Blair nervous as he and Luke take coaching appointment
Former Ma¯ ori All-stars captain Adam Blair and his Warriors and Kiwis team-mate Issac Luke have been announced as assistant coaches for the Indigenous All-stars’ games next year.
Blair, who retired in 2019 after 331 NRL games — across four clubs — 51 appearances for the Kiwis, two for the NZ Ma¯ ori and one game for the NRL Indigenous All Stars, said the announcement had come as a shock.
“It is actually the most nervous I have been in a long time because it has become a reality to coach, and to coach Ma¯ ori at this level is what I have always wanted to do,” Blair said.
Blair, who hails from Te Tai Tokerau, has had some coaching training but not at this level.
“I guess my background is defence and history says the best defensive teams win competitions. This is my strength to develop a team that will stop any offence. I love my Aboriginal wha¯ nau and they love us but, come game time, there can only be one winner,” Blair said.
Benny Gardiner, the assistant coach for the Wests Tigers, was named head coach with Blair and Luke as assistants.
New Zealand Ma¯ ori Rugby League chairman John Devonshire said having Luke and Blair play the game at a high level, “there are no more passionate Ma¯ ori warriors
than themselves and they will soak it up and they will learn”.
“That is the other beauty of Benny’s appointment — they will learn from Benny and, in terms of a succession plan, they are it.”
The succession plan comes because the NRL has strict rules and procedures for accrediting coaching and management personnel.
“In the NRL you need to have coaching accreditation, you need accreditation just to run the water. We don’t have any or enough accredited Ma¯ ori to take on roles like this therefore we have prepared pathways like this with Blair and Luke under Gardiner’s watchful eye and expertise.”
Devonshire, whose whakapapa is Nga¯ ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, made the announcement at Waahi Pa¯ — home to King Tuheitia, whose grandfather and mother were the first patrons of the NZ Ma¯ ori Rugby League. He noted the organisation started in 1908, almost 114 years ago. “And tradition cannot be severed because of its kaupapa and who stood for us,” he said.
The All-star games that included NRL players started five years ago, with the first in Redfern, Sydney. Four games have been played, and NZ Ma¯ ori has won two, drawn one, and lost one.
Coaches for next year’s Ma¯ ori women’s indigenous team are Keith Hanley (Nga¯ puhi) assisted by John Strange (Nga¯ puhi), who was with the Sydney Roosters NRLW, and manager Stephanie Spooner (Nga¯ ti Kahungunu).
The games next February in Rotorua will be the first All-stars games to be held in Aotearoa.
— Te Ao Ma¯ ori News