26/4/2019 Warriors' Blair admits to poor NRLĀ formDeja vu has descended on Adam Blair as critics round on his unconvincing start to the NRL season. However, the Warriors veteran is adamant there is better to come. The 33-year-old forward has failed to make an impact through the opening six rounds for the 10th-placed Warriors, with his output dropping alarmingly in their games against South Sydney and North Queensland. He played 80 minutes on the right edge in both losses. Against the Rabbitohs he mustered just two runs and tallied 17 metres. His output against the Cowboys on Saturday was a marginally better six runs for 36m. It prompted one prominent sports columnist, Chris Rattue of the New Zealand Herald, to label Blair one of the Warriors' "dumbest" signings when they agreed to a multi-million dollar three-year deal beginning last year. It's the sort of vitriol Blair became accustomed to during a forgettable stint at the Wests Tigers from 2012-14, where he was accused of being lazy and not caring. A move to Brisbane seemed to revitalise his game for three seasons and he had some influential showings during last year's run to the finals with the Warriors. History suggests the 294-gamer can break out of his latest slump. "To be honest, I feel that I haven't played my best football, I'm the first one to admit that," he told reporters on Monday. "I've been around for a while and I've been in Sydney for a long time and I copped it down there. "It's nothing new. The thing for me is just believing in the person that you are and the ability that you have, and backing yourself." Not only is his work rate down but his error count has been high. Former Kiwis captain Blair said he will go back to basics in Thursday's Anzac Day match against Melbourne, the club where he made his name from 2006-11. "If you're honest with your performances, you fix things up," he said. "It's a long year and I always want to be better as a person and a player." Coach Stephen Kearney confirmed the Warriors (2-4) will be without winger David Fusitu'a (ribs) this week but held out some hope halfback Blake Green will return from the groin injury that has sidelined him for the past two games. 13/4/2019 Coach Rudan to leave Wellington PhoenixMark Rudan has all but confirmed his pending departure as head coach of the Wellington Phoenix, revealing he informed the A-League of his plans more than a month ago. Reports that he will return to Australia next season weren't denied by Rudan following his team's 2-1 loss to the Roar in Brisbane. While the 43-year-old said an official announcement will come via the club, his comments appeared to validate the growing speculation that he will leave Wellington a season early. Rudan said the players had been aware of his plans since at least early March, before they thrashed Central Coast 8-2 in Gosford. "What's important with the speculation is that once it started I was very up front and honest with my football club and with my players as well," he said. "Everyone knows at the football club what's going on. "It was known before we scored a record number of goals in three games (15)." Rudan potentially informed Phoenix officials of his intentions during a two-week break following a round 20 match against Sydney FC in Sydney, after which he stayed on. The former title-winning captain of Sydney FC has spoken publicly since January of homesickness and a desire to be with his Sydney-based family, at one stage calling on club bosses to relocate his wife and teenage sons to Wellington. He also wanted the club to be more ambitious with its spending. Rudan has been linked with the newly-formed Western United FC following a rookie A-League campaign in which he has steered the vastly-improved Phoenix to fourth and within sight of the finals. They have stumbled in the last two games, including last Sunday's 3-1 loss to Adelaide United but he refused to attribute a falling-off in form to the conjecture surrounding his future. "People tend to start talking or giving reasons about why we lost last week or this week, he said. "It makes no difference, it's not an excuse. "The people that need to know, the important ones, they know what's going on. It's as simple as that. It won't hamper anything." |
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