Adam Blair necessity for rock-solid Broncos

UNSUNG hero Adam Blair has warned of a major letdown on Friday night if Brisbane can't back up an amazing defensive effort against Melbourne which had some past players describing as the best in the club's history.

"Everything can come undone. Our (good) work can come undone if we don't turn up on Friday night (against the Knights)," warned Blair, who earned high praise from Brisbane captain Justin Hodges for his efforts this season.

"It's a massive game and we have to make sure we approach it the right way.

"It's always big danger when you come against a side that wants to win so badly and are trying to get out of a losing rut.

"They're working really hard but it just doesn't seem to be happening for them.

"Coming to Suncorp everyone seems to get up and against us they are going to lift."

Hodges, who could be playing his final season in the NRL, said Brisbane's defensive performance against the odds playing Melbourne was the best he had seen.

"To be honest, no I haven't (seen better)," he said.

"To defend 11 drop-outs, so many tackles inside our 20 metres and the way they kept turning up for each other, it was a proud moment to be a Bronco.

"All the old players in the past would have been happy with the way they turned up for each other."

He said Blair's high work ethic was one reason Brisbane was sitting four points clear on top of the ladder.

The 29-year-old Kiwi-born forward, who joined Brisbane as an 11th hour recruit under Wayne Bennett, was subjected to criticism as a high-priced Wests Tigers forward but has thrived since joining the Broncos.

"He does a lot of work that people probably don't notice, just with his kick pressure, his marker work, his speed off the line and getting our guys off the line," Hodges said.

"A lot of that stuff goes unnoticed because they're not the fancy plays. But to us he's a guy that works very hard on and off the field.

"Just his leadership and the way he works with the young guys in the locker room to help them. He's been great for us and I can't speak highly enough of what he's done for us this year."

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