Rumoured Targets 3

[Apey]

Are you really going to hold a few lean years of his playing career against him even well after his retirement? Blair also played 51 tests for New Zealand which is second all time only behind Ruben Wiki.
Blair has always had a positive reputation in terms of professionalism and work ethic, was also a mentor to the young Polynesian boys during his years at the warriors.

A few lean years is very generous, I'd say over half his career. I doubt Tigers, Broncos or Warriors fans have much good to say about him. Absolutely made a playing career off of playing in peak (cap-cheating) Storm years.

I hope he's much better off the field than he was on the field.

 

[HarVeeGee]

Adam Blair was terrific at Brisbane and pretty good at the Warriors. It’s only really at Wests where he played bad. Something he has in common with most of the players who ever played there.

I understand hating him for how grubby he was, one of the great cheap shot merchants, but he definitely wasn’t bad.

 

[Zoidberg]

I remember seeing Adam Blair at the airport one day. He is a massively built human being.

 

[Knight Tales]

Starting to feel like O’Sullivan and AOB are pulling the old Melbourne crew together in some form. Hope it works.

 

[PhilGould]

Am I forgetting someone? Hiring one ex-Storm player from over a decade ago = getting the Melbourne crew together?

Seems like a weird thing to get upset about in general. If he's doing a good job in a similar role at the Warriors currently then that's far more relevant than how good he was on the field back in the day or what jersey he was wearing. He undeniably had a better career than Dobson who he's replacing, but plenty succeed in off-field/coaching/developing roles despite having far less or no experience playing NRL.

 

[HarVeeGee]

I’m of the school of thought that the most naturally gifted players make awful coaches tbh, so I’m not too bothered about how good Adam’s career actually was.

 

[Burwood]

Haven’t read the article as it’s behind a paywall, but is Blair’s signing an indication that the club are go to have more of a focus on NZ players and pathways?

Would have to imagine it would be good to have someone of his calibre and background to help players and families feel more at home in Newcastle.

 

[Knight Tales]

Am I forgetting someone? Hiring one ex-Storm player from over a decade ago = getting the Melbourne crew together?

Seems like a weird thing to get upset about in general. If he's doing a good job in a similar role at the Warriors currently then that's far more relevant than how good he was on the field back in the day or what jersey he was wearing. He undeniably had a better career than Dobson who he's replacing, but plenty succeed in off-field/coaching/developing roles despite having far less or no experience playing NRL.

I think you are taking a post and reading way too much into it. By old crew I mean O’Sullivan, Blair and AOB. It was an observation mate. No one is saying it is a bad idea. If anything quite the opposite.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Haven’t read the article as it’s behind a paywall, but is Blair’s signing an indication that the club are go to have more of a focus on NZ players and pathways?

Would have to imagine it would be good to have someone of his calibre and background to help players and families feel more at home in Newcastle.

Yeah this is what I got out of it. Hopefully that's the case. Some more Pacific Islanders too would be nice!

 

[Rod]

I’m of the school of thought that the most naturally gifted players make awful coaches tbh, so I’m not too bothered about how good Adam’s career actually was.

I always thought this about Joey. First of all his temperament (which he's fully admitted isn't suited to coaching) but the other thing is you simply can't coach a lot of what made him special.

 

[HarVeeGee]

You can kind of see it in how frustrated he sometimes gets watching halves play on comms too. A lot of “why don’t they just do this?” or “if it was me, here’s what I’d do” and the thing he’s describing is something which is difficult for most players but very easy for him.

Similarly, the hardest I’ve ever laughed from something I’ve heard in commentary went something like this: Darren Lockyer was watching a Broncos game and was clearly very annoyed with (I think) Kodi Nikorima’s decision making in the attacking 20 and end of sets. Gus tees him up to make an expert observation: “Darren Lockyer, you were a great half in the latter half of your career. What do you think the Broncos should be doing & what would you be doing in Kodi’s position?” There’s a little bit of dead air and Darren replies: “I don’t know mate, I’d need to be out there to get a bit of a feel for how the game is flowing.” Then another beat before he says: “I reckon I’d do something really good.” I almost fell off my chair. Great insight Locky…

 

[Woody90]

Why are we using a players on field career to judge how they’ll perform in an off field role?

I’d hire Cameron Ciraldo well before A Johns in my football department.

 

[ryan.a87]

Why are we using a players on field career to judge how they’ll perform in an off field role?

I’d hire Cameron Ciraldo well before A Johns in my football department.

Remember when we hired Matthew Gidley and Harrigan in cheif roles because of how well they played footy and they were one of the boys

that worked out well

 

[Woody90]

Remember when we hired Matthew Gidley and Harrigan in cheif roles because of how well they played footy and they were one of the boys

that worked out well

Not only just a role but CEO for Gids FFS lol

 

[aqua_duck]

People talking like Blair was some scrub, you don’t play 51 tests for the kiwis if you’re a scrub.
More importantly Blair is young enough where a lot the kids would still know who he is and he’s coached at the SG Ball level before too. I think it’s also good to see more Maori/pacifika coaches in the game given that players from that heritage make up roughly half of all players these days but are terribly underrepresented in the coaching and administration ranks

 

[Apey]

Why are we using a players on field career to judge how they’ll perform in an off field role?

I’d hire Cameron Ciraldo well before A Johns in my football department.

Because Blair didn't lack talent. He lacked heart. He coasted off his success at the Storm for the majority of his career after leaving them. So it's interesting to read he apparently has a great reputation for professionalism and work-ethic. Big 'great trainer' vibes.

Not convinced him coaching the Warriors SG Ball team to 9th position is a ringing endorsement either.

I would love to be wrong but I don't see it as an inspiring appointment, the fact that Warriors fans seem to be thrilled to see the back of him doesn't help either. To be fair though, that's partly due to his commentating commitments over there, where he sounds like he's somewhere between Blocker and Freddy tier.

 

[Knight Tales]

So Leo unsurprisingly is hitting the open market post Pacific Championships. If it was anyone but O’Sullivan negotiating I would say he was as good as gone. O’Sullivan will not be offering money that he does not have to based on a perceived notion of what a player values themselves at. I am curious to see how O’Sullivan competes against sides with
The advantage in TPAs. Probably not something he has had to deal with for a while.

 

[Yosh]

I really like Leo. It'll be sad to see him go. He is doing the right thing by testing the market. We should have signed him up ages ago.

 

[Yosh]

Pezet resigning with the Storm?

 

[perverse]

Pezet resigning with the Storm?

Where are you hearing this?

It's outrageous if true. It would signal that he's happier to play reserve grade stuck behind The NZ halfback and the Australian 5/8th (at the very least) for the next 2 years (minimum) rather than even entertain an offer to play first grade for us pretty much immediately.

God that's grim if there's any truth to it.