Bulls Send Blake, Marsters Home From Cup
Bradford Bulls players Waqa Blake and Esan Marsters are leaving the Rugby League World Cup after their nations were eliminated.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Soccer
Bradford Bulls players Waqa Blake and Esan Marsters are leaving the Rugby League World Cup. Cook Islands was eliminated before its final Pool A game, and Fiji lost 78-0 to New Zealand and was knocked out of the tournament.
Why it matters
Both players are returning to their Super League club ahead of pre-season, which begins November 2, 2026. Their exits leave Fiji and the Cook Islands without key contributors for the remainder of the tournament.
Australia's 66-6 win over Cook Islands and New Zealand's 78-0 win over Fiji marked the largest margins of the group stage, with Fiji also losing 36-22 to Australia. The source does not detail the full tournament record beyond these results.
The players
Waqa Blake
Blake is a Fiji international and Bradford Bulls player who played at centre in Fiji's group-stage loss to New Zealand.
Esan Marsters
Marsters is a Cook Islands international and Bradford Bulls player who appeared in all three of his nation's group-stage defeats.
The details
Marsters played in all three Cook Islands group-stage defeats before the team was eliminated, and returned from injury for Bradford's final Super League game against York. Blake played at centre for Fiji in the 78-0 loss to New Zealand, a match where both teams had a player sent off after Ronaldo Mulitalo's high shot on Ronald Philitoga triggered a melee.
Timeline
Fiji's loss to New Zealand, 78-0, took place in the group stage, with Fiji finishing second-bottom of Pool A.
Bradford Bulls pre-season begins November 2, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The Rugby League World Cup group stage has produced lopsided results, with Australia's 66-6 win over Cook Islands and New Zealand's 78-0 win over Fiji shaping which nations advance. New Zealand will host Tonga and Samoa will play Australia in the semi-finals.
Bradford Bulls supporters should expect Blake and Marsters back for pre-season training once their international commitments conclude. Fantasy managers tracking these players should note their absence from the remainder of the World Cup.
The takeaway
Player availability at international tournaments can ripple into club pre-season planning, so watch for squad updates as clubs prepare for the new campaign.
What happens next
Bradford Bulls pre-season begins November 2, 2026, when the returning players are expected to rejoin the squad.
Further reading
Explore more Soccer coverage for related international tournament context.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Telegraph and Argus.
