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6:24pm Wednesday 25th January 2012
Blake Foden
BLAKE Foden is a rare breed that Warrington Wolves would like more of.
Wolves want to broaden their appeal in Australia.
And Blake is a 19-year-old Wolves fan, born and bred and living Down Under.
And he has converted his 13-year-old brother Reece to primrose and blue, too.
The student of journalism at University of Wollongong lives in Campbelltown in Sydney's south west and has never seen Wolves play live.
That will all change on Saturday, when Tony Smith's men face South Sydney Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval in their final warm-up game to the new season.
The match concludes the club's three-week training camp in Sydney.
He has written in his internet blog about his love for the team and how it all started.
Blake says: "On any other occasion, watching my beloved Wire would involve setting the alarm for an ungodly hour and attempting to stop myself screaming at the screen so as not to awake the rest of the family.
"But come Saturday, the team that is usually a world away will be just a 45-minute drive from home, allowing me to attend my first Warrington match.
"My Wire journey began in 2007, as a 14-year-old when my sporting hero, Adrian Morley, returned to his homeland after six years with my NRL club, Sydney Roosters.
"Before long, I was just as attached to the club as I was to ‘Moz’, watching every SKY or BBC game, and listening to every other online through Radio Warrington.
"I rate the 2009 and 2010 Challenge Cup victories right up there with the 2002 NRL Grand Final triumph by the Roosters – a club I have supported since birth.
"The current Warrington squad is as good as any I have seen in around 15 years of following the NRL, and by far the most entertaining outfit in that time.
"Even though Brett Hodgson, Richie Myler and David Solomona are unavailable for the weekend’s game, the side is a formidable one for Souths to face.
"It is also a great indication of the town’s ability to produce quality players, with eight of the squad having debuted for the Wire, including internationals Chris Riley, Ben Harrison, Tyrone McCarthy and Rhys Williams.
"They are not only a great group of players, but a great group of people.
"Brett Hodgson generously donated his time to give me, an aspiring journalist, an interview during his holiday in Australia before the season kicked off last year.
"Having met Adrian Morley and Joel Monaghan during their time at the Roosters, I can also speak highly of their characters.
"The club is, in my opinion, the most ambitious in world rugby league.
"It is only a matter of time before the Grand Final trophy will stand proudly inside theHalliwell Jones Stadium, and it will be a privilege to watch them in the flesh this weekend."
So what was it about Moz that made him his hero in the first place?
"Moz is my sporting hero because of his inspirational attitude and leadership of his club and country.
"He never gives less than 100 percent and demands the same of his teammates through his actions.
"His signature shoulder charge is quite handy too!
"He was also the first English player of the modern era to show that his compatriots could succeed in the NRL."
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