Rugby League: Captaincy call floors Blair

UP FOR IT: Adam Blair has been given the thumbs-up to co-captain the Kiwis alongside Issac Luke for the tour to England. PHOTO/ JOHN STONE

BEING selected to play NRL as a 16-year-old straight out of Whangarei Boys' High School was a life-changing opportunity for Kiwis' star Adam Blair.

Therefore it is no surprise that being selected to captain the Kiwis, the first player from Northland to do so since 1926-27 captain Bert Avery, has the now 29-year-old unable to comprehend the sword he's been handed.

"It's been a long journey ... you know, we've come back here in the Four Nations, something that I did to give back to [the] Northland that really looked after me as a kid growing up," Blair said.

"I wouldn't of thought that I'd be playing NRL, let alone captaining my country. It's always a dream for any player that represents New Zealand to be the captain ... to get the chance to do it with a good mate and a guy like Issac Luke is a real privilege."

Set to co-captain the New Zealand team alongside Luke, Blair has been named by head coach Stephen Kearney in the absence of usual captain Simon Mannering, who was ruled out of the coming tour of England for medical reasons this week.

"Stephen Kearney rung me up yesterday to let me know," Blair said. "To be honest I haven't told my family ... my next call will be to my mum and obviously my brothers and sisters in Melbourne to let them know what's going on."

Blair, who recently played a leading role for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL grand final, made his test debut at the 2006 Tri-Nations and scored the final try in the Kiwis' 2008 World Cup final victory over Australia. He returned to the side last year after a three-year absence, and was a key contributor to the Kiwis' Four Nations success.

"I think, in big games, he has delivered for us before," says Kearney, who works daily with Blair as Brisbane Broncos assistant coach. "He's been in the programme for quite some time ... I see it as a natural choice."

With vice-captain Kieran Foran (elbow), Shaun Johnson (ankle) and Thomas Leuluai (knee) also missing the tour, Blair and Luke will lead a 23-strong group that includes six rookies.

"They're all injuries that we have no control over, but they give opportunities to some younger guys, who perhaps only need that opportunity to rise to the next level," said Kearney.