Adam Blair

For the Canadian senator, seeAdam Johnston Fergusson Blair.For the 1822 novel, seeAdam Blair (novel).

Adam Ngawati BlairMNZM(born 20 March 1986) is a New Zealandrugby leaguecoach and former professional rugby league footballer who played as aprop,second-rowforward andlockin theNational Rugby League(NRL), and theNew Zealandand theNew Zealand Māoriinternational teams.

Adam Blair MNZM
Born	Adam Ngawati Blair (1986-03-20)20 March 1986 Whangārei, New Zealand
Rugby league career
Playing information
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	109 kg (17 st 2 lb)
Position	Prop,Second-row,Lock
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2006–11 Melbourne Storm 121 5 0 0 20 2012–14 Wests Tigers 71 4 0 0 16 2015–17 Brisbane Broncos 74 2 0 0 8 2018–20 New Zealand Warriors 65 3 0 0 12 Total 331 14 0 0 56 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P 2006–19 New Zealand 51 2 0 0 8 2010 NRL All Stars 1 0 0 0 0 2019–20 New Zealand Māori 2 0 1 0 2
Coaching information
Representative Years Team Gms W D L W% 2024– Māori All Stars 2 1 0 1 50
Source:

Blair previously played for theMelbourne Stormbetween 2006 and 2011, where he won the2009 NRL Grand Final,which was later stripped due to salary cap breaches, theWests Tigersbetween 2012 and 2014, theBrisbane Broncosbetween 2015 and 2017, and finally theNew Zealand Warriorsbetween 2018 and his final season in 2020. He was a member of the New Zealand side that won the2008 World Cup,and has captained the team and played for theNRL All Stars.

Blair has also been employed bySky Sport (New Zealand)as a presenter during rugby league shows.

Early years

Blair was born inWhangarei, New Zealand,and is ofMāoridescent.

Blair played his junior football for the Northland Carvers and attendedWhangarei Boys' High Schoolbefore recruited by theMelbourne Stormas a 16-year-old where he moved toBrisbane, Queenslandand played for their feeder club theNorths DevilswithGreg Ingliswhile attendingWavell State High School.Blair was aJunior Kiwiin 2002 and 2003.

Playing career

Blair &Issac Lukeperforming theHaka

2006

In Round 4, Blair made hisNRLdebut for theMelbourne Stormagainst theWests Tigerswhere he played off the interchange bench in the Storms' 30–28 loss atLeichhardt Oval.He played off the bench in the Storm's 15-8grand finalloss to theBrisbane Broncos.Blair was awarded the Rookie of the Year for the club, playing in 16 matches during theseason.Awarded with selection in theNew Zealand national rugby league team2006 Tri-Nations seriessquad,Blair made his international debut againstAustralia,playing off the interchange bench in the 30–18 loss atMt Smart Stadiumon 14 October.Blair played in all 4 matches of the tournament including the Kiwis 16-12 Tri-Nations Final loss against Australia.

2007

Blair missed most of the2007 NRL seasondue to a foot injury which he suffered in the last year's Tri-Nations Final, playing in only 8 matches for the Storm.

2008

On 9 May, Blair played for New Zealand in the historical Centenary Test against Australia in a 28–12 loss.In the Storm's preliminary finals match against theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks,Blair scored his first NRL career try in the 28–0 win atSydney Football Stadium.On 5 October, Blair played off the bench in the Storm's 40-0Grand Finalloss to theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles.He finished the2008 NRL seasonwith him playing in 27 matches and scoring 1 try.

After the Grand Final, Blair was named in the final 24-man New Zealand squad for theWorld Cup.In the match againstPapua New Guinea,Blair scored his first international try and was named as the Man-of-the-Match in the 48–6 win atCbus Super Stadium.On 23 November, he started at prop and scored a try as New Zealand defeated Australia 34–20 in the Final atSuncorp Stadium.Blair played in all 6 matches for the Kiwis in the tournament.

2009

Blair at the2009 Four Nations

On 8 May, Blair played for New Zealand in the2009 ANZAC Test,where he started at prop in the 38–10 loss.On 4 October, Blair played in the Storm's2009 NRL Grand Finalagainst theParramatta Eels,where he started at second-row and scored the second try of the match and set upBilly Slater's try to lead the team to the 23–16 victory.He scored 2 tries in 29 matches in2009.Blair was also named vice-captain of the Kiwis for theFour Nationsand played in all 3 of their matches.

2010

As vice-captain for the Kiwis, Blair was an automatic selection for theNRL All Stars teamagainst theIndigenous All Starswhere he started at prop in the 16–12 loss.On 7 May, he played lock for New Zealand in the2010 ANZAC Test.Blair finished the Storm's drama-filled2010 NRL seasonwith 1 try from 22 matches. He was chosen in the 23-man New ZealandFour Nationssquad.On 13 November, in New Zealand's Four Nations Final match against Australia, Blair started at prop as the Kiwis won 16-12 after a try toNathan Fienwith 2 minutes to fulltime.Blair played in 4 matches in the tournament.

2011

In Round 2 against theGold Coast Titans,Blair played his 100th NRL career match in the Storm's 40–12 win atAAMI Park.On 6 May, he played for New Zealand in the2011 ANZAC Test.On 13 July, it was confirmed that Blair signed a 4-year-deal with theWests Tigersstarting from 2012 worth around $500,000 a season.In Round 25 against Manly in the match dubbed as the "Battle of Brookvale" after Blair's involvement in a fight with Manly forwardGlenn Stewartmade headlines around the world. The incident started with a fight between Manly'sDarcy Lussickand Melbourne'sRyan Hinchcliffe,after Hinchcliffe elbowed Lussick as he tackled him. Other players, including, notably, Stewart and Blair, joined in the melee. But while the drama should have ended with Stewart and Blair being sin-binned, instead it escalated. Stewart, sin-binned first, walked off. Blair, sin-binned second, jogged off. Blair caught up with Stewart and the pair exchanged words - the speculation is Blair suggested the pair to "get it on" and the fists started flying. Then, four other Manly players - including Stewart's brother, Brett - ran in from a distance to get involved. That was the signal for a melee that drew players from everywhere, including the Melbourne bench. Blair and Stewart were later obviously sent off for the rest of the match.The match turned out to be Blair's last match for the Storm after he was suspended for 5 matches, which made him miss the final series.Blair finished his last year with the Storm with 23 matches and 1 try. Blair was selected in the Kiwis 23-man squad in the2011 Four Nationsseries.He played in 2 matches.

2012

In Round 1 of the2012 NRL season,Blair made his club debut for the Wests Tigers against theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks,where he started at second-row in the 17–16 win atLeichhardt Oval.In the next match in Round 2 against the Manly, Blair scored his first try for the Tigers in the 22–18 loss atCentral Coast Stadium.On 20 April, Blair played for New Zealand in the2012 ANZAC Testwhere he started at second-row in the 20–12 loss.He finished his first year with the Wests Tigers with 23 matches. However, with an average of 3 missed tackles a game and low yardage achieved with the ball, Blair was described as one of, "the biggest flops of 2012." Despite the criticism, coachMick Potterpraised his communication and leadership skills during the off-season.

2013

In Round 6 against theSt George Illawarra Dragons,Blair played his 150th NRL career match.Blair's form in the early rounds of the season was a shadow of his former self that he showed at Storm, with theDaily Telegraphwriting an article asking, "Is Blair the worst NRL signing ever?"From Round 11 onwards, Blair was moved into the front row, where he stayed for the rest of the season. Blair said, "Everyone knows what I can bring and how I can play. I'm just not doing that enough for the team at the moment and for the people that want to see me do better for the team.Blair finished theyearwith 24 matches and 1 try.

2014

A "strong start" to 2014 saw Blair selected for New Zealand in the2014 Anzac Testwhere he started at lock in the 30–18 loss against Australia atSydney Football Stadium.Blair was the Wests Tigers' second best performer for hit-ups and tackles made for the season, and played in all of the Tigers 24 matches. He was selected in the Kiwis final 24-man squad for the2014 Four Nationsseries.He played in all 4 matches in the tournament. On 15 November, Blair played at prop in the Kiwis 22-18 Four Nations final win over Australia.On 17 November, Blair was granted a release from his contract from the Wests Tigers and on the next day on 18 November it was announced that he had signed with the Brisbane Broncos on a three-year deal, starting in 2015.Blair later said of Wests Tigers period, "[I'd] be lying if I said I was 100 per cent happy."

2015

In Round 1, Blair made his debut for theBrisbane Broncosagainst theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs,starting at prop in the 36–6 loss at Suncorp Stadium.In Round 10 against theNorth Queensland Cowboys,he played his 200th NRL match in the Broncos 31–20 loss at1300SMILES Stadium.In Round 18 against theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs,Blair scored his club try for the Broncos in the 16–8 win atANZ Stadium.On 4 October, in the Broncos Queensland derby2015 NRL Grand Finalagainst theNorth Queensland Cowboys,Blair started at prop in the historic golden point 17–16 loss.Blair played in 23 matches and scored 1 try in his first year with the Brisbane Broncos. He was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tourEngland,where he was one of four members of Brisbane's grand final team to be included in coachStephen Kearney's squad.He co-captained the Kiwis in all 3 matches against England, starting at lock in the Kiwis' 2-1 Baskerville Shield series loss.

2016

Blair was named in the Broncos pre-seasonNinessquad.On 6 May, Blair played for New Zealand in the2016 ANZAC Test,starting at prop in the 16–0 loss.After he performed achicken wing tackleon Broncos teammate Sam Thaiday, he was given a 1 match suspension.Blair was subjected to criticism by former Broncos playerGorden Tallissaying that he was "one of the dirtiest players on the field and he means to do it. I don't know why Wayne Bennett keeps letting it go. I am disappointed he wears the Broncos jersey."Blair later responded saying "I'm man enough to cop what he (Tallis) says and, to be honest, I couldn't care less. What has hurt me out of all this is the impact it has on my family and my friends. I have a five-year-old son and it's not a good look when my boy has to go to school and he hears stuff from other kids and parents."Blair finished off the2016 NRL seasonwith 24 matches. Blair was selected in the New ZealandFour Nations24-man squad.and played in all 5 matches including starting at prop in the 34-8 Final loss against Australia.

2017

On 5 May, Blair played for New Zealand in the2017 ANZAC Testoff the interchange bench in the 30–12 loss atCanberra Stadium.Blair was named captain of New Zealand for the World Cup due toJesse Bromwichbeing stripped of the captaincy after he andKevin Proctorwere caught in possession of cocaine after the test. In Round 11 against one of his former clubs the Wests Tigers, Blair played his 250th NRL match in the 36–0 win at Suncorp Stadium.Playing as starting prop in every game of the Broncos season, Blair scored one try from his 27 matches. His final game for the club was in the preliminary final againstMelbourne Storm,where he was again criticised for dirty play. After a late hit onCooper Cronk,commentatorAndrew Johnssaid, "It's a coward (act). It's absolutely dirty play. It's not needed. He sees the ball go and he's giving away 30 kg to a smaller man and he hits him in the back."On 3 October 2017, it was announced that Blair signed 3-year deal worth about $2.4 million with theNew Zealand Warriorsstarting in 2018.

Blair warming up for the Warriors in 2019

Blair (left), after his investiture as aMember of the New Zealand Order of Meritby the governor-general,Dame Cindy Kiro,atGovernment House, Auckland,on 17 February 2022

Blair was named as captain of the New Zealand Kiwis squad for theWorld Cup.Two days later, Blair openly criticisedJason Taumalolo's shock defection to play forTonga,Blair commenting that Taumalolo is not "man enough" and that he betrayed the "black jersey".Blair played in all of the 4 matches at lock in the Kiwis disappointing campaign after losses to second-tier teams Tonga andFiji.After the Kiwis 4–2 loss to Fiji atWestpac StadiuminWellington,Blair was heavily criticised after a post-match interview, with him chewing gum and describing the loss as a "great game to watch" and "not a negative".

2018

In Round 1 of the 2018 NRL season, Blair made his club debut for theNew Zealand Warriorsagainst theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs,starting at prop in their 32–20 win atPerth Stadium.

2019

During the 2019 fall internationals, Blair became the second New Zealander to earn 50 international caps.

2020

In the last week of2020 National Rugby League SeasonBlair would announce his retirement from playing career. TheNew Zealand Warriorswould go on to win their final match of the season 40-28 over theManly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

At the time of Blair's retirement, he had the most NRL appearances by a New Zealander at 331, though this would eventually be over taken by former team-mateBenji Marshall.

Coaching career

In August 2022, Blair was announced to be an assistant coach with the NZ Māori All-Star team.

After one season coaching with theNew Zealand WarriorsYouth Academy, and just one week removed from his appointment on the NZ Māori Team, Blair would be announced as the clubsS.G Ball(Under 16) head coach.

Honours

In the2021 Queen's Birthday Honours,Blair was appointed aMember of the New Zealand Order of Merit,for services to rugby league.

Statistics

Year	Team	Games	Tries	Pts
2006	Melbourne Storm	16
2007		8
2008		27	1	4
2009		25	2	8
2010		22
2011		23	1	4
2012	Wests Tigers	23	3	12
2013		24	1	4
2014		24
2015	Brisbane Broncos	23	1	4
2016		24
2017		27	1	4
2018	Warriors	23	1	4
2019		22	2	8
2020		20
	Totals	331	14	56

External links

• New Zealand Warriors profile