Rumor Mill

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Can he play though? Never come across him in any 20's or NSW cup games I've seen, and only noticed his name mentioned around Roger

Yep. He has his own style though. IMObservation hes slower and more robust than RTS. He played well too in the under 20s finals I saw awhile back in where he played a 'go to' man type role. However if hes not in the top team, it really makes you wonder why...

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Yep. He has his own style though. IMObservation hes slower and more robust than RTS. He played well too in the under 20s finals I saw awhile back in where he played a 'go to' man type role. However if hes not in the top team, it really makes you wonder why...

Agreed. Less agility, but a bit more power.

He's currently a winger, but for me he's got centre written all over him (if he can pass, not that it's a requirement for Warriors centres). 180cm and 100kg so he's a bit bigger than Kata but not by much.

 

[Cloudsurfer]

One player I wish we'd chased (who I don't believe we did) is ben murdoch-masila.

Since going to the UK he's turned into an excellent prop and has been absolutely bulldozing sides. Still only 26 and his best years in the front row are in front of him. He's really turning into a Junior Paulo clone.

Unfortunately signed a 3 year extension with Salford in March.

He would of been an astute, non bank-breaking signing.

Warriors should chase this guy or ones like him...coming into the Storm system they must see something in these young guys but they're behind a few in their positions.
http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/team/profiles/charlie_galo_1486675665.html

 

[ERLeague]

The Courier-Mail can reveal Blair has received the biggest offer of his decorated career with the Warriors and Newcastle waging a big-money bidding war that has blown Brisbane out of the market.

Warriors coach Steve Kearney is attempting to lure Blair home to New Zealand with a four-year deal worth $600,000 annually, while the Knights met on Thursday with the veteran prop’s management.

Intriguingly, Bennett has links with both of Blair’s NRL suitors.

Kearney is a former Broncos assistant who hired Bennett as an adviser to help the Kiwis to World Cup glory in 2008, while the super coach spent three seasons in Newcastle before returning to Red Hill.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Hahahahahaha 600k for Blair, surely neither club is as stupid or desperate as that

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Warriors coach Steve Kearney is attempting to lure Blair home to New Zealand with a four-year deal worth $600,000 annually, while the Knights met on Thursday with the veteran prop’s management.

I hope Blair signs with the Knights but we do need a prop and I'm not hearing of any other expressing any interest. I'm a little worried that Blair might be the best on offer and then we miss out and pick a nobody but for that amount of money, I'd be willing to take a gamble on some others as we could get a couple of players for that amount of money.

@ERLeague if this is you that has the Facebook page 'Everything Rugby League' - keep it up. Its one of the most interesting stuff on my Facebook newsfeed. Good stuff.

 

[ERLeague]

I hope Blair signs with the Knights but we do need a prop and I'm not hearing of any other expressing any interest. I'm a little worried that Blair might be the best on offer and then we miss out and pick a nobody but for that amount of money, I'd be willing to take a gamble on someone else.

@ERLeague if this is you that has the Facebook page 'Everything Rugby League' - keep it up. Its one of the most interesting stuff on my Facebook newsfeed. Good stuff.

Yes, we created the FB page. Thank you for the kind words.
Whilst neither of us are Warriors fans it didn't take long to see that demand for NZ Warriors news seemed to be higher than most NRL clubs (Wigan Warriors similar for ESL). Our page compiles news from a lot of media sources (along with our paid writers) so we figured why not post here too given how closely you guys follow your club. Both us of us share the passion you guys have for the game.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Hahahahahaha 600k for Blair, surely neither club is as stupid or desperate as that

Yeah I think this is pretty simple supply and demand.

I dont think $600k for an experienced international prop is that crazy. We've seen previous years gone by when theres been a lack of props on the market and some real numpties have received massive multi-year deals.

Greg Eastwood is on similar money at the dogs....

 

[Beavers Headgear]

When you consider he loses his judiciary protection he receives at Brisbane, 600k is a huge risk imo

Also think back to his Tigers days where he was meant to be a top guy bringing something to the club, and he was disgraceful

Just too many alarm bells for me with him

 

[JJ]

Well, we know the Warriors are that stupid. FMD

 

[JJ]

Yeah I think this is pretty simple supply and demand.

I dont think $600k for an experienced international prop is that crazy. We've seen previous years gone by when theres been a lack of props on the market and some real numpties have received massive multi-year deals.

Greg Eastwood is on similar money at the dogs....

Yes, and the Dogs are hardly an exemplar for how to manage a cap

Blair was shithouse at the Tigers when something was required of him, it's not clear to me why he's an "international prop", and he's a grubby ill-disciplined middle forward who offers no go forward and relatively small minutes given his output

Clearly I am not a fan

 

[Iafeta]

$600k is just under one fifteenth of the salary cap. It's not that much in context.

I like what Aaron Woods said about him. First to training. Last to leave. We need guys like that. Changing behaviours at the Warriors is essential.

When you consider Lillyman I hear is gone, Thompson I hear is gone, Matulino is gone, Hoff is gone, Manu is no longer on the books, and Foran is gone, adding Blair to the books at 600 large is not going to reduce our financial ability to upgrade young players, sign new players etc. The true question becomes what they add. And if Woods is bang on then I think it's a good outcome.

Is he my favourite player? Definitely not. Would I have him ahead of a Paulo, Graham or even Tapine, probably not, but his signing doesn't stop those signings. Being able to attract them to the club probably will. But I suspect listening to players that someone like Adam Blair is attractive to play alongside because he has work ethic, desperation and heart that our blokes don't exude here.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

at this stage almost anything is better than what we have though

 

[Iafeta]

Not really. If we recruit another bro boy it will get a lot worse. From what I hear Blair is anything but that.

 

[Rich102]

The question though is why does Blair want to come here?
The only answer that I can think of is the money.

 

[Iafeta]

Maybe he genuinely wants to work with his mate Kearney to turn it around?

I saw an article on Stuff talking about the behavioural difference he had to make when he joined the Hurricanes. I find that story quite telling. I have no doubt the likes of Mannering and RTS do extras left right and centre, we need more of the same type of guys who show the way and demand the others follow. So be it is a less skilled player comes in but displays that mentality. We need blokes who want to do more than is expected and demand a gruelling preseason, these young blokes need to see that as the path to follow. Everything I hear is a number of our blokes expected an easy ride because the cultural norm wasn't to do anything different.

 

[JJ]

The question though is why does Blair want to come here?
The only answer that I can think of is the money.

Yeah, and that went well for the Tigers...

At the end of the day, I hope whoever they sign works out, and their options are pretty limited - I just don't see how he addresses any of the current problems

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Interesting, Blair tbh doesn't really strike me as someone who has a lot to offer off the park leadership wise but maybe he does have something there

His 91m a game don't really scream pay me the big dollars prop wise, especially when you consider you'd get Lillyman for little more than half of that and Lillyman makes 30 more metres a game

 

[Rich102]

Yes, but Lillyman's already here and it's not working.
So try something new and hope it makes a difference?
Maybe SK saw Bellamy do this? Or Bennett?
Or maybe he is just desperate?

 

[Cold Roses]

Maybe he genuinely wants to work with his mate Kearney to turn it around?

I saw an article on Stuff talking about the behavioural difference he had to make when he joined the Hurricanes. I find that story quite telling. I have no doubt the likes of Mannering and RTS do extras left right and centre, we need more of the same type of guys who show the way and demand the others follow. So be it is a less skilled player comes in but displays that mentality. We need blokes who want to do more than is expected and demand a gruelling preseason, these young blokes need to see that as the path to follow. Everything I hear is a number of our blokes expected an easy ride because the cultural norm wasn't to do anything different.

You mean the one about Laumape? That was really interesting. If not unsurprising. The thing that might start making a difference next year is the change in the senior leadership. Mannering, Johnson, throw in Harris and maybe Blair. That looks a lot better than the Jandles and Hoodies brigade that have been setting the standards for the last 6 years. It still shits me that 3 of our most senior players were part of the red bull saga.

Here's the link for the article. Nothing really new in it. But it does give an indication of what Kearney might be setting out to try and implement here.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...he-nz-warriors-learn-from-the-melbourne-storm