2m for Blair
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 1hca3.html
WESTS TIGERS are today set to finally confirm the signing of the New Zealand Test forward Adam Blair on a four-year deal believed to be worth up to $2 million.
Blair, who is considered one of the best forwards in the game, has been strongly linked with the Tigers since the Herald revealed on March 24 that he was a recruitment priority for the club, but no announcement has been made until now.
The 25-year-old's impending arrival has sparked rumours of unrest at the Tigers, particularly after the long-serving prop Bryce Gibbs and boom forward Andrew Fifita were released to Cronulla for next season
There has also been speculation linking the Tigers with the Canberra fullback Josh Dugan, but chief executive Stephen Humphreys this week emailed the Raiders to reassure them that his club is not plotting a play for the NSW Origin star.
Gibbs had only recently agreed to terms for a three-year extension of his contract from next season.
Fullback Wade McKinnon and utility back Tim Moltzen have also been granted releases from their deals with the Tigers and there has been speculation about the futures of back-rower Chris Heighington and winger Beau Ryan.
The Tigers are today also expected to announce that Moltzen's release to join St George Illawarra next season as a replacement for the Newcastle-bound fullback Darius Boyd has been finalised, while McKinnon is headed to Hull KR.
Heighington, who has a British passport, has had approaches from up to five Super League clubs but does not want to play in England at this stage and will serve out the remaining two years of his contract with the Tigers. Ryan is also under contract to the Tigers for next season.
The Tigers are also expected to confirm that Parramatta centre Joel Reddy is joining the club next season but the major announcement will be the recruitment of Blair, who is one of the biggest signings in the joint venture's 12-year history. The Kiwis vice-captain was also sought after by Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and the Bulldogs, while the Storm did not want to lose him.
An obvious appeal for Blair at the Tigers was the presence of the New Zealand skipper, Benji Marshall, whom he has played alongside at Test level since 2008. The pair helped lead the Kiwis to victories in the World Cup and Four Nations.
Blair was not on big money in Melbourne and the club could not match the Tigers offer, which was described to the Herald last night as his ''big payday'' after six years behind the likes of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in the pecking order at the Storm.
The Storm are in talks with the former Test back-rower Ryan Hoffman, who coincidentally is a Wests Tigers junior, about returning to Melbourne from Wigan next year after being forced out of the club at the end of last season due to the salary cap scandal.
Meanwhile, the Sharks yesterday announced the signing of Newcastle hooker Isaac De Gois, Knights prop Mark Taufua and Dragons front-rower Jon Green, while Matthew Wright has re-signed. De Gois has signed a three year deal, while Taufua, Green and Wright will be with the club until the end of the 2013 season. The new signings follow the recruitment of Gibbs, Fifita, the Parramatta halfback Jeff Robson and Gold Coast second-rower Sam Tagataese, who has already joined the club after securing a mid-season transfer before the NRL's June 30 deadline.
Canberra yesterday extended the contract of the back-rower Shaun Fensom until the end of the 2014 season
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z1Ry2A4vRs
WESTS TIGERS are today set to finally confirm the signing of the New Zealand Test forward Adam Blair on a four-year deal believed to be worth up to $2 million.
Blair, who is considered one of the best forwards in the game, has been strongly linked with the Tigers since the Herald revealed on March 24 that he was a recruitment priority for the club, but no announcement has been made until now.
The 25-year-old's impending arrival has sparked rumours of unrest at the Tigers, particularly after the long-serving prop Bryce Gibbs and boom forward Andrew Fifita were released to Cronulla for next season
There has also been speculation linking the Tigers with the Canberra fullback Josh Dugan, but chief executive Stephen Humphreys this week emailed the Raiders to reassure them that his club is not plotting a play for the NSW Origin star.
Gibbs had only recently agreed to terms for a three-year extension of his contract from next season.
Fullback Wade McKinnon and utility back Tim Moltzen have also been granted releases from their deals with the Tigers and there has been speculation about the futures of back-rower Chris Heighington and winger Beau Ryan.
The Tigers are today also expected to announce that Moltzen's release to join St George Illawarra next season as a replacement for the Newcastle-bound fullback Darius Boyd has been finalised, while McKinnon is headed to Hull KR.
Heighington, who has a British passport, has had approaches from up to five Super League clubs but does not want to play in England at this stage and will serve out the remaining two years of his contract with the Tigers. Ryan is also under contract to the Tigers for next season.
The Tigers are also expected to confirm that Parramatta centre Joel Reddy is joining the club next season but the major announcement will be the recruitment of Blair, who is one of the biggest signings in the joint venture's 12-year history. The Kiwis vice-captain was also sought after by Sydney Roosters, Parramatta and the Bulldogs, while the Storm did not want to lose him.
An obvious appeal for Blair at the Tigers was the presence of the New Zealand skipper, Benji Marshall, whom he has played alongside at Test level since 2008. The pair helped lead the Kiwis to victories in the World Cup and Four Nations.
Blair was not on big money in Melbourne and the club could not match the Tigers offer, which was described to the Herald last night as his ''big payday'' after six years behind the likes of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater in the pecking order at the Storm.
The Storm are in talks with the former Test back-rower Ryan Hoffman, who coincidentally is a Wests Tigers junior, about returning to Melbourne from Wigan next year after being forced out of the club at the end of last season due to the salary cap scandal.
Meanwhile, the Sharks yesterday announced the signing of Newcastle hooker Isaac De Gois, Knights prop Mark Taufua and Dragons front-rower Jon Green, while Matthew Wright has re-signed. De Gois has signed a three year deal, while Taufua, Green and Wright will be with the club until the end of the 2013 season. The new signings follow the recruitment of Gibbs, Fifita, the Parramatta halfback Jeff Robson and Gold Coast second-rower Sam Tagataese, who has already joined the club after securing a mid-season transfer before the NRL's June 30 deadline.
Canberra yesterday extended the contract of the back-rower Shaun Fensom until the end of the 2014 season
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z1Ry2A4vRs
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MENACING*STORM
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Congrats Blairy - look after your fam-
CooperCronk
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Didn't know he was married...I still don't think he's worth $500,000 though.MENACING*STORM wrote:
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MENACING*STORM
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Oops probably should have said his immediate family
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Michael :P
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Nice work Blairy, may not be in the best form but like bula said, Sheens will be a good coach for his style.
Dont underestimate what he offers off the field either
Dont underestimate what he offers off the field either
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Bourbon Rat
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Unfortunately for Adam the Tigers management have done little to endear him to his team mates by ditching so many to make 'salary cap' space. Like Nodddy & Ox he will be the high profile signing that will be expected to produce results from day one.
I wish him & his family well for the future,but for now he is STILL a Stormer
I wish him & his family well for the future,but for now he is STILL a Stormer
Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake - WC Fields
Assuming that it`s correct I`m sad to see Adam go but can`t blame him for taking the cash. Hopefully now that it seems to be coming to a head we might start to see some forward movement on retentions etc. This seems to be a good start anyway
http://www.zerotackle.com.au/storm-hope ... term-2855/
http://www.zerotackle.com.au/storm-hope ... term-2855/
It's about time it was made official, now we cas get on with player signings and retention. Good luck to to Blairy though, i think you'd be hard pressed to find a Storm fan dirty on him for taking that sort of coin. As mentioned and i agree that no second rower is worth that sort of money so he'd have been mad not to take it.
Like it or not that obviously paves the way for Hoffy to come back and while i know he was far from his best when he left us i'm still somewhat optimistic that Bellyache can/will re-invent his role in the team and can still become a real asset for us. Time will tell though.
Like it or not that obviously paves the way for Hoffy to come back and while i know he was far from his best when he left us i'm still somewhat optimistic that Bellyache can/will re-invent his role in the team and can still become a real asset for us. Time will tell though.
Yeah about time that this all got sorted out. Very happy for Blair, another player the storm have produced gets snapped up from another team, this is becoming the life of the Melbourne Storm now. Now its time to start re-signing a few of the boys and going after a second rower and hopefully another prop!