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Blair part of our 'fabric': Potter tears hole in Eels recruitment plan
June 9, 2013
Daniel Lane - SMH
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Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter has thrown a road block in Parramatta's plan to recruit prop Adam Blair for 2014 by insisting the Kiwi international remained in his plans for next season - and beyond - because he was part of the club's ''fabric''.
Blair joined the club in 2011 with a reputation of being one of the world's best forwards and apart from commanding a $500,000 contract the Tigers offloaded the likes of NSW prop Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs to Cronulla to accommodate him.
However, Blair was associated with Parramatta during the week after Eels coach Ricky Stuart told 12 of his players they weren't wanted next year. It is believed his former club Melbourne is also keen on him.
While Blair has struggled at the Tigers to find the form of his time with the Storm and World Cup-winning Kiwis side, Potter was adamant he would rediscover his groove in the black and gold.
''It's news to me,'' said Potter when quizzed about Blair's possible mid-contract move to Parramatta. ''I don't hear rumours too much. I talk in fact and the fact is Adam is here and I want him to stay.
''He's by far and away one of our best forwards and he plays accordingly. He sets examples on and off the field. Adam, Benji [Marshall], Keith [Galloway] and Woodsy [Aaron Woods] are the fabric of the club.''
The bottom-of-the-table Tigers received a boost on Friday when prop Galloway, who has played five Tests for Australia, signed a new three-year-deal. ''He has a presence about him, Keith,'' Potter said of the 27-year-old. ''Unfortunately he has had a few injuries which have set him back but, certainly, when he's on the field he makes a lot of metres for us and stops people on contact.''
Galloway's year was frustrated by the pectoral tear injury he suffered in the round-two victory over Sunday's opponents, Penrith. Potter, in his first season as an NRL coach, rued the impact injuries to the likes of Galloway, Chris Lawrence, Liam Fulton, Blake Ayshford, Lote Tuqiri, Tim Moltzen and Robbie Farah had had on the club's campaign.
''It's a situation where you'd prefer to have all your best players [playing] but unfortunately that hasn't happened at any stage this season,'' he said. ''We have a lot of work to do with the young blokes and while I'm happy with the way they're going it's just not translating into wins. They're trying their hardest and they'll be better for it because they'll know what it takes to play NRL; they'll know there is a little bit more work to do off the field.''
Potter pointed to Penrith as one club that had worked through the scenario his team was enduring.
''They're going real well, they've suffered some adversity but in that they have found a couple of gems and it is translating into wins for them,'' he said. ''Now they have a few players that are potentially coming back they're in a tough situation [to pick teams] and I hope to be in that situation very soon where you're winning games with some young people. They're on the up, they're going to be tough to beat this weekend but we still think we are a chance.''
June 9, 2013
Daniel Lane - SMH
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\
Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter has thrown a road block in Parramatta's plan to recruit prop Adam Blair for 2014 by insisting the Kiwi international remained in his plans for next season - and beyond - because he was part of the club's ''fabric''.
Blair joined the club in 2011 with a reputation of being one of the world's best forwards and apart from commanding a $500,000 contract the Tigers offloaded the likes of NSW prop Andrew Fifita and Bryce Gibbs to Cronulla to accommodate him.
However, Blair was associated with Parramatta during the week after Eels coach Ricky Stuart told 12 of his players they weren't wanted next year. It is believed his former club Melbourne is also keen on him.
While Blair has struggled at the Tigers to find the form of his time with the Storm and World Cup-winning Kiwis side, Potter was adamant he would rediscover his groove in the black and gold.
''It's news to me,'' said Potter when quizzed about Blair's possible mid-contract move to Parramatta. ''I don't hear rumours too much. I talk in fact and the fact is Adam is here and I want him to stay.
''He's by far and away one of our best forwards and he plays accordingly. He sets examples on and off the field. Adam, Benji [Marshall], Keith [Galloway] and Woodsy [Aaron Woods] are the fabric of the club.''
The bottom-of-the-table Tigers received a boost on Friday when prop Galloway, who has played five Tests for Australia, signed a new three-year-deal. ''He has a presence about him, Keith,'' Potter said of the 27-year-old. ''Unfortunately he has had a few injuries which have set him back but, certainly, when he's on the field he makes a lot of metres for us and stops people on contact.''
Galloway's year was frustrated by the pectoral tear injury he suffered in the round-two victory over Sunday's opponents, Penrith. Potter, in his first season as an NRL coach, rued the impact injuries to the likes of Galloway, Chris Lawrence, Liam Fulton, Blake Ayshford, Lote Tuqiri, Tim Moltzen and Robbie Farah had had on the club's campaign.
''It's a situation where you'd prefer to have all your best players [playing] but unfortunately that hasn't happened at any stage this season,'' he said. ''We have a lot of work to do with the young blokes and while I'm happy with the way they're going it's just not translating into wins. They're trying their hardest and they'll be better for it because they'll know what it takes to play NRL; they'll know there is a little bit more work to do off the field.''
Potter pointed to Penrith as one club that had worked through the scenario his team was enduring.
''They're going real well, they've suffered some adversity but in that they have found a couple of gems and it is translating into wins for them,'' he said. ''Now they have a few players that are potentially coming back they're in a tough situation [to pick teams] and I hope to be in that situation very soon where you're winning games with some young people. They're on the up, they're going to be tough to beat this weekend but we still think we are a chance.''
