NRL: Blair slips off Warriors radar

Adam Blair is being chased by several clubs. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors have given up their chase of Kiwis international Adam Blair.

Blair is off contract with Melbourne at the end of the season and is considered one of the hottest properties on the market. Soon to turn 25, the World Cup winner believes his next contract could be his most lucrative and he is sure to test the market.

The Storm have said they see him as their No1 priority to retain but it could mean doubling the value of his present deal. Details emerged last year that he slipped into the top 10 of the Storm's wage bill.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy has implored Blair to stay, saying he viewed him as a future captain.

"With all due respect to Smithy [current skipper Cameron Smith], and I might be jumping the gun a bit, but I see him as a future captain of the club. I can't give him a much bigger rap than that."

Blair has attracted interest from the Warriors and Bulldogs but other clubs are sure to be interested in the versatile player who can play almost anywhere in the forward pack.

"We haven't considered him at this stage for 2012," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said. "We had a chat about him last year when Melbourne might have been looking to offload players [because of the salary cap scandal]. If the opportunity was there to get him, we would have tried but nothing eventuated."

Blair has said he's keen on staying in Australia, saying he would like to return to New Zealand to finish his career. The Warriors, however, would prefer a player in his prime rather than one winding down.

Contract discussions are a regular topic but will step up a gear a few rounds into the season, once the club get a gauge on form and where gaps need to be filled.

They have a number of players coming off contract this season, particularly in the halves and at hooker. Brett Seymour, Jacob Lillyman and Jeremy Lattimore are all off contract while the club have options on Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Sam Rapira, James Maloney, Alehana Mara, Ukuma Ta'ai and Isaac John.

The Warriors open their 2011 NRL season against the Eels on Saturday at Eden Park.