Two-week suspension may benefit Blair and Warriors

Warriors coach Stephen Kearney believes senior forward Adam Blair’s suspension will help reinvigorate him ahead of his return in Friday’s NRL clash against Penrith.

Blair has been sidelined after receiving a two-week ban for a crusher tackle on North Queensland's Kyle Feldt in the Warriors' round 15 win in Townsville.

The suspension forced the 32-yearold former Kiwis captain to miss New Zealand’s test loss to England in Denver last week, while he also watched from the stands as the Warriors lost to Cronulla at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night.

The situation was far from ideal, but in a strange way, it has had some benefits for club and player.

The Warriors were already anticipating being without Blair for the Sharks match, while the enforced holiday ensured he didn’t pick up any injuries playing for the Kiwis.

But Kearney believes the time out will be more beneficial for Blair’s mental focus, ahead of the Warriors’ run through the final nine rounds of the regular season.

“Every now and then, Adam needs a freshen-up of the mind because he does work himself very, very hard,” said Kearney.

“There’s nothing wrong with his body. So I think that’s the bigger positive to come out of it, it would give him an opportunity to refresh his mind.”

Blair’s return comes at a vital time with the Warriors expected to be missing injured forwards Tohu Harris (medial knee ligament) and Bunty Afoa (dislocated elbow) for the match against the Panthers in Sydney.

The pair was due to have scans yesterday but are potentially facing lengthy stints out, as the fifth-placed Warriors fight to reclaim a spot in the top four.

The loss to the Sharks saw the return of versatile forward Jazz Tevaga, who sat out recent wins over the Sea Eagles and Cowboys while recovering from surgery to have a potentially cancerous growth removed from his shoulder.

The 22-year-old got through 53 minutes in his first game in five weeks.

“It’s all good. I did my recovery and had a few tests with the surgeon and our physios here last week and pulled up sweet,” said Tevaga.

Meanwhile, front rower Albert Vete’s mid-season departure for Melbourne could mean a promotion for one of the Warriors’ rising young forwards.

The club may bring one-game rookie Joseph Vuna into their fulltime 30-man NRL squad.

The 19-year-old second rower or centre made his first grade debut in the Anzac Day defeat to Melbourne, and has played 13 games for the club’s Intrust Super Premiership side this season.