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Auckland Nines preview part 4: Rangitoto (blue) group

There's been confirmation of Jarrod Mullen's positive drug test. (Source:AAP Image/SNPA, Teaukura Moetaua)
Expert
30th January, 2015
28

The teams in the Rangitoto group for this year’s Auckland Nines are the Parramatta Eels, Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons.

The squads are as follows:

Parramatta Eels
Will Hopoate, Semi Radradra, John Folau, Brad Takairangi, Reece Robinson, Corey Norman, Chris Sandow (c), Junior Paulo, Kaysa Pritchard, Peni Terepo, Manu Ma’u, Tepai Moeroa, Joseph Paulo, David Gower, Kenny Edwards, Halauafu Lavaka, Pauli Pauli, Luke Kelly.

Manly Sea Eagles
Daly Cherry-Evans (c), Manaia Rudolph, Jayden Hodges, Brayden Wiliame, Tony Satini, Kieran Foran, Clinton Gutherson, Tom Trbojevic, Peta Hiku, Tom Symonds, Cheyse Blair, James Hasson, Feleti Mateo, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Josh Starling, Michael Chee Kam, Blake Leary, Dunamis Lui.

Newcastle Knights
Sione Mata’utia, Jake Mamo, Dane Gagai, Chanel Mata’utia, Carlos Tuimavave, Jarrod Mullen (c), Tyrone Roberts, Pat Mata’utia, Adam Clydsdale, Paterika Vaivai, Tyler Randell, Chris Houston, Robbie Rochow, Nathan Ross, Korbin Sims, Joseph Tapine, Jack Stockwell, Danny Levi.

St George Illawarra Dragons
Euan Aitken, Mike Cooper, Shannon Crook, Josh Dugan, Tyson Frizell, Craig Garvey, Nathan Green, Yaw Kiti Glymin, Beau Henry, Dan Hunt, Benji Marshall (c), Peter Mata’utia, Will Matthews, Eto Nabuli, Jason Nightingale, Adam Quinlan, Joel Thompson, Shannon Wakeman.

The draw for the Rangitoto group (all New Zealand local time):

Game 1 – Parramatta Eels versus Manly Sea Eagles @ 12:30pm on Saturday January 31
Game 2 – Newcastle Knights versus St George Illawarra Dragons @ 12:55pm on Saturday January 31
Game 9 – Parramatta Eels versus Newcastle Knights @ 4:25pm on Saturday January 31
Game 10 – Manly Sea Eagles versus St George Illawarra Dragons @ 4:50pm on Saturday January 31
Game 17 – Parramatta Eels versus St George Illawarra Dragons @ 11:10am on Sunday February 1
Game 18 –Manly Sea Eagles versus Newcastle Knights @ 11:35am on Sunday February 1

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The Parramatta Eels need to find a replacement for Jarryd Hayne, the Manly Sea Eales are always consistent but have rumoured in-fighting, the Newcastle Knights are moving on from Wayne Bennett, and the St George Illawarra Dragons need to build new combinations after letting players go throughout the off-season.

The Eels have named an Auckland Nines squad for 2015 that looks to be hell-bent on bringing back the trophy and a stack of cash. Key half Chris Sandow is captain of the squad, and he will take on an even more important role during the NRL season this year with no Jarryd Hayne at the Eels. Semi Radradra, the big winger who has Eels fans the most excited they have been since the days of Peter Sterling, has been named along with a host of other key players such as Corey Norman, Reece Robinson, Peni Terepo and Manu Ma’u.

The Knights have named a young squad to be led by Jarrod Mullen, who the Knights are taking a bit of a risk on in terms of injury. However the Knights squad is an exciting one with plenty of speed and talent littered through the squad. The Knights’ three Mata’utia brothers – Pat, Sione and Chanel – are all in the squad, along with Jake Mamo. Dane Gagai and Tyrone Roberts are also there along with some size in the form of Chris Houston, Jack Stckwell and Robbie Rochow who are all proficient in attack.

Newcastle have named a very well balanced squad which could challenge at this year’s nines and get themselves off to a good start for the NRL season.

The Sea Eagles have named their best player in Daly Cherry-Evans as captain for the Nines, and I think they are the only club to do this. They have also named their other half in Keiran Foran along with players like Peta Hiku and Tom Symonds. The question that confronts the Sea Eagles is can Foran and Cherry-Evans do enough to get the team into the quarter-finals.

The Dragons have named a squad that doesn’t look finals-bound. However they have some exceptionally talented players and will be led by Benji Marshall, who could set the Nines alight if he is in form. Other than that they have some speed from players like Jason Nightingale, Peter Mata’utai and Eto Nabuli, and Joel Thompson could provide them with x-factor.

All in all though it seems like a squad sent to auckland to test combinations rather than win the tournament.

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My prediction
I’ll tip the Parramatta Eels on the back of a barnstorming tournament from Radradra, and the Newcastle Knights to just beat the Manly Sea Eagles.

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