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The Auckland Nines has sparked debate again in 2016, with numerous first grade regulars sustaining injuries during this year’s tournament.
With an injury list not dissimilar to past years, the scheduling of the tournament needs to be evaluated.
There is no doubting the competition’s importance and attraction, but the Auckland Nines is becoming a gamble for NRL clubs.
Manly were the side hit hard this year, with injuries to top squad members ranging from a possible ACL tear to a broken jaw. Who will it be next year?
What the NRL should look at doing is simple – hold the tournament at the end of the year. My proposal is to host it on the weekend between the preliminary finals and the grand final.
There are numerous advantages to doing so. Firstly, any injuries that occur will have less of an impact on clubs. Under this format, players will have months of uninterrupted rehabilitation to prepare for the coming season, rather than missing valuable time on the park.
Secondly, the two grand final teams will benefit under this model. Each will earn an extra week’s rest, allowing them to freshen up and attempt to field their best team for the decider.
Similar to the NFL Pro Bowl, the Nines will help the NRL meet the TV requirements and allows an extra week of build up for the grand final.
Thirdly, higher profile players will be attracted to the tournament. With eight teams missing the finals series each year, this format gives them a chance to redeem themselves and to chase serious prize money.
I dare say most fit players will jump at the chance to be a part of it. Introduce a Papua New Guinea side and a NSW and Queensland Cup all-stars team to fill the last two spots, and we have ourselves a competition.
Fringe players will be the biggest beneficiaries, given one last chance every year to impress on the big stage. There are numerous players off towards the end of the season, so what a great way to raise the stakes.
The major downside to the format is the possible unavailability of star quality for a tournament. Imagine the team the Panthers would have fielded in 2015. The advantage of fewer injuries deep into the season versus the availability of players after the 26-week grind is a matter for debate, but the advantages outweigh the negatives.
What we want to see is quality rugby league throughout the year, and this format gives every team the opportunity to provide that. The Nines is here to stay, all we need to do is reschedule and build on what already is a great product.
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