Blaize Talagi
{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Blaize Talagi
|fullname = Blaize Afasene Seuala Talagi[https://www.instagram.com/blaize_talagi/ Instagram]. Accessed 31 August 2024.
|image =
|image_size =
|position = {{rlp|CE|FE|WG|FB}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2005|3|16}}[https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-2024-parramatta-eels-ready-to-reap-a-fine-young-crop-of-juniors/news-story/2ec93f963367b07e915af92b4ef420df NRL 2024: Parramatta Eels ready to reap a fine young crop of juniors]
|birth_place =
|height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|90|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|club1 = Parramatta Eels
|year1start = 2024
|appearances1 = 19
|tries1 = 11
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 44
|club2 = Penrith Panthers
|year2start = 2025
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 10
|tries2 = 4
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 16
|teamA = Samoa
|yearAstart = 2024
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|new = yes
|source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/blaize-talagi/summary.html Rugby League Project]
|updated = 8 June 2025
}}
Blaize Afasene Seuala Talagi (born 16 March 2005) is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|fe}} for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League.
He previously played for the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as a {{rlp|ce|fb}} and {{rlp|wg}}er.
Background
He was educated at Westfields Sports High School.
Talagi has played for New South Wales at under-16 and under-18 level. He also played for the Australian Schoolboys side in 2022.[https://18thman.com/players/blaize-talagi/ 18th man]
He came through the system at the Parramatta Eels. Talagi won the 2023 SG Ball Grand Final with Parramatta, playing {{rlp|ce}}.[https://www.ourfootyteam.com.au/blog/nsw-school-footy/schoolboy-cup-news/schoolboy-cup-eels-halves-sanders-and-talagi-battle-in-grand-final-rematch/2021/06/08/ Schoolboy Cup Eels halves Sanders and Talagi battle in Grand Final rematch]
Playing career
In round 3 of the 2024 NRL season Talagi made his first grade debut for the Parramatta Eels in their 28–24 win against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles scoring a try.[https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/nrl/blaize-talagi-scores-his-first-try-for-eels-2024-03-24-t-05-49-43-mp-4/clu53o8og000i0il8uxxbiiqb Eels debutant runs over Trbojevic]
On 31 July 2024, Talagi told Parramatta officials that he would not be signing a contract extension to remain at the club in 2025 and beyond.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-parramatta-eels-blaize-talagi-to-join-penrith-panthers-signing-deal-james-hooper-brian-too-deadline-ryda-talagi-2025/news-story/4c74ddcb0da408879e7e6331eff69b1e/|title=HOOPS: Panthers on verge of NRL coup as young gun set to join premiers in big Eels blow|website=www.foxsports.com.au}} On 12 August, Penrith officially confirmed that Talagi had signed a three year deal with the club starting in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-12 |title=Talagi to join Panthers |url=https://www.penrithpanthers.com.au/news/2024/08/12/talagi-to-join-panthers/ |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=Penrith Panthers |language=en}}
Talagi played 19 games for Parramatta and scored 11 tries as the club finished 15th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-parramatta-eels-season-review-reagan-campbell-gillard-future-20240907-p5k8qj.html/|title=The Mole's end of season review: What went wrong at the Parramatta Eels?|website=www.nine.com.au}}
On 10 September 2024, Talagi won Parramatta's rookie of the year award. In round 3 of the 2025 NRL season, Talagi made his club debut for Penrith in their 30-24 loss against Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2024/09/11/eels-stars-celebrated-at-ken-thornett-medal/|title=Eels stars celebrated at Ken Thornett Medal|website=www.parraeels.com.au}}
In round 10 of the 2025 NRL season, Talagi scored a try and provided four try assists in Penrith's 30-30 draw with North Queensland.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/did-it-before-every-kickoff-panthers-sprung-in-controversial-act-after-video-goes-viral/news-story/77d51dcb38166bd3c892bd4dd854bbde/|title=‘Against the spirit of the game’: Panthers sprung in controversial act as fine looms for trainer|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Points |
| 2024
|{{Leagueicon|Parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels |19 |11 |44 |
| 2025
|{{Leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |Total
|20 |12 |48 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.parraeels.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/parramatta-eels/blaize-talagi/ Parramatta Eels profile]
{{Penrith Panthers squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Talagi, Blaize}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:Penrith Panthers players
Category:Samoa national rugby league team players
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
{{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-stub}}