NRL: Brisbane Broncos grant Adam Blair permission to talk to rival clubs - Warriors favourites to sign Kiwis captain

Kiwis captain and Brisbane front-rower Adam Blair has been granted permission to talk to rival clubs. Photo / Photosport.

Brisbane Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has granted Adam Blair permission to negotiate with rival clubs with the Warriors favourites to sign the Kiwis captain.

The 31-year-old front-rower is under contract with the Broncos until the end of next season but has been linked to a move to the Warriors since May, while St George Illawarra are also chasing his signature.

Bennett yesterday confirmed Blair's management have requested a release from the last year of his contract and the Broncos have given him the green light to shop around.

"Look, we have been asked about that and we told them to go out and have a look around and come back and talk to us. We will see what happens," said Bennett.

Brisbane are understood to be willing to let the former Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers enforcer go if he receives an offer of a long-term deal.

The Warriors are reportedly prepared to sign Blair on a four-year deal, while it's understood the Broncos would only be willing to make him a low-end offer when he comes off-contract at the end of 2018.

"At the moment he's contracted to the Broncos for next year, but if he gets a release from them there's a good chance he may end up with us," said Warriors managing director Jim Doyle.

The Auckland-based outfit have spots to fill in the front-row next season, with Kiwis international Ben Matulino leaving to join Wests Tigers on a three-year deal and 247-game veteran Jacob Lillyman off-contract.

Whangarei-born Blair is good friends with Warriors coach and former Kiwis mentor Stephen Kearney. The pair developed a close bond during their time together at test level and during Kearney's time on the coaching staff at both Melbourne and Brisbane.

Blair would surely add some much-needed experience and aggression to the Warriors, however his confrontational style has seen him come in for plenty of criticism throughout his 258 game and 41 test career.

In 2012 he was suspended for five matches for his role in 'The Battle of Brookvale' when he traded blows with Manly's Glenn Stewart after the pair were sent from the field. Last year Blair was suspended twice in a month for a late hit on Rabbitohs halfback Adam Reynolds, and a chicken-wing tackle on Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday during last year's trans-Tasman test.

Just last week Blair was accused of dangerous play by Parramatta centre Michael Jennings, after he was taken out by a stray tackle that also saw Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough suffer a season-ending knee injury.

But despite his reckless reputation, Blair's presence would provide the Warriors with further leadership alongside current captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and former skipper Simon Mannering.

In May, Kiwis coach David Kidwell announced Blair as the captain for the upcoming World Cup, following Jesse Bromwich's removal in the wake of the cocaine scandal following New Zealand's Anzac test defeat to the Kangaroos.

Canterbury Bulldogs captain James Graham is also on the Warriors radar, although like Blair, he is also currently under contract for next year.

The Bulldogs are not eager to let go of the 31-year-old front-rower, but salary cap pressure could potentially see him released as they look to accommodate the arrival of current Warriors playmaker Kieran Foran and Wests Tigers captain Aaron Woods.