NRL: Blair has point to prove as he captains Broncos against old club Wests Tigers

Adam Blair in action for the Broncos at the Auckland Nines earlier this year. Photo / Getty Images

Say what you want about Adam Blair but has there been a more improved forward over the past 12 months?

It was just over a year ago he was nicknamed "Teddy Blair" shortly after arriving in Brisbane following a performance in which he made just one run in a match against the Sharks.

And that came after two years of constant bagging during his time at Wests Tigers.

On Friday night Blair will run out against his former club as the Broncos' captain and you can bet he will have a point to prove on several fronts.

Not just because Blair is up against his old club, but because he admitted this week he was "hurt" by comments from Gorden Tallis.

Tallis labelled Blair one of the NRL's dirtiest players after his chicken wing on Sam Thaiday in the recent Test and said he was disappointed Blair was wearing a Broncos jumper.

While Blair said "I couldn't care less", he said of the impact it had on his family: "I have a five-year-old son and it is not a good look when my boy has to go to school and hears stuff from other kids and parents."

Now it's being reported that Tallis thinks Blair was only promoted as an "up yours" from Wayne Bennett to Tallis, given those two hardly have the best relationship anymore.

That was spoken about on Thursday on Triple M.

On Friday night the poor old Tigers will be left to pick up the bill from the fallout.

ONLY SO MUCH EELS FANS CAN TAKE

YOU can only watch on in disbelief at the goings on at Parramatta this year - and wonder how much more their fans are prepared to take.

Firstly they had their season blown apart by the threat of a 12-competition point penalty over salary cap cheating. Then they were told about Kieran Foran's fragile mental state.

Now Corey Norman and Junior Paulo are in strife after being warned by NSW Police for allegedly consorting with convicted criminals along with Penrith's James Segeyaro.

Brad Arthur made a point this week of saying his players deserve their privacy - in respect to Foran's alleged gambling issues.

But this latest drama involving Norman and Paulo is just a bad look for the game.

While Norman is entitled to a presumption of innocence after being charged with drug offences, you are still entitled to question what Norman was doing walking into The Star casino just before 11pm three days before a match.

It was hardly surprising to see the Eels comprehensively beaten by Melbourne on Monday night.

Now they need to win 12 of 13 remaining games just to stay in finals contention.

Up until now Arthur has done an amazing job holding the rubble together but you get the feeling he can only plug the leaks for so long.

Parramatta take on the Knights on Monday and after two straight defeats they can't afford another loss.

Or another scandal.