anything can happen through pre-season and the trial matches, my goal is to be playing first grade but if that means starting in NSW Cup then so be it.”

He said he was extremely thankful of the efforts of his family, friends, coaches and teammates over the years.