Kiwi skipper Adam Blair is returning to New Zealand and will join the Warriors from the start of next season, the Auckland-based NRL club has confirmed.
The Whangarei-born prop has signed a three-year contract and is the club's fourth recruit, along with backrowers Tohu Harris (Melbourne), Leivaha Pulu (Gold Coast) and centre Gerard Beale (Cronulla).
A member of Melbourne's grand final-winning side of 2009, Blair has spent the past three seasons with the Brisbane Broncos.
The Warriors have failed to make the finals since 2011 and chief executive Cameron George says securing Blair is crucial to the club's quest for improvement next year.
"He's a proven leader on and off the field who sets the kind of example we want all our players to aspire to, the epitome of the professional athlete who demands the highest of standards highlighted by an ultra-competitive attitude," he said.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has worked with Blair as Kiwis coach and as assistant at Melbourne and Brisbane.
"Adam is a wonderful example of how a player should go about his business in the NRL as well as representing his country," Kearney said.
"He has had a tremendous career and he's going to be a huge asset for the club as we go about lifting our standards across the board."
Blair, 31, has 266 NRL appearances to his name, making his debut for the Storm against Wests Tigers in 2006.
He also has 41 Test caps and was part of the Kiwis' 2008 World Cup triumph and their 2010 and 2014 Four Nations successes, all of which were capped by victory over the Kangaroos in the final.
He is set to lead the Kiwis at the upcoming World Cup with the New Zealand squad to be named in Auckland on Thursday.
