CONFIRMED - Adam Blair to Broncos

[Foordy]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

But yeah, I must say I'd rather sign an experienced prop than rely on our NYC props who haven't even played Queensland Cup yet, I'd also rather spend what money we have under the cap rather than "Saving money for a rainy day hoping for someone to become home sick"

But that's just me

it is all fine to want to spend our salary cap space, but just because we have the money available, doesn't mean that we need to spend it on just anyone.

yes, we are probably a prop short for 2015, but IMO, we will get about the same value for money out Blair that we got out of Kennedy

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

I was trying to make sense of this...

It only makes sense to me if you meant 2015 since it's based on the notion that the Broncos specifically got rid of Kennedy, Barba, Hoffman etc to sign another prop forward.

Why else would the Broncos hold onto 2016 if they couldn't sign Blair? Things aren't that black and white.

You're confusing the hell out of me.

I was talking about us having money to spend in 2016 if we didn't sign Blair, him playing for us in 2015 is pretty irrelevant in the argument because the money would virtually just be sitting in our pockets if we didn't spend it on him, but in 2016 when we still have him in our books, that's when it might come back to hurt us.

I don't see how signing Blair has any financial influence on next season, assuming we've already signed Boyd, I don't see where else the remaining cap room could be spent for next season apart from on an experienced prop. Unless you're saying it'd be better to be $400k under the cap for next season than spending it on Adam Blair.

 

[bazza]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

I cant believe how 'big' Blair actually is. He's 190cm and 114kgs but you wouldn't be able to tell the way he's been hitting the line lately. I'm sure the Tigers would love to get rid of him.

I can't comprehend why we'd want to sign him. He's a backrower at best, but we're short on props. We're probably better off without him. Blair played second row at the Storm, which is where he played his best football. He's been a shadow of his former self since then. The Tigers haven't done him many favours either, but I don't think he is the answer to our problems.

I'd still prefer FPN, but that's my opinion.

Why does every team have mammoth forwards, both props and backrowers? But we just have these tiny props (besides our new recruits) who have the physique of most other teams backrowers, and we have backrowers who have the physique of most other teams centres/wingers? I don't get it...

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

T-T-TRIPLE POST

Maybe I'm just being optimistic, maybe it's my inner Pro-Bennett agenda, but I like to think of the possible positives of signing a player, every time.

Pros:

- Can be a dominant player, shown in Melbourne
- If any coach can get the best out of a guy like Blair, it's Bennett
- Back in familiar surroundings, went to high school in Brisbane
- Back with his girlfriend, who lives in Brisbane
- NZ connection (Kearney, Glenn, Gavet)
- Had his best year last year at the Tigers (Still not even close to Melbourne performance)
- Still a reasonably young age (28), a few years left to reinstate himself as a great player

Cons:

- He's been shit since he left Melbourne, marginally improved this year
- Less money for the Broncos to retain and sign other players
- Less playing time for younger props (?) (Not sure if this is a con, depends on how good the younger props play)

 

[Porthoz]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Good post [MENTION=8290]Unbreakable[/MENTION].

Regardless of my Bennett agenda, you put good points forward.
I think the cons largely outweigh the pros though, especially if he comes at anywhere near Kennedy's money, which he probably would, being a Kiwi rep.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

If we sign Blair and that costs one of our promising forwards a genuine shot at first grade, I'll be fuming. The guy is a hack.

 

[Broncoman]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Does anyone even rate Blair that highly anymore? I don't even think the Tigers fans like him much these days.

As I said earlier he did improve a bit this year but he was still average for most of the time and has been a complete flop for the Tigers.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

I'm going to try and ignore all the hypothetical scenarios because it's just doing my head in and it's actually turning me away from signing him.

Experience can be a handy asset as long as it influences the style of play. Unfortunately with Blair, I don't see much difference between who he was in 2006 and the player that stands before us today. He still gives away dumb penalties, he still throws unnecessary passes and he's always struggling for consistency.

If I want an experienced player, I want somebody who can set an example. Not just for one or two games, but for 24?

I don't see that in Blair.

So the question is, would I accept Blair on any sort of deal? Or is it a flat out no altogether?

It'd have to be very reasonable, particularly in length but yeah I could accept him on some sort of Shane Tronc arrangement.

If he does sign, I don't want him to sign for the money, I want him to sign for the opportunity.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

I don't think anyone disagrees with Blair has been virtually awful the entire time he's been at the Tigers, but at the same time.. He's a prime candidate for a comeback season. And I think if there's any team in the NRL that could get him back to what he was in Melbourne, it's us.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

If he does sign, I don't want him to sign for the money, I want him to sign for the opportunity.

Exactly this.

 

[Anonymous person]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Blairs signing by the tigers was the go to "lol wtf were they thinking" signing here for the last few years, and now a certain subset are all of a sudden saying that it would be a good signing for us lol. Crazy times. His last decent season was what, 2006? Barba won a dally m 2 years ago and everyone said hes over the hill and can never play that well again, and now they want Adam Blair and think he can be a great buy? Epic, massive lols.

Don't want him, don't need him. The senile old coach really has lost his marbles if this is true.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Blairs signing by the tigers was the go to "lol wtf were they thinking" signing here for the last few years, and now a certain subset are all of a sudden saying that it would be a good signing for us lol. Crazy times. His last decent season was what, 2006? Barba won a dally m 2 years ago and everyone said hes over the hill and can never play that well again, and now they want Adam Blair and think he can be a great buy? Epic, massive lols.

Don't want him, don't need him. The senile old coach really has lost his marbles if this is true.

2006-2011 he was very good, he entire stint at the Storm he was pretty much top class.

He's in the same boat as Darius, a few poor seasons in a row at a poor club. In fact almost identical to Darius, both have shown they can be an elite player if they're put on a good roster with good players, both have shown they can disappear in games if their team isn't winning.

Could be a master stroke from the "Senile Old Coach" if it pays off, or a massive let down.. only time will tell AP!

I'm not going to bother responding to your other baits, waste of time :P

 

[Ari Gold]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Two years ago Klemmer was an untested rookie and now he's considered one of the better props in the game. Napa who was mentioned earlier whilst not the same class also debuted two years ago.

So in a couple of years young props can make good progress. Not saying Joe will definitely follow the same trajectory but no reason to doubt him so far. What would you rather at the end of 2016? A 30 year old Blair or Joe with two years of first grade under his belt.

I know which one I prefer.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Two years ago Klemmer was an untested rookie and now he's considered one of the better props in the game. Napa who was mentioned earlier whilst not the same class also debuted two years ago.

So in a couple of years young props can make good progress. Not saying Joe will definitely follow the same trajectory but no reason to doubt him so far. What would you rather at the end of 2016? A 30 year old Blair or Joe with two years of first grade under his belt.

I know which one I prefer.

It's a pretty big risk to just assume that Ofa is going to be as good as Klemmer and Napa, as much as he's looked sick in the U20's, I think it'd be best for us AND him if he spent a season in ISC and then a season coming off the bench, after that we can punt someone for him if he's beasting it.

 

[Ari Gold]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

I agree it's a risk but I think Blair is too. Actually thinking about it why bother releasing Kennedy if we sign Blair?

Both are in similar situations of having left their original club on good coin and disappointing there.

We cut Kennedy, a recent disappointment at what I believe is to our financial detriment. If we sign Blair we still end up with a recent disappointment but we end up paying for two of them (Blair and Kennedy). To me it's a sideways move at best that taxes us twice.

Joe aside, where's the sense in this? It just strikes me as really weird.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

I agree it's a risk but I think Blair is too. Actually thinking about it why bother releasing Kennedy if we sign Blair?

Both are in similar situations of having left their original club on good coin and disappointing there.

We cut Kennedy, a recent disappointment at what I believe is to our financial detriment. If we sign Blair we still end up with a recent disappointment but we end up paying for two of them (Blair and Kennedy). To me it's a sideways move at best that taxes us twice.

Joe aside, where's the sense in this? It just strikes me as really weird.

Can't really argue with anything you said, it just comes down to who Bennett thinks gives us the best chance at winning a premiership in the next 3 seasons, he obviously rates Blair much higher than Kennedy, otherwise he certainly wouldn't have made the moves he has.

(p.s - We still aren't sure that Bennett is truly chasing Blair, so we may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves)

 

[Big Pete]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Because I love any excuse to gush about our future stock of front rowers, it's worth noting that the Broncos have other forwards coming through like Fai, Collins & Hipgrave who I believe have real first grade potential.

They may not all hit it, but I'm willing to accept a lean season to ensure we bring the next generation through.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see a smokey realise his potential and make a name for himself off the bench. For instance, I could see Ajuma Adams, who seems to be re-invigorated by Bennett's decision to keep him on an extra year could be a weapon off the bench.

He actually reminds me of a young Adam Blair as far as his ball skills are concerned.

That's why I'm hesitant to go big on any prop who happens to be available.

 

[Unbreakable]

Re: [RUMOUR] Adam Blair to Broncos

Fai looked like Hala except not shit from what I saw of the U20 games this year, could be a handy player off the bench.

I'm all for Wayne not signing anyone and giving the likes of Ofahengaue, Molo, Fai the first crack at a spot in the side, with Garbutt starting and Gavet also on the bench.. I dunno though, it's just not Wayne's style to go into a season with this few experienced props, I'm pretty sure we're signing someone, it may be Blair, it may not be.