Brisbane Broncos supercoach Wayne Bennett has thrown his support behind the appointment of Adam Blair as Kiwis captain for the upcoming World Cup, labelling him a "stable bloke" who'll do his country proud.
The 31-year-old Whangarei native was handed the Test side's captaincy on Sunday after the demotion of Jesse Bromwich for alleged cocaine use following the side's 30-12 Anzac Test loss to Australia earlier this month.
It was a decision that received the green light from Bennett, who coaches Blair at Brisbane and will likely confront him as England boss at the World Cup.
Bennett, a Tri-Nations winner with Australia in 2004 and the mastermind behind New Zealand's 2008 World Cup triumph, said the prop would relish the role.
"A very stable bloke, very responsible, always plays well himself which is a pretty important part of being captain - he has a great rapport with the players and certainly he's meant a lot to the Broncos, I can tell you," Bennett told reporters on Friday.
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"(He) would be very good, outstanding."
Blair told reporters on Sunday that he hadn't liaised with Bennett before accepting the gig, and only spoke with Bromwich to check on his wellbeing.
He hoped to re-establish the side's standing after a limp Anzac Test display and the furore surrounding Bromwich and Kevin Proctor's demotions.
He'll look to do so alongside likely vice-captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
"I've got to lead that from the front," Blair said.
"At the same time I've got some quality guys around me (so) that we really live those standards, live our culture and remember where we're from."
