Gorden Tallis slams Broncos prop Adam Blair following chicken-wing tackle on Sam Thaiday

GORDEN Tallis has claimed Adam Blair one of the dirtiest players in the NRL, saying he is disappointed to see him in a Broncos jersey.

Adam Blair was charged for his chicken-wing tackle on Sam Thaiday.

GORDEN Tallis has launched an extraordinary attack on Bronco Adam Blair, claiming he would have taken matters “into his own hands” over the forward’s tactics if he was still playing today.

In the wake of Blair’s second judiciary charge in three weeks, the Raging Bull came out swinging, claiming the Kiwi star was one of the dirtiest players in the NRL.

Adam Blair was charged for his chicken-wing tackle on Sam Thaiday.

While Blair’s NRL teammates were quick to leap to his defence, Tallis did not hold back in a scathing review of Blair following his chicken-wing tackle on fellow Bronco Sam Thaiday in Friday night’s Test.

“He’s one of the dirtiest players on the field,” Tallis claimed of Blair.

“I think it’s poor what he did.

“If I was playing against him (and) the referees didn’t take matters into their own hands, I would have.

“I get disappointed that he wears the Broncos jersey and plays like that. A teammate wouldn’t do it to me.”

Blair, who was unavailable for comment on Monday, was charged by the NRL’s match review committee over the incident and is facing up to one week on the sidelines with an early guilty plea.

Tallis said Broncos coach Wayne Bennett needed to pull his in-form prop into line.

“I don’t know how Wayne Bennett keeps on letting it go because he used to chastise all his players for doing that,” he said.

Gorden Tallis says he’s disappointed Adam Blair ’wears the Broncos jersey and plays like that’. Picture: Darren England

“He always wanted to play within the rules. Play tough, play fair. It’s a man’s game. It is a tough game.

“It’s tough enough without getting hit in the back and twisted and all that.”

Bennett declined to comment on Tallis’ savaging of Blair but said the Broncos would on Tuesday decide whether or not to fight the charge at the judiciary.

“There’s nothing I can do about it,” Bennett said.

Fellow Broncos batted away the Tallis claims.

Injured hooker Andrew McCullough said Brisbane players were proud to have the 30-year-old Blair on their side.

“That’s Gordie’s opinion,” McCullough said.

“I know I love playing with him (Blair). He does bring that factor of living on the edge close to the line.

“You look back through all the teams that do have a so-called dirty player in their team, if you ask their teammates, they love playing with them.

“Even though they might get suspended every now and then, they certainly aim up for you.”

Winger Corey Oates said he did not believe there was any malice from Blair in the Test tackle and said Thaiday would not hold any bad feelings.

Andrew McCullough has defended Adam Blair in the wake of Gorden Tallis’ comments. Pic Annette Dew

“I don’t think he meant to do it,” he said.

“Every game you’re playing against some of your mates. You’re not going to the game thinking you’re going to go soft on someone just because you’re friends with a bloke.

“You want to win for the team you’re playing for.”

SOUTHS SIGN YOUNG BRONCO

YOUNG Broncos forward Brett Grienke has been released to join South Sydney.

The 22-year-old, who captained the under-20s, played for Queensland Residents on Sunday after a strong start to his Intrust Super Cup season with the Norths Devils.