Fensom - Blake
Coming through the Raiders’ junior system, Fensom wasn’t just a player; he was a culture carrier. Alongside the likes of Josh Papalii and Shaun Fensom (no relation, but famously confused), Blake was the defensive glue that allowed Terry Campese and later Josh Hodgson to weave their magic.
Unfortunately, the human body wasn’t built for Fensom’s pace. A relentless string of calf, knee, and foot injuries began to rob him of his mobility. By 2016, the modern game was shifting toward more agile, ball-playing locks. The Raiders, on the cusp of their 2019 Grand Final run, let him go.
While other forwards were timing their runs, Fensom was tracking opposition dummy-halves. While others rested after a kick chase, Fensom was already sliding into the next marker position. blake fensom
He represents the player every coach wants but few appreciate: the one who never misses a wrestle, never jams in off his wing, and never takes a backward step. In a sport now obsessed with X-factors and power stats, Fensom was the ultimate —Consistency.
Here’s a content piece on , tailored for a rugby league blog, sports history feature, or fan site. Title: The Unsung Workhorse: Why Blake Fensom Deserves More Love in Rugby League History Introduction In an era of rugby league dominated by highlight-reel tries, bone-rattling shoulder charges, and million-dollar personalities, Blake Fensom was the quiet storm. He wasn’t the fastest, the biggest, or the flashiest. But for the better part of a decade, he was the most reliable player on the field. If you’re a Canberra Raiders fan from the late 2000s to mid-2010s, the name Fensom brings a knowing nod—the kind reserved for the bloke who bled green without ever asking for a headline. Coming through the Raiders’ junior system, Fensom wasn’t
He wasn't a try-scoring weapon (only 11 tries in 157 Raiders games), but his off-ball work—the quick play-the-balls, the hustle cover tackles, the decoy runs—built the platform for Canberra’s most competitive era post-2000s.
Blake Fensom’s superpower was simple: work rate. In 2012, he set an NRL record for most tackles in a single game with a staggering 76 tackles against the Canterbury Bulldogs. But that wasn’t a one-off; it was a lifestyle. For four consecutive seasons (2011–2014), Fensom averaged over 40 tackles per game, often making 50+ look routine. A relentless string of calf, knee, and foot
Next time you see a young lock making 50 tackles and taking a hit-up from a standing start, remember Blake Fensom. He didn’t just play the game. He worked it. Suggested Social Media Caption (for Instagram/Twitter): “Blake Fensom once made 76 tackles in a single game. No chip kicks. No highlight reels. Just relentless blue-collar defense. Here’s to the workhorse the NRL forgot. 💚 #NRL #Raiders #BlakeFensom” Would you like this adapted into a video script or a podcast segment outline?
