League: Kearney bond crucial to Warriors' Blair bid

Specialist Multimedia Sports Journalist·NZ Herald·

31 Jul, 2017 11:41 PM2 mins to read

Adam Blair in action for Brisbane Broncos against NZ Warriors at Suncorp Stadium. Photo/Getty Images

Adam Blair admits that, if he leaves the Broncos, the Warriors are a likely destination, due to his close ties with coach Stephen Kearney.

The current NZ Kiwis captain is on contract at Brisbane until the end of next season, after first going to Red Hill at the start of the 2014 campaign.

But ongoing salary-cap pressures at the Broncos may yet force him out and persistent speculation has linked him with the Auckland club.

Blair has a close relationship with the Warriors head coach, which may prove to be the pivotal factor.

He played under Kearney for the vast majority of his 41 tests with the national team, as well as five years at the Storm, during Kearney's tenure as assistant coach in Melbourne.

"I'm really close to 'Mooks' [Kearney] and I know what he stands for," Blair told the Herald earlier this month. "He was someone I looked up to when I watched league.

"When I first did pre-seasons at the Storm, he was like a father figure."

Blair worked with Kearney for five years in Melbourne, before the pair were reunited for three seasons at the Broncos.

"I've bonded with Stephen really closely throughout my career - at the Storm, New Zealand and again with the Broncos," said Blair. "If I was going to go anywhere, I'd rather go somewhere where I know it is going to be a real professional club, similar to the Broncos, similar to the Storm ... somewhere where they set high standards for the players and are honest with their players."

Blair also added it was going to be a difficult call.

"It's tough," said Blair. "I'm really happy where I am and so is my family.

"I know there is interest from back home and it is going to be a hard decision, whatever I do."