28 Oct 2017

Kiwis captain says Cup opener a must win

11:32 am on 28 October 2017

New Zealand rugby league captain Adam Blair says the Kiwis will have no excuses for anything other than a dominant victory in their Rugby League World Cup opening group match against Samoa.

Adam Blair on the charge for the Kiwis against Australia.

Adam Blair on the charge for the Kiwis against Australia. Photo: Photosport

An extensive and occasionally fraught preparation will come to a head in Auckland when Blair's Kiwis take on Samoa at Mount Smart stadium tonight.

But for the 41-Test prop, all the potential excuses -- injuries, defections and enforced absences -- would not hold come game time.

The team had enjoyed a solid training stint, including a three-day bonding trip, and had every belief they could make World Cup waves.

That needed to start immediately against the Samoans.

"Not many people are thinking we're going to be doing well in this tournament but, in our group, there's some confidence in there," Blair said.

"We're trying to change the way the Kiwis have played in previous years, trying to build a legacy (that is) higher than us.

"It's been a solid week of clarity on what we want to do."

The 31-year-old will independently captain the Kiwis for the first time on Saturday.

Blair had previously co-captained the side on a 2015 tour of England.

The Northland native took over the Kiwis armband after the World Cup expulsion of former captain Jesse Bromwich.

Kevin Proctor was also demoted from the Kiwis fold after the pair were involved in a post-Anzac Day Test cocaine scandal.

Despite the circumstances, Blair said it was an honour to captain his country in their first home Test since the 2014 Four Nations.

He had received a text message from Bromwich, wishing him good luck.

"I'm quite a calm and collected person when it comes to being a captain, but I'm trying to find my own way," Blair said.

"I'm only new to the role and do lead with my actions, but at the same time I'm calm about how I go about my stuff; again, I'm a leader so I've got to go out and do my bit, but we're quite clear on what our roles are."