Blair's big year gets even bigger

It has been a colossal year for Adam Blair.
The 23-year-old from the Far North has won a World Cup with the Kiwis and most recently, his first  NRL Premiership ring with  Melbourne Storm.
Now, the 188cm, 108kg prop-come-second rower will bolster New Zealand, who left for the United Kingdom yesterday  for their inaugural Four Nations Cup campaign.
After debuting for the Kiwis and Storm in 2006, Blair's experience should pay dividends for the 23-strong-squad boasting seven newcomers.
Speaking at Auckland Airport before the team flew out to London, Blair said the newcomers had plenty to offer.
"There is a very good vibe. The young boys  bring heaps of energy into the team."
It has been two weeks since Blair finished the NRL season on the highest note, winning the grand final 21-16 over Parramatta.
During the 24 NRL games he played this season, Blair contributed  573 tackles and 1852 metres from 268 hit-ups, and scored just one try, but it was an important one helping the Storm  win the grand final.
He joined the Kiwis for a training camp a few days later, and on Wednesday night, came off the bench to play against a fiery Tongan side at Rotorua for the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy.
The short turnaround between the NRL season and the Four Nations Tour has meant a heavy workload which could easily have taken its toll, but Blair was thriving on the hard yakka.
"I'm feeling really good - I've got a few niggles but nothing major."
He put some big hits in against Tonga on Wednesday and while the Kiwis won the match  40-24, there was room for improvement.
New Zealand was given a fright early in the second half when Tonga came out determined - putting in nine sets to the Kiwis' two.
The match against  Tonga was just what the Kiwis needed ahead of the Four Nations tournament, Blair said.
"It was a good hit-out for us to see what's going on with our game and what we need to work on.
"But after a hard week of training this week, we should be able to fix those problem areas."
The Kiwis play the opener  against Australia, on October 24 at Twickenham Stoop before heading to Toulouse to play France, on October 31. They play England at Galpharm Stadium in Huddersfield on November 7 and the Four Nations Cup final is on November 14 at Elland Road, Leeds.
Following their match against NZ, Tonga head to Papua New Guinea for the Pacific Cup, also beginning on October 24. The cup winners will qualify as the fourth team, replacing France in next year's Four Nations, which will be held in the Southern Hemisphere.