In the spotlight: Blake Woodford

Sunshine Coast born and bred, there is nothing Blake Woodford would love more than to repay his hometown with a Hastings Deering Colts premiership.

After surviving an elimination final against the Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Kayo Stadium last Sunday, the under 21 Falcons will look to stay in the finals race this weekend, when they take on reigning premiers Townsville Blackhawks at Jack Manski Oval.

For young forward Woodford, tasting victory on grand final day is something he has always wanted to achieve in the rugby league arena.

And while there are some tough challenges ahead, the 19-year-old has a lot of belief in what his team can accomplish.

“It would mean everything,” Woodford said of the possibility of winning this year’s premiership.

“It would probably be the best day of my life. I’ve just dreamt of it my whole life, to win a premiership.

“Especially for my hometown, it would be even more special. I think we’ve got a really good opportunity here with the group of boys that we have.

“We’ve got a really tight group. I think we can go all the way, for sure.”

Woodford started playing rugby league at the age of eight with the Nambour Crushers at the Sunshine Coast.

In 2021, he played a season of Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup with Sunshine Coast before graduating to Colts in the same year.

He has played Colts for the past two seasons and made his Hostplus Cup debut in Round 10 against Central Queensland Capras – one of only two Falcons Colts players to make the jump to Cup in 2023, with centre Mason Peut also about to earn his promotion for this weekend’s semi-finals.

He said getting to represent his home base week in, week out was something he was extremely proud of.

“It started for me at Nambour Crushers,” Woodford said.

“That’s where I’ve grown up, that’s my hometown. I’m very proud and privileged to play for this club. I love it. I’ve been playing here for four years now. I love it here.

“It’s probably the best thing to do, knowing that you’re doing everyone in your hometown proud and you get to represent them each week.

“The Falcons have a proud history and a lot of good players come through the Falcons. I love it here.”

A draftsman away from the field, Woodford already ticked off one 2023 goal with his Cup debut.

“That was a crazy one,” he said.

“Up in Rocky, I was just supposed to be 18th man. There was a head knock and boom, I was straight in. It was a bit out of the blue, having played half a game of Colts before that too.

“It was tough up there in Rocky – very fast, very physical. I could feel the difference straight away. It was really good to get that experience and be in that environment.”