Blair planning to change perceptions

Adam Blair knows the perception of the Warriors – particularly across the Tasman – is that they’re not an 80-minute team.

After spending the last 12 years years with Melbourne, Wests Tigers and and Brisbane, it is a view he picked up himself.

‘‘We always knew they were a big squad and they worked really hard, and I guess from the outside [looking] in you thought if you could stay with them long enough maybe they would roll over,’’ the Whangarei-born forward said.

The Kiwis skipper is determined to change that.

Blair’s signing has polarised opinion among Warriors fans but with 266 NRL appearances and 39 tests for New Zealand behind him, the 31-year-old has built a career out of being mentally tough.

It’s a big part of why Stephen Kearney went after him and Blair has taken it on himself to pass that knowledge on to the younger Warriors forwards.

‘‘Helping with communication, being able to talk under fatigue, being able to push through adversity when times are tough and those normally come at the back end of games where the scoreline might be close,’’ Blair said regarding his contribution.

‘‘I want to be able to use my voice and experience to hopefully give those boys the confidence to be able to push through those tough times.’’

Blair arrived at Mt Smart on a lucrative three-year deal after securing an early release from the Broncos at the end of last season.

One of the arguments against

his signing was that he did not provide an answer to the go-forward issue the Warriors forwards struggled with in 2017.

Blair is more renowned for his competitiveness and work ethic, attributes vital at every club.

But he also possesses a subtle passing game and late footwork at the line which the Warriors are bound to utilise as they drift away from last year’s conservative style.

‘‘The game’s changed from the days of one-out running and trying to run over the top of teams,’’ Blair said.