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Tonga vow to smash Kiwi captain Adam Blair for having the nerve to care

9th November, 2017
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Captain Adam Blair of New Zealand during the Rugby League World Cup pool B match between New Zealand and Samoa at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, October 28, 2017. (AAP Image/David Rowland)
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9th November, 2017
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Secure your hot drinks and children this Saturday night, Tonga have promised to unleash hell on Adam Blair after he made a genuine display of reasonable disappointment.

As reported in Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph, the Mate Ma’a forwards are seething at Blair following his unruly distaste for Jason Taumololo’s decision to abandon New Zealand.

Speaking on radio prior to the World Cup, the Kiwi captain had the audacity to defend the honour of representing his nation by describing the Cowboy’s decision as “shattering”.

Even more provocatively, he then sensationally questioned Taumololo’s integrity and communication skills, simply because the second-rower deserted the team without telling anybody.

As the team that has ended up with the services of the world’s best forward, a jilted Tonga have been looking to settle the score ever since.

This is why Kristian Woolf’s men have privately agreed to a unique pact for Saturday night’s clash against the Kiwis; to unsettle an opponent in a footy match with physical aggression, which this tournament historically indicates should include biting.

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Tonga are determined to voice their disgust at Blair for being disappointed that the irreplaceable Taumololo abandoned his team unannounced on the eve of the tournament.

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And rightly so.

It is one thing for Blair to repeatedly employ late shots and filth in the ruck, but we must draw the line when he emotionally defends both his homeland and good manners.

Sure, footy is a passionate game with a lifeblood fuelled by the hysterical sentiments of its concussed players, but that’s hardly the point.

Not only has the Kiwi totally dismissed the financial hit taken by the $10 million man in representing Tonga, he has also heinously exhibited care for the sacred New Zealand jersey.

In a fledgling global scene, with enough dual citizens to form a majority, such national passion from Blair is the last thing international footy needs.

He needs to lighten up and realise that players come and go from national squads so much these days, sometimes the coach doesn’t even recognise them when they are sitting on the bench.

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