New Zealand international Adam Blair is the latest Melbourne Storm player to reject bigger offers from elsewhere in order to re-sign with the reigning NRL champion.
Star centre Israel Folau may be heading to Brisbane at season's end but Blair has followed the lead of Dallas Johnson and Jeff Lima in committing to the Storm, with his new deal tying him to the club until the end of 2011.
Blair said in a club statement on Friday that he had little hesitation in agreeing to terms, especially in the wake of coach Craig Bellamy's recent decision to knock back a move to the Broncos.
"I've got a great group of friends at the club and the whole group is really tight-knit," Blair said. "Because everyone is from interstate or New Zealand, the whole group becomes your extended family and it's a great environment to play your football in."
"We've got the best coaching staff in the game, the club have always supported me and I believe we've got a chance to have continued success if the playing group sticks together as much as possible."
Blair, who had to be hospitalised for treatment after suffering an eye injury on Monday night against Newcastle, has been with the Victorian club since 2003 and is slowly getting back to the form that made him one of the Storm's keys in 2006.
Football operations manager Frank Ponissi says the decision made by Blair, who was restricted to only eight appearances last year after suffering a foot injury in the Tri-Nations final late in 2006, is a strong endorsement of the Storm's culture.
"Blair's re-signing is yet another example of a quality player who is willing to stay in Melbourne for less money," Ponissi said.
"The reason for this is the culture created by Craig Bellamy and his coaching staff here. Blair could have signed with a rival NRL club for more money, but he believes his best chance of continued success is with the Melbourne Storm."