Waqa Blake, upon scoring the opening try against the Bulldogs, motioned to the heavens.

The gesture was lost on most but had special meaning for Parramatta’s newest recruit.

“That was for Dad,” Blake said afterwards. “He will be watching over me and that was for him.”

Blake’s father, Martini, died in Fiji just a few days earlier. Upon learning the news, the former Panthers centre had to decide whether to return to Lautoka straight away to pay his respects or take his place for Friday’s clash at Bankwest Stadium.