Cameron Blair
{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Cameron Blair
|fullname = Cameron John Blair
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|position = {{rlp|SR|LK}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|7|6|df=y}}
|birth_place = Australia
|height =
|weight =
|club1 = Western Suburbs
|year1start = 1988
|year1end = 91
|appearances1 = 73
|tries1 = 5
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 20
|club2 = Parramatta Eels
|year2start = 1992
|year2end = 95
|appearances2 = 79
|tries2 = 7
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 28
|club3 = Western Reds
|year3start = 1996
|year3end =
|appearances3 = 14
|tries3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 0
|club4 = Adelaide Rams
|year4start = 1997
|year4end =
|appearances4 = 16
|tries4 = 3
|goals4 = 0
|fieldgoals4 = 0
|points4 = 12
|updated = 18 January 2019
|source = [http://stats.rleague.com/rl/scorers/players/C/Cameron_Blair.html stats.rleague.com]
|new = yes
}}
Cameron Blair (born 6 July 1966) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s for Western Suburbs, Parramatta, the Western Reds and Adelaide.
Playing career
Blair made his debut for the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1988. He played in every game that season (and again in 1989) and was named the competition's Rookie of the Year.{{cite web|publisher=Rugby League Project|title=Cameron Blair|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/cameron-blair/summary.html|accessdate=1 January 2014|archive-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926035653/http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/cameron-blair/summary.html|url-status=live}}
Blair started as captain for the 1989 season, before handing over to Ellery Hanley mid-season. With his contract about to expire, Blair received offers from other clubs.{{cite news|author=John McDonald|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Sironen may be out for six weeks|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19890720&id=4alWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3865,1250321|accessdate=1 January 2014|date=20 July 1989|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126012731/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19890720&id=4alWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8OcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3865,1250321|url-status=live}} He was offered a substantial contract to join Manly, but re-signed with Wests for a further 2 seasons.{{cite news|author=Tony Sarno|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Magpies batter Bears|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19890731&id=8LRYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nucDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4179,9658567|accessdate=1 January 2014|date=31 July 1989|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126012730/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19890731&id=8LRYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nucDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4179,9658567|url-status=live}}
In 1990, Blair was again a regular in first grade, but with the arrival of new coach Warren Ryan in 1991 Blair was often playing from the bench behind newly arrived players like Ron Gibbs, David Gillespie and Bob Lindner. He played in just 9 games in his last season before leaving the club. Blair totalled 73 games for the Magpies over four years.{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/about/official-player-numbers/|title=Official Player Numbers|website=Parramatta Eels|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403134033/https://www.parraeels.com.au/about/official-player-numbers/|url-status=live}}
Blair then spent four seasons with the Parramatta Eels before finishing his career with one year spells at two new franchises, the Western Reds and the Adelaide Rams. Blair once held the record for most first grade games played without featuring in a finals game in NSWRL/NRL history until it was later overtaken by Luke Brooks.{{cite web|url=https://www.zerotackle.com/tiger-inches-closer-to-unwanted-record-108215/|title=Tiger inches closer to unwanted record|website=zerotackle.com|access-date=18 January 2023|archive-date=19 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519060237/https://www.zerotackle.com/tiger-inches-closer-to-unwanted-record-108215/|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1997 Adelaide}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blair, Cameron}}
Category:Adelaide Rams players
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Parramatta Eels players
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:Western Suburbs Magpies captains