{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Blake Taaffe |fullname = Blake Wayne Taaffe |image = Blake TAAFFE.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|FB|SH}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1999|04|21}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |height = {{convert|1.79|m|ftin|abbr=on|order=flip}} |weight = {{convert|85|kg|stlb|abbr=on|order=flip}} |club1 = South Sydney |year1start = 2021 |year1end = 23 |appearances1 = 31 |tries1 = 6 |goals1 = 60 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 144 |club2 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Bulldogs}} |year2start = 2024 |year2end = 25 |appearances2 = 12 |tries2 = 2 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 8 |club3 = {{nowrap|Castleford Tigers}} |year3start = 2026 |year3end = present |appearances3 = 2 |tries3 = 1 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 4 |new = yes |source = <ref name="RLP">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/blake-taaffe/summary.html |title=Blake Taaffe - Playing Career - RLP |website=Rugby League Project |access-date=8 February 2026}}</ref> |updated = 15 February 2026 }}
'''Blake Taaffe''' (born 21 April 1999) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|fb}} for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.
He has previously played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League.
==Early life== Taaffe was educated at Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}
==Playing career==
===2021=== In round 15 of the 2021 NRL season, Taaffe made his first grade debut for South Sydney against the Brisbane Broncos in a 46–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-17/nrl-south-sydney-rabbitohs-thrash-brisbane-broncos/100215554/|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs thrash Brisbane Broncos 46-0, Payne Haas on report|newspaper=ABC News|date=17 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2021-blake-taaffe-debut-south-sydney-rabbitohs-vs-brisbane-broncos-round-15/news-story/c466d6d43927648562d712799c04bc2c/|title=Souths set to unleash latest rookie sensation as cover for Latrell|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=16 June 2021}}</ref>
Taaffe played a total of eight games for South Sydney in the 2021 NRL season including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final defeat against Penrith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/oct/04/one-of-finest-nrl-grand-finals-of-all-time-provides-cure-to-difficult-season/|title=One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season|website=www.theguardian.com|date=3 October 2021}}</ref>
===2022=== Taaffe played a total of ten games for South Sydney in the 2022 NRL season. Taaffe did not feature in any of South Sydney's finals matches as the club reached the preliminary final before losing to Penrith.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-24/nrl-penrith-panthers-defeats-south-sydney-rabbitohs/101470088/|title=Penrith Panthers defeat South Sydney Rabbitohs 32-12 to qualify for third straight NRL grand final|newspaper=ABC News|date=24 September 2022 }}</ref>
===2023=== In round 19 of the 2023 NRL season, Taaffe scored two tries for South Sydney in their 36-32 loss against Canterbury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/live-nrl-bulldogs-unveil-sixth-starting-halves-combo-of-season-against-undermanned-rabbitohs/news-story/9200c30ee3f9d86aca17687d198801d0/|title=Youngsters shining at Accor as Dogs rookie winger's third try puts game to bed - LIVE|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=8 July 2023 }}</ref>
On 31 July, Taaffe signed a two-year deal to join Canterbury starting in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-contract-news-blake-taaffe-joins-canterbury-bulldogs/xd2lazd9it8ljfeaotjouqdn/|title=Blake Taaffe joins Canterbury on a two year deal|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref>
On 24 September, Taaffe played for South Sydney in their 2023 NSW Cup grand final victory over North Sydney. Taaffe was named as man of the match for his performance in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-blake-taaffe-zach-dockarclay-dean-hawkins-south-sydney-rabbitohs-north-sydney-bears-nsw-cup-grand-final-stats-result/news-story/befffd38099aec69314f2ff2171b9376/|title=Taaffe's statement as Souths end 40-year drought; veteran's captain's knock: Reserves Wrap|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
===2024=== In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Taaffe made his club debut for Canterbury in their 28-6 loss against arch-rivals Parramatta.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-parramatta-eels-vs-canterbury-bulldogs-scores-updates-live-blog-replays-stephen-crichton-mitch-moses-cameron-ciraldo/news-story/0aefa4d6f143032275f8a1186326e209/|title=Dogs' Foxx fear compounds rough night; Eels may have finally solved big issue: What we learned|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref>
Taaffe played a total of nine games for Canterbury in the 2024 NRL season as they qualified for the finals finishing 6th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-canterbury-bulldogs-season-review-phil-gould-cameron-ciraldo-20240916-p5kb0n.html/|title=Bulldogs left 'frustrated' by semi final defeat as new standards laid bare|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref>
=== 2025 === On 25 August, Taaffe signed a three-year deal to join the Castleford Tigers from 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bower |first=Aaron |date=13 August 2025 |title=Castleford Tigers launch transfer move for Canterbury Bulldogs fullback |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/castleford-tigers-transfer-nrl-canterbury-bulldogs-blake-taaffe |access-date=8 February 2026 |website=Love Rugby League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2025 |title=Tigers sign Blake Taaffe on three-year deal |url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article/47/tigers-sign-blake-taaffe-on-three-year-deal |access-date=26 August 2025 |website=Castleford Tigers}}</ref>
Taaffe was limited to only four games with Canterbury in the 2025 NRL season and did not feature in their finals campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2025-the-mole-exclusive-canterbury-bulldogs-season-review-20250922-p5mx5l.html/|title=Clue to what went horribly wrong for Bulldogs emerges in 'unhappy ending'|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref>
=== 2026 === Taaffe was assigned Castleford's number 1 shirt for the 2026 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapman Coombe |first=Louis |date=26 December 2025 |title=Castleford Tigers reveal 2026 squad numbers with new-look top 17 and shocks confirmed |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/castleford-tigers-reveal-2026-squad-numbers-with-new-look-top-17-and-shocks-confirmed |access-date=8 February 2026 |website=Love Rugby League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Peter |date=6 February 2026 |title=Castleford Tigers' Blake Taaffe talks passionate fans, pride in the shirt & hitting ground running v Doncaster |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-blake-taaffe-talks-passionate-fans-pride-in-the-shirt-hitting-ground-running-v-doncaster-5506991 |access-date=8 February 2026 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref> He scored a try on debut on 8 February against Doncaster in the Challenge Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=James |date=7 February 2026 |title=Doncaster 0 Castleford Tigers 14: Not picture perfect but job done for Ryan Carr |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/doncaster-0-castleford-tigers-14-not-picture-perfect-but-job-done-for-ryan-carr-5507339 |access-date=8 February 2026 |website=The Yorkshire Post}}</ref> In the opening round of Super League against Wigan, Taaffe suffered a knee injury in the second half;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brocksom |first=Sam |date=15 February 2026 |title=Keighran sees yellow, Eckersley try double, Blake Taaffe concern and more Castleford Tigers v Wigan Warriors talking points |url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-league-news-keighran-sees-yellow-eckersley-try-double-blake-taaffe-concern-and-more-castleford-tigers-v-wigan-warriors-talking-points-112704/ |access-date=19 February 2026 |website=Serious About Rugby League}}</ref> he was later confirmed to have suffered a ruptured ACL, thus ruling him out for the entire remainder of the year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2026 |title=Castleford's Taaffe to miss rest of season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/c9v0yxl2mk8o |access-date=19 February 2026 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harber |first=Tony |date=17 February 2026 |title=Castleford Tigers rocked by huge injury blow for star signing Blake Taaffe |url=https://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-rocked-by-huge-injury-blow-for-star-signing-blake-taaffe-5602011 |access-date=19 February 2026 |website=Wakefield Express}}</ref>
==Statistics== {{Table alignment}} {|class="wikitable defaultcenter" |+ Appearances and points in all competitions by year |- ! Club !! Season !! Tier !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|App|Appearances}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|T|Tries}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|G|Goals}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|DG|Drop goals}} !style="width:2em;" |{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}} |- |rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2021 | NRL | 8 || 1 || 6 || 0 || 16 |- | 2022 | NRL | 10 || 2 || 30 || 0 || 68 |- | 2023 | NRL | 13 || 3 || 24 || 0 || 60 |- !colspan="2"| Total ! 31 !! 6 !! 60 !! 0 !! 144 |- |rowspan="3" style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2024 | NRL | 8 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 8 |- | 2025 | NRL | 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- !colspan="2"| Total ! 12 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 8 |- |style="text-align:left;"| {{leagueicon|Castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers | 2026 | Super League | 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 4 |- !colspan="3"| Career total ! 45 !! 9 !! 60 !! 0 !! 156 |}
{{Updated|match played 15 February 2026}}<ref name="RLP" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/south-sydney-rabbitohs/blake-taaffe/ South Sydney Rabbitohs profile]
{{Castleford Tigers squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taaffe, Blake}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen Category:21st-century Indigenous Australian people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:Castleford Tigers players Category:Indigenous Australian rugby league players Category:Rugby league fullbacks Category:Rugby league halfbacks Category:Rugby league players from Sydney Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players