Maurice Blair

Maurice "Bobby" Blair (born 16 October 1984) is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays in the second-row for the Northern Pride in the QRL State competition. He has previously played for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League, Blair has also played for the Gold Coast Titans, Melbourne Storm and the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League.

Maurice Blair
Personal information
Full nameMaurice Blair
Born (1984-10-16) 16 October 1984
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)[1]
Playing information
PositionFive-eighth, Centre, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007–10 Penrith Panthers 48 10 0 0 40
2011–13 Melbourne Storm 36 13 1 0 54
2014 Gold Coast Titans 15 1 0 0 0
2015–18 Hull Kingston Rovers 117 21 1 0 86
Total 216 45 2 0 180
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2008 Indigenous All Stars 1 0 0 0 0
As of 1 June 2019

Background

Blair was born in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia. Blair played his junior football with the Maryborough Rovers, before signing with the Souths Logan Magpies.

Playing career
Blair training with the Indigenous All Stars in 2008

Penrith Panthers (2007–10)

He made his début in round 15 of the 2007 NRL season, playing for the Penrith Panthers against the New Zealand Warriors. He made a total of nine appearances for Penrith and scored six tries for the club in his debut year as they finished last on the table and claimed the wooden spoon.[7]

Melbourne Storm (2011–13)

Blair signed for the Melbourne Storm for the 2011 NRL season.[8]

He made his début for the Storm against the Brisbane Broncos later in the same season. In his first two years at the club, Blair played sporadically for the first grade team but in the 2014 NRL season he played in Melbourne's finals campaign. He scored a try for Melbourne in their elimination final against the Newcastle Knights.[9]

Gold Coast Titans (2014)

Blair spent the 2014 NRL season at the Gold Coast Titans as they finished 14th on the table.

Hull Kingston Rovers (2015–18)

On 18 October 2014, Blair was released from the Gold Coast Titans, to sign a two-year contract with Super League club Hull Kingston Rovers, making his début on 8 February 2015, and going on to represent the club in the 2015 Challenge Cup Final which they lost 0–50.

Blair was named Hull Kingston Rovers' 'Player of the Year' in the 2016 season but he suffered relegation from the Super League with them, after losing the Million Pound Game to the Salford Red Devils.

Twelve months later Blair was part of the side that won promotion back to the Super League at the first time of asking. During the 2018 season he surpassed the 100th-game milestone for Hull Kingston Rovers, and on 30 September 2018 played his last game with them in the Qualifiers in a 30–0 victory over the Widnes Vikings, picking up the 'Man of the Match Award' for his efforts in his farewell appearance.

Northern Pride (2019 – present)

It was revealed on 13 February 2019, that Blair had signed a contract to play for the Northern Pride in the QRL State competition.

Representative career

Blair was honoured in 2008, the Centenary Season of rugby league, playing at centre for the Indigenous All Stars who subsequently defeated the New Zealand Māori 34–26, at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Opening Ceremony.

Personal life

Blair has had a relationship with Courtney Tairi, a former New Zealand netball international.[10][11][12][13]

Honours

Club (Hull Kingston Rovers 2015–18)

References
  1. "Maurice Blair Hull Kingston Rovers". superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  2. loverugbyleague
  3. NRL Stats
  4. League Central
  5. RLP
  6. "Rugby League".
  7. "Phil Gould confirms Penrith exit but denies Cleary falling out". The Guardian. 23 April 2019.
  8. "Storm recruit Lowe, Blair". ABC News (Australia). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  9. "Newcastle Knights beat Melbourne Storm 18–16 to advance to NRL preliminary final". ABC News. 21 September 2013.
  10. "Courtney Tairi stunned by Ferns test intensity". Stuff. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  11. "Netball: Partner's drama tested Tairi before debut". The New Zealand Herald. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  12. "Sporting couple's long-distance love worth it for Tairi". The Courier-Mail. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  13. "Kiwi has eyes on Cup win". 4 October 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2022 – via Press Reader.
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