Kiwis captain Blair says no to Warriors

Adam Blair will turn down the invitation to join the Warriors and wants to remain at the Broncos.

As first reported by Stuff earlier this month, the Warriors were keen on bringing in Blair, who was named the new Kiwis captain yesterday.

Blair would have been a great acquisition for the club, which is looking to restock its props for next year, with Ben Matulino and Charlie Gubb both leaving and a number of other front rowers off contract.

Blair could have joined the Warriors next year if he was given an early release from the Broncos, who could be facing salary cap issues because of the signing of Jack Bird, or in 2019 when his current deal runs out.

‘‘I’m contracted next year but there are a few things in place for where I am at the moment,’’ Blair said.

‘‘For me, it’s about where I’m going to play my better football at the back end of my career.

I obviously want to go out on a high and do everything for myself, I still talk to Mooks (Stephen Kearney) as a mate.

‘‘When I moved to Melbourne, he was someone that I looked up to coming through the Storm grades and then moving on and then having him at the Broncos.

‘‘Whenever Mooks is in Brisbane I catch up with him. He obviously does talk about visions of me coming home and stuff like that, but for me it’s about where do I finish up and how it looks for me and my family.’’

At the age of 31 and being on big contracts throughout his career, money isn’t the main factor in what drives Blair and he wants to be at a team that win a Premiership.

‘‘No one is saying the Warriors can’t do that but I think that with where I am now, I’m in a good place,’’ he said.

‘‘I’m really enjoying my footy and I’m doing everything I can to help me play my best out there.

‘‘For me to enjoy it, I need to be at a good club, for example the Broncos.

‘‘My family is happy too and I’m enjoying Brisbane.’’

Blair is proud of his Whangarei roots and obviously a passionate New Zealander.

However, he says it’s unlikely he’ll move back to this side of the Tasman when he eventually hangs up his boots.

‘‘It would be nice to come home at some stage,’’ he said.

‘‘But to be honest, looking to the future my immediate family is in Melbourne and my wife is from Brisbane and my kids are growing up there.

‘‘It would be nice to bring them home one day, but I think it would be a little bit selfish of myself to drag them all of the way over here.’’