Embattled Blair vows to fight for a place
Adam Blair is down, but insists he is not out.
The veteran forward admits his confidence has taken a hit this year as he struggles for consistency.
Blair is the most experienced player at the Warriors with 297 NRL games but may be relegated to reserve grade this week.
He admits that would be a shock, as he hasn’t played in the second tier competition since 2007.
But he’s also adamant he can find his best form, even if the road back won’t be easy.
“It’s about going out there and getting it done,” Blair told the Herald. “I’ve been there before, where I questioned myself all the time. That doesn’t stop, even though I have played so many games. I always want to be that person, doing everything I can for the team, be the player that everyone wants to play with. When subconsciously in the back of your mind somewhere, it’s telling you that you are not, then you are doubting yourself.”
Blair arrived at the Warriors as a marquee signing last season.
He helped elevate the per- formance of the pack, averaging more than 60 minutes a game and bringing defensive smarts, a handy offload and energy in the middle of the field.
This season, Blair has struggled although constant changes in combinations haven’t helped.
He’s still doing a defensive job but at times has barely contributed on attack and has struggled with discipline, conceding more penalties than any other Warrior.
“I haven’t been consistent enough,” said Blair. “I don’t think I have performed well enough.”
Blair thrives on confidence and admits his levels are down.
“It’s a mixture,” he said. “Not believing in yourself and maybe having doubts at times through games. I’m a hard marker on myself and I haven’t done enough to contribute to the team and that takes a little bit of a toll. You go away from games thinking ‘what if I did this?’, or ‘I could have been better in these situations’.”
His predicament is difficult, but nothing what he experienced at the Tigers in 2012 and 2013 where, as a new, high profile arrival, he copped the wrath for the team’s struggles and was labelled by some Australian media as one of the worst signings in the club’s history.
It would be foolish to count him out.
Blair overcame a tough childhood (he lost his father at a young age) to become one of the most decorated players in New Zealand league history.
He has played in four grand finals, winning two, and 48 tests for the Kiwis, only topped by Ruben Wiki’s 55.Blair was part of the 2008 World Cup triumph and the Four Nations tournament victories in 2010 and 2014.
The 33-year-old has done it all, but needs to prove himself again, as there is no room for sentiment in the NRL.
“I have to believe in myself, my ability,” said Blair. “It obviously would be a shock, if the coach says ‘this is the 17’ and you are not in it.
It hasn’t really happened before [here]. But also, I understand we need consistency, not moving players around after a good win [over the Dragons]. [I’ll] make sure if I do end up down there [in reserve grade], it’s about going out there and executing.”