League: Blair to lead from front

Adam Blair in action. Photo / Getty Images

Adam Blair enhanced Cooper Cronk's international rugby league career with a jolting shoulder charge - but that mateship is on hold as a Melbourne Storm enforcer adopts the role of Kiwis pack leader.

Cronk would not be contemplating a third test for the Kangaroos in Friday's Anzac test had Blair not targeted Jonathan Thurston's bung shoulder in Townsville on Saturday night. The impact effectively knocked the Cowboys and Queensland halfback out of contention for the one-off international here to open AAMI Park.

Blair today sought to downplay his role in Thurston's demise by blaming teammate Brett Finch's subsequent hit, but there was no masking the vital role the Kiwis second rower and vice-captain will play against an Australian team containing Cronk and three other Storm teammates.

Blair shapes as an obvious rallying point in a forward pack shorn of 81 caps of experience through injuries to five automatic choices: Roy Asotasi, Frank Pritchard, Simon Mannering, Fuifui Moimoi and Jeremy Smith.

With 16 test caps, Blair is one of only three forwards in double-figures; recalled prop Sam Rapira (11) and hooker Isaac Luke (10) are the others. Front rowers Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Frank-Paul Nu'uausala have eight between them while Zeb Taia is on debut and fellow second rower Sika Manu has not played a first grade game since breaking his leg against St George Illawarra last July.

As the Kiwis 18-man squad trained for the first time in Melbourne today, Blair accepted he had added responsibilities but felt he would not be lacking imposing back-up.

"If I go out there and lead from the front a few of the younger boys in the pack will see that, they'll get excited and follow with it," he said.

"If one guy is doing something good, all the other boys will want to jump on board.

"Sam's been outstanding for the Warriors, Jared won't stand down to anyone and Frank-Paul is just a massive human."

Blair will be the only player to have appeared in all 13 tests during Stephen Kearney's reign and the head coach today underlined the value of his presence.

"Adam will do his job and he'll look at whoever's alongside him to do their job. He does that very well in a Kiwi jumper, he knows what he has to do," Kearney said.

Captain and playmaker Benji Marshall said while leadership was a shared responsibility, he suspected the Melbourne Storm's salary cap scandal would provide extra motivation for Blair.

"With what's gone at Melbourne, there's not much more for him to play for than this game here," Marshall said.

"He doesn't get to play for two points for Melbourne but he gets an opportunity to play for something than means something to him.

"I think it'll be a pretty emotional game for him."

Blair welcomed a week in the Kiwis camp after the salary cap rort that saw the Storm stripped of two premierships and reduced to zero competition points for the remainder of 2010.

"It really feels like we're playing for something now," he said, realising the Bill Kelly Trophy was on the line.

"Knowing the Kiwis game was coming up was a relief. It'll be good to relax and have some fun with these blokes."

Cronk bristled at suggestions the test could be considered a consolation prize for the six Storm players involved.

"Being an Anzac test and at a new stadium are things that can motivate you but motivation for playing rugby league is because you enjoy it and you love playing footy with your mates," he said.

Meanwhile, though Blair is at home in Melbourne his out-of-town teammates had their first experience of AAMI Park today as workers feverishly continued finishing off the outside of the ground. Fortunately for the players, the surface and facilities appeared top notch.

They train daily until the eve of the match where Kearney will omit one of the squad from the match day 17.

- NZPA