Blake Fensom [2027]

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. 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. Coming through the Raiders’ junior system, Fensom wasn’t

He finished his career with the North Queensland Cowboys (2017–2018), bringing the same defensive ethos to a club rebuilding after their 2015 premiership. He retired in 2019 with 189 NRL games—a fantastic career, but one that felt like it deserved 250+ if not for the bumps and bruises. A relentless string of calf, knee, and foot