Blake Phillips has been a rock for Collegians through grand finals, premierships, and now another year sitting on top of the Harrigan Cup table.
At 33, the veteran forward still pulls on the boots with pride and purpose.
It’s easy to see why he is so highly regarded: it’s not just the trophies or the game time; it’s his leadership, his loyalty, and the tight-knit culture he helps drive.
“We’ve got off to a great start this season,” Phillips says, reflecting on a strong first half of the year that sees Collies equal-first with defending premiers Wests.
“We’ve been lucky enough to put everything we worked on through pre-season into action and see the rewards.”
Hard Work
That work hasn’t been without setbacks. The team’s only loss came at the hands of Wests, but they bounced back immediately after the bye round.
“We trained through that week, didn’t take the loss lightly, worked on our slips, and came back strong,” he says.
“We just want to keep building.”
Affectionately known as ‘Boofa,’ Phillips has been with Collies for a decade now, a club legend who’s seen it all.
“This is my tenth season,” he says proudly.
“I’ve won three premierships with Collies (2017, 2019, 2022) and one before that with Helensburgh (2015).”
Last Man Standing
He was the skipper in his first grand final win with the club in 2017, scoring the wining try, and is now the last remaining player from that squad.
“It’s the mateship, the same faces every year. We all sign back on at the end of the season. It’s hard to walk away when the same group of boys are keen to go again.”
Phillips speaks just as highly about the off-field side of the club, now a family man himself.
“I came here single, now I’ve got kids. It’s a family club now, the dads, the wives, everyone gets around it. It’s a great place to be.”
Guiding The Next Gen
As captain, he sees his role as a leader on the field and as someone who helps guide the next generation.
“We’ve got a good mix this year, fresh young faces, but also older heads who know what it takes and can pass that on. We try to keep that culture strong.”
Some of those fresh faces include the Grant brothers, Blair, Dexter, and Duke, who have made a huge impact in the 2025 season.
“Blair’s been massive at half. Dexter, before his injury (broken jaw), was great for us. And Duke’s been one of our best forwards each week,” Phillips says.
From the outset of the season, Blair Grant has been pivotal; he currently tops the charts in points scored.
There’s also been a boost from fullback Callum Gromek, who Phillips says has brought spark and speed to the side since returning from the Roosters system.
“He’s been a big piece of the puzzle for us.”
Chasing The Cherry
Even though it’s ten years since he made his debut for the club, Phillips is not slowing down, not completely.
“The young guys keep me young,” he laughs.
“I’m competitive, so I train hard to keep up. If I can keep doing that, I’ll keep playing.”
As for whether this might be his final season, “I take it year by year. I’m 33 now, so we’ll see how the body holds up. But I still love it.”
With three premierships as captain and the team in red-hot form, there’s a feeling that Phillips could secure a fourth title in his cherished red and black in 2025. But the Illawarra Rugby League stalwart has seen enough at this stage of his career not to get too far ahead of himself.
“Everyone’s chasing that cherry on top,” he says.
“We just train hard, improve where we can, and give ourselves the best chance come September.”
Collegians host De La Salle on Sunday 22 June at Collegians Sports Stadium. Kick off is at 2pm.
Words | Angelina Raula