Next year's NRL Harvey Norman All Stars will mark a full circle moment for former Māori captain Adam Blair, who has been named as the side's new head coach for the annual meeting with the Indigenous All Stars.
Th 37-year-old will become the first person to have appeared in the cultural showpiece as both a player and head coach when the team assembles for the February 16 event in Townsville, following on from him captaining the side in both 2019 and 2020.
Blair takes over from 2023 coach Ben Gardiner, who is unavailable due to the Panthers, who he is an assistant with, preparing for the World Club Challenge against Super League champions Wigan.
Since retiring from the NRL at the end of 2020 after playing 331 games, Blair has held coaching roles at junior level with the Warriors and last year was an assistant to Gardiner with the Māori All Stars.
Match Highlights: Māori Ferns v Indigenous All Stars
The former Kiwi international told pan66.com that while he had initially thought he would shadow Gardiner for at least another campaign, his experiences as a player have him prepared and excited to move into the top job.
"Over the years with the All Stars I have seen coaches like David Kidwell and Stacey Jones be able to create a space where people can come in and feel part of it," Blair told pan66.com.
"The main thing for me is to make sure I ride on the back of what has already been created, but at the same time add my little flavour to it.
"I want to thank Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Rugby League for giving me this opportunity; it's a role that I hold in the highest regard.
I went into camp this year as an assistant coach and felt the same feelings as I did my first time as a player.
Adam Blair
"This is an opportunity for me to make sure we all make the most of the week embracing our culture, but also understanding that our game is based on results."
Alongside the appointment of Blair (Ngāpuhi and Te Rarawa), Keith Hanley (Ngāpuhi) has been retained as the Māori women's coach for a fourth-consecutive campaign, after guiding his side to a 16-12 victory in last year's match in Rotorua.
Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Rugby League chair John Devonshire said it was particularly pleasing to have a Māori coach back at the helm of the men's team, alongside Hanley with the women.
"Adam is an ex-player, a person with mana, he really feels the Wairua – the spirit that is associated with the jersey – having worn it," Devonshire said.
"He will identify all the extras, that this is not just about football, and understand the value of what a cultural tikanga (customary system of values and practices) approach brings."
Meanwhile despite most coaches of the Māori side to date having enjoyed only short tenures in charge, Blair said he intends to be in the role for as long as possible.
A spine-tingling Haka
"For as long as this All Stars game is going then I would love to be part of it," Blair said.
"It’s my passion to give back to my people and there is no thought in my mind that it’s a one-season gig.
"It’s an honour and a privilege and there is no better place for me to start off coaching in the top grade."
Images in the main header image courtesy of Zac Lake Photography via ANZMRL.
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