rnabokov
State of Origin Captain
Contributor
- Mar 5, 2008
- 9,586
- 8,889
As a big Blair critic at the start of the year, I must say he has been improving with time and has been very good of late. He is buying whatever WB is selling, and like all other players, is taking his game to the next level.
Credit where credit is due. I didn't think the change in coach would make that big a difference, but it did, more than the changes to the roster imo.
Benny and in some measure Kevvie, have made all the difference imo, even Kearney benefitted from it, going from the scapegoat to a great defensive coach in one season. But you only have to look at the improvement in Thaiday, Glenn, Macca. How Gillett has gone from a defensive worry to a inexpugnable rock, or Maranta from a total nuffie to a very solid winger.
It does make me wonder... how would Kennedy or Barba have played under Wayne? How would Blair have gone under Hook, etc...?
I was also a big critic of Blair earlier in the season, however, I was really impressed with him in the Dogs game. He looks to me like he's taking his game to another level as well. Almost everything he does now looks like he has thought it through, has a purpose rather than just barging hit ups for a few metres. He makes decisions, pass/offload or not, run this way or another. I think Bennett is transforming him into a first class forward. I hope he continues.
Along with Thaiday running and tackling hard, as well as passing, Parker's offloading ... our pack is starting to look very impressive. At this stage, Blair is exactly what we need up front.