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HE IS described as ''the best forward in the world'' but at Wests Tigers the impending signing of Adam Blair is causing uncertainty and confusion rather than celebration.
While the acquisition of the New Zealand international would be a major coup for the Tigers, his big-money arrival is heaping pressure on the places of 2005 premiership winners Liam Fulton and Bryce Gibbs. Fulton, 26, broached the touchy topic for the first time yesterday, saying his and Gibbs's preference was to stay.
Fulton and Gibbs have been granted permission for their agent, Darryl Mather, to seek options for them elsewhere despite being contracted until the end of 2013 and 2014 respectively. Fullback Wade McKinnon last week signed with English Super League side Hull FC.
Blair has long been considered a lock to join the Tigers but the fact he is still yet to sign suggests some manoeuvring still needs to take place, amid speculation the Roosters remain in the market for him.
Fulton was resolute in his desire to remain a Tiger but, realistic about the situation, it can be implied he and Gibbs would likely accept rival offers if they were tasty enough.
''We don't have to go anywhere,'' he said. ''We don't really want to leave but at the end of the day if something comes up we'll look into it. I think [my manager] spoke to a couple of different places but nothing has been set in concrete. He might be still out there looking around.
''There's a lot of talk going around signing players and people having to leave but at the end of the day I've got another two years here.''
Confusion surrounds the reasons for the possible exits of Fulton and Gibbs, with Fulton saying salary-cap pressure was the main factor but others at the club suggesting the popular forwards feared for their positions in first grade with Blair and the emerging Simon Dwyer, Andrew Fifita, Aaron Woods and Ben Murdoch-Masila on the scene, among others.
''It is a business and I can understand that,'' Fulton said. ''If things happen, it will be up to me. It won't have any bearing on the club pushing me out because they can't - because I've got another two years here.''
As for Blair, Fulton has heard it said the Kiwis vice-captain has already signed with the Tigers but has not had it verified. ''I don't even know … whether they've signed him or they haven't. It's just speculation,'' he said.
Tigers chief Stephen Humphreys said last night: ''The players, through their manager, have wanted to have some conversations and check out their options and we gave permission. If they come back with something material we'll look at it; if not they're part of our contract list and they'll be in our squad.''
The Roosters, meanwhile, deny they have performed their own off-loading to attract Blair. It had been suggested Queensland forward Nate Myles's move to the Gold Coast was designed to free up money for a big-money pursuit of the 25-year-old, whose management has been asking for upwards of $500,000 a season.
Roosters officials had been interested in Blair several months ago but they maintain the club cannot afford him. The exit of an on-contract player in Myles, they say, centred on a need to stay under the salary cap next year, rather than to buy one of the world's most expensive forwards.
''We can't afford Adam Blair as we stand today,'' Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said yesterday. ''Unless something dramatic happens … we can't pay that sort of dollars for a forward, as good as he is.
''In my opinion, he's the best forward in the world, but the best forwards in the world still don't get that sort of dollars. They go to Cooper Cronk and [Johnathan] Thurston.''
Blair's manager, Isaac Moses, was tight-lipped about his client's future, adding: ''I don't think he'll make a decision this week.''
The Storm are resigned to losing a player who, upon the departure of Greg Inglis, became one of the ''big four'' in their leadership group. ''If we were to lose him we'd be disappointed,'' football manager Frank Ponissi said. ''He's a player developed here since he was 18, he's got leadership qualities and can play front row and back row. He's got the whole package.''
[Source](http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/blair-coup-not-bloodless-as-tigers-stalwarts-consider-futures-20110601-1fgp5.html)
While the acquisition of the New Zealand international would be a major coup for the Tigers, his big-money arrival is heaping pressure on the places of 2005 premiership winners Liam Fulton and Bryce Gibbs. Fulton, 26, broached the touchy topic for the first time yesterday, saying his and Gibbs's preference was to stay.
Fulton and Gibbs have been granted permission for their agent, Darryl Mather, to seek options for them elsewhere despite being contracted until the end of 2013 and 2014 respectively. Fullback Wade McKinnon last week signed with English Super League side Hull FC.
Blair has long been considered a lock to join the Tigers but the fact he is still yet to sign suggests some manoeuvring still needs to take place, amid speculation the Roosters remain in the market for him.
Fulton was resolute in his desire to remain a Tiger but, realistic about the situation, it can be implied he and Gibbs would likely accept rival offers if they were tasty enough.
''We don't have to go anywhere,'' he said. ''We don't really want to leave but at the end of the day if something comes up we'll look into it. I think [my manager] spoke to a couple of different places but nothing has been set in concrete. He might be still out there looking around.
''There's a lot of talk going around signing players and people having to leave but at the end of the day I've got another two years here.''
Confusion surrounds the reasons for the possible exits of Fulton and Gibbs, with Fulton saying salary-cap pressure was the main factor but others at the club suggesting the popular forwards feared for their positions in first grade with Blair and the emerging Simon Dwyer, Andrew Fifita, Aaron Woods and Ben Murdoch-Masila on the scene, among others.
''It is a business and I can understand that,'' Fulton said. ''If things happen, it will be up to me. It won't have any bearing on the club pushing me out because they can't - because I've got another two years here.''
As for Blair, Fulton has heard it said the Kiwis vice-captain has already signed with the Tigers but has not had it verified. ''I don't even know … whether they've signed him or they haven't. It's just speculation,'' he said.
Tigers chief Stephen Humphreys said last night: ''The players, through their manager, have wanted to have some conversations and check out their options and we gave permission. If they come back with something material we'll look at it; if not they're part of our contract list and they'll be in our squad.''
The Roosters, meanwhile, deny they have performed their own off-loading to attract Blair. It had been suggested Queensland forward Nate Myles's move to the Gold Coast was designed to free up money for a big-money pursuit of the 25-year-old, whose management has been asking for upwards of $500,000 a season.
Roosters officials had been interested in Blair several months ago but they maintain the club cannot afford him. The exit of an on-contract player in Myles, they say, centred on a need to stay under the salary cap next year, rather than to buy one of the world's most expensive forwards.
''We can't afford Adam Blair as we stand today,'' Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan said yesterday. ''Unless something dramatic happens … we can't pay that sort of dollars for a forward, as good as he is.
''In my opinion, he's the best forward in the world, but the best forwards in the world still don't get that sort of dollars. They go to Cooper Cronk and [Johnathan] Thurston.''
Blair's manager, Isaac Moses, was tight-lipped about his client's future, adding: ''I don't think he'll make a decision this week.''
The Storm are resigned to losing a player who, upon the departure of Greg Inglis, became one of the ''big four'' in their leadership group. ''If we were to lose him we'd be disappointed,'' football manager Frank Ponissi said. ''He's a player developed here since he was 18, he's got leadership qualities and can play front row and back row. He's got the whole package.''
[Source](http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/blair-coup-not-bloodless-as-tigers-stalwarts-consider-futures-20110601-1fgp5.html)
