Storm’s Cheyse Blair on how he bounced back from humiliating Parramatta exit

THREE years ago, Ricky Stuart told Cheyse Blair he was dumped via an overhead projector. This weekend the Storm centre has his shot at revenge.

CHEYSE Blair, three years ago, found his name on an overhead projector. And it shattered him.

The then Parramatta winger was left stunned as then Eels coach Ricky Stuart, in front of his entire first grade squad, threw onto a wall those dozen players who would not be part of his plans beyond 2013.

And just like that, in an abrupt cull, he was shunted alongside the likes of Ben Roberts, Willie Tonga, Pat O’Hanlon, Luke Kelly, even captain Reni Maitua.

Blair was moved on by Stuart during his time at Parramatta.

“And when you have no idea it’s coming — shattering,’’ Blair told The Daily Telegraph later.

“To see my name up there with the whole club watching on — players, staff, everyone — I just couldn’t ­believe it.

“Afterwards, I was supposed to meet the physio but, yeah, I couldn’t. I know some of the other blokes hung around to talk about it all. How it was done.

“But I just wanted to go home.

“At the time, I was actually happy to be injured ... I didn’t know how the other guys would be able to go back and play for a coach who didn’t want them.”

So how about playing against him then?

For come Saturday night at AAMI Park, Blair will square off with the coach who once deemed him done when his Melbourne Storm face Stuart’s Canberra Raiders for a place in the NRL grand final.

Despite only arriving down south this season on a one-year deal, Blair has since played his way into a regular centre spot with several strong showings — including his round 26 double against Cronulla to secure the minor premiership.

Elsewhere, the 24-year-old has also freed himself of ongoing injury problems, become the first NRL player to rock a long-sleeve jersey and also recently extended his contract for a further two years.

Stuart, meanwhile, is the bookies favourite for Dally M Coach of the Year. In three years at Canberra, completing the type of overhaul he had planned for the Eels.

Indeed of those dozen players shown the door by Stuart, Blair is now the last man standing.

But what a story.

Blair has come along way to restart his career. Picture Glenn Hampson.

A 2009 Australian Schoolboy prodigy, this Tweed Heads product was initially signed for a motza by the Sydney Roosters before Parramatta stole him in what was hailed a signing coup. Yet within 18 months of his arrival, Blair was on a wall and out the door.

“And when I first saw that list on the projector, I thought ‘shit, what am I going to do?’,’’ he said.

“That same afternoon, one of the Eels staff members rang to check on each of us and I know a lot of the boys were really upset.

“Then later when it was revealed Ricky was going to leave anyway — it wasn’t great.

“But despite all that, I still had to ask myself ‘OK, why am I being cut? Why am I not up to the standards he expects of an NRL player?

“That’s when I decided to go somewhere and get better.”

Blair can inflict the ultimate revenge on Stuart. Picture: Colleen Petch.

And after two years with Manly, he has.

Hulking forward O’Hanlon was the other player who kicked on after his snubbing and should have played in the 2014 NRL decider with Canterbury.

However, during that year’s playoffs, the then 23-year-old suffered a severe compound fracture of his left leg and, despite two years rehabilitation, was forced to retire prematurely in June this year.

Elsewhere, Tonga and Maitua both made headlines earlier this month after helping English second-division club Leigh gain promotion back into Super League for the first time in 11 years.