Introduced onto the NRL calendar back in 2014, the Auckland Nines has become a regular pre-season competition. Throughout the years we have seen the likes of Steve Menzies, Brad Fittler and Ken Nagas make a return.
This year fans will get to see Ruben Wiki return after not having played since 2008. Wiki will also be the captain of the Warriors Nines team.
As great and exciting as the whole tournament and the returns of former stars is for the fans. Is it really worth risking players in a format that players aren’t used to playing only weeks out from the regular season? Not to mention the trial games and NRL All Star game between the Nines tournament and the regular season.
People criticise the clubs for not sending their best teams possible, but since clubs don’t get compensated for injuries, why would they want to risk their top players? The players don’t train for the Nines, they train and prepare for the 13 a side style of Rugby League.
Coaches don’t see the tournament as relevant towards the preparation of their season. The coaches don’t prepare the players to play numerous games in one day. The Nines is a completely different speed, intensity and style of Rugby League.
It’s just not normal or natural to the NRL players.
Since the first Auckland Nines tournament in 2014, there has been 48 injuries over the three years, four of those players missed the entirety of the regular season. Not only do the injuries impact the clubs and their premiership chances, it impacts and weakens the competition.
With there already being a Rugby League Nines competition called the Cabramatta International Nines, which involves 32 different teams such as Samoa, Fiji, Canada, South Africa, PNG and many more nations are also represented. The competition also includes some domestic teams as well. So why doesn’t the NRL invest and grow a NRL Nines competition of their own?
Investing and creating a Nines competition will create another format of the game for people to play and support.
If done correctly would bring in more revenue and income for the game. As well as create more people to get involved and play rugby league.
Can create NRL Nines tournaments in the summer during the off-season of the regular season. Have each club have their own sole Nines team with players who specifically train for the Nines.
The tournaments and games will be much more appealing with players who are trained to play that style. It could also allow players who are nearing the end of their career in the NRL to move to the Nines format. Which will also give opportunities for the juniors coming through to play first grade NRL. Tournaments can be taken all around Australia, still have the Auckland Nines and run it the same way with those specific Nines players.
So as fun and enjoyable as the Auckland Nines weekend is, is there really much point having it if clubs aren’t sending their best players and aren’t fully behind the tournament?
