Eagles retain Broadbent on one-year contract

30/08/2020

Sheffield Eagles can today announce the re-signing of prop forward Blake Broadbent on a one-year deal.

Broadbent, affectionately known as ‘Beans’ around the club, made a try-scoring debut in 2018 against Leigh Centurions before becoming a regular fixture in the squad during 2019.

The locally developed forward's first team career has gone from strength to strength in recent years and Eagles Head Coach Mark Aston is expecting Beans to flourish further.

He said: “He had hardship, but we gave him an opportunity and he took it. Why wouldn’t he? He is his Dad! (ex-Eagles captain Paul Broadbent)”

“His attitude and commitment, without a shadow of a doubt, is the key to his success.

“It’s no different to when Paul came through the system with me and he went on to be a Great Britain international.

“Blake played seven games in his first year, played 20-odd last year and with the way he started this season I’m sure he’d have got up to that mark again.

“He is one of our own like a few others, and it’s something we are immensely proud of.”

After a standout year for the Eagles, Broadbent is delighted to be staying with his local club for another year. He said: “I am buzzing to be kept on for another year and keep moving forward,”

“I am gutted with how 2020 has gone as I thought we had a good year ahead of us as a team but to be staying for next year is great.

“Hopefully, we can push on from what we did in 2019.”

Broadbent had plans to replicate, or even better, his tally of 21 games from 2019 - an achievement he was incredibly happy with considering it was his first full professional campaign.

“Before the (2019) season started, I had conversations with Tubby and my Dad,” he explained.

“I was always optimistic to get a few games under my belt, and to hit 21 games in 2019 was something I was really proud of.

“It was a big goal to get as many games as possible and I was hoping for more of the same in 2020 but COVID had other plans!”

Having already won at Wembley in his short career, Broadbent has his sights set on another trip to the national stadium while also helping the Eagles push for promotion in the future.

“Success is great, and it fuels the fire to achieve more,” he added.

“To get to Wembley with Sheffield again, or get us to Super League one day, would be unreal and it’s something Tubbs and our squad of players will be aiming to do in the future.”

By Dan Fowler, photo by Alex Coleman