Wests Tigers release Adam Blair to sign with Brisbane

BRISBANE BRONCOS STATEMENT: 

THE NRMA Insurance Broncos have added another dynamic piece to their forward-pack jigsaw puzzle with the signing of experienced international Adam Blair beginning with the 2015 season.

Blair has signed a three-year deal with the Broncos after gaining a release from the Wests Tigers today.

The Kiwi international, who starred in New Zealand's Four Nations triumph over Australia on Saturday night, will add starch and size to the Broncos' line-up next season.

At just 28 years of age, Blair is already a veteran of 30 Tests for New Zealand as well as being an NRL grand final winner in 2009.

He will bring plenty of grunt to the Broncos' roster.

"Adam is a highly-experienced player," said Broncos' chief executive Paul White.

"He has enormous experience at both NRL and representative level, and will bring toughness and leadership to the Broncos' squad.

"And at 111kg, he will also add some more size to our forwards stocks.

"He is a World Cup winner coming off a great Four Nations campaign where he was a major contributor to the New Zealand victory, and at age 28 has several seasons of great football ahead of him.

"We are excited about the role he can play for the Brisbane Broncos, and we welcome him and his family to the club."

Born in New Zealand's Whangarei, Blair began his NRL career with the Storm in 2006 before joining the Wests Tigers in 2012.

Blair has demonstrated his remarkable durability by playing every single match for the Tigers in the past two seasons.

He has now played 192 NRL games, and has also represented the NRL All Stars twice, in 2010 and 2012.

Blair will join his new teammates at the Broncos when the representative contingent returns to pre-season training after Christmas.

WESTS TIGERS STATEMENT: 

Wests Tigers have today confirmed that the Club has granted Adam Blair a release from the final year of his contract.

Blair has played 192 NRL games since debuting for the Melbourne Storm in 2006, with the New Zealand international joining Wests Tigers for the 2012 season.

At Wests Tigers Blair played 71 games, missing just one match during his time at the Club, including not missing a game in the last two seasons, with the 28 year old scoring four tries during that time.

Wests Tigers Head Coach Jason Taylor thanked Blair for his commitment to the Club and wished him well for his playing future.

"On behalf of Wests Tigers I'd like to thank Adam for his effort and commitment both on and off the field during his time at the Club," said Taylor. "It's impressive to note that during three seasons with the Club Adam didn't miss a game through injury, sitting just one out through suspension.

"Adam played an important role in Wests Tigers' Leadership Group and we wish him the best of luck for the 2015 season and beyond," he said.

Taylor also stressed that while Wests Tigers had released a number of players since the finish of the 2014 NRL season the Club won't be making any major signings ahead of 2015.

"By releasing Adam and a couple of other players recently we have had some relief in the salary cap," said Taylor. "But I need to make it clear this doesn't mean that we're going to be signing up players between now and the start of the 2015 season.

"We're planning for long-term success here and any decisions regarding signing new players will be made with this in mind," he said. "We have a great group of young players coming through the Wests Tigers system and from what I've seen of them so far I'm confident that they will develop into a strong group of NRL players.

"I can assure Wests Tigers Members and supporters that we have a clear recruitment strategy and we are committed to building a successful Club that will challenge for premierships," said Taylor.