You’ve heard the hype, marvelled at Brad Fittler’s physiotherapist and burnt your eyeballs on the one-off jerseys.
But now, just when it seemed footy separation anxiety was reaching its breaking point, the Auckland Nines are just about here.
And they are about to attempt the highly improbable – making the pre-season fun.
It has been well noted in the past that rugby league is on occasion a sport that can take itself too seriously, meaning feuds are quick to develop.
This of course has the tendency to rub off onto others in the rugby league world, and whilst the Rabbitohs may be the only club to actually chronicle their gripes in a book, you know that if every other club/administrator/journo/fan followed suit you’d have a collection that would put your door to door Brittanica bloke to shame.
If there is an opportunity to squeeze a bit of frivolity into the NRL then the pre-season, which for fans is little more than footy methadone, is definitely the time to do it.
Nines rugby league has had an up and down, Amos Roberts sort of existence to date, and despite being around since the mid-nineties with current decent sized tournaments in Middlesex and Cabramatta, there’s a good chance many will be watching the version of the game for the first time.
Which is all right, because most players will be playing nines for the first time.
Whilst this might sound like a giant cock-up considering around 90,000 tickets have been sold for an event where no one knows what they’re doing (bar the refs of course), in reality it could be the best thing for the tournament.
Want to see Dave Taylor chip kicking on his thirty metre line? Shaun Johnson channel his inner Tony Iro by running backward for a minute and a half before finding a gap and scoring the match winner?
Could Jamie Soward smile?
All is possible in the Nines, no one has any idea what’s going to happen. Or who is going to win it.
Most of the teams favoured to win the inaugural Skittles rainbow trophy didn’t finish in the top eight last year, meaning clubs like the Eels could soon be clearing a place in the cabinet and the Titans improving on the Gold Coast Gladiators’ 1996 World 7s Bowl victory.
The draw doesn’t give a whole lot of insight into picking a winner either.
Pools
• (YELLOW) Warriors, Raiders, Sea Eagles and Cowboys
• (GREEN) Roosters, Eels, Broncos and Bulldogs
• (BLUE) Sharks, Knights, Tigers and Titans
• (RED) Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs and Dragons.
Some great games just in those pool matches alone, and if there is a dud game you’ve got twenty minutes to nip on Ebay and buy that Brett Rodwell Pog piece and there’s a brand new game of footy.
Who knows, maybe in twenty years’ time Nines will be rugby league’s 20/20 and cheeky young punks will laugh at us stodgy traditionalists listening to teams of thirteen trundle the ball up for five and launch a bomb.
But for now the tournament is just a bit of fun, albeit a couple of million bucks worth of fun, and an event that the rugby league public should feel free to drop their guard and enjoy.
After all it’s only a couple of days…and we’ve got another twenty odd rounds of the season proper to hate each other, don’t we?
The Auckland Nines will be played on the 15th and 16th of February and will be televised live on Fox Sports. Find out all the details here.
Click here for the full list of squads from the Auckland Nines.
Fancy yourself as a rugby league reporter? Dick Smith are giving you and eight mates the chance to win a paid trip to the Auckland Nines. Click here to enter
Slain
Guest
it will be good for the game...in PNG they have the 9's before the seaon proper and it works...all positives I can see...
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
big fan of Minto i.e. Wayne Bennett's son
Morgan Popham
Roar Pro
I prefer to bbq alone mate, but each to their own I guess
Robbo
Guest
It's a shame the great Scott Minto isn't lacing up the boots again. Seeing the Golden Goose go around again would enthral the crowd, goosing stepping over the try line, no one does it quite like him!
Go warriors
Guest
allblackfan Katipo's post was pretty acurate. I am not sure what got your back up so much. It is very rare that Eden Park is sold out so this tournament is going to be huge. Very impressive there are also a lot of people outside of Auckland coming to this event.
allblackfan
Guest
I may sound negative, Crosscoder, but Katipo said some things that needed to be clarified. Also the lines between the rugby codes here in NZ are a lot more blurred then you realise. Rugby people here will watch a RL game; just don't expect them to start marching around in NRL jerseys singing club songs and snubbing their team. (Not to mention the Warriors have tapped into NZ sevens expertise.) My bitterness stems from a mortal insult delivered by Noa Nadruku (see my earlier comment above) to me delivered just after I had emerged from a traditional mourning period for my father. I have never forgotten, nor forgiven, him for it! I BTW: you should be more concerned about the weather. Here in Auckland, it's very topsy-turvey. Lots of rain, especially recently. Heavy rain too!
Col Quinn
Guest
I can’t help but laugh. Image if an amateur promotion can sell an event out so easily, what would have a professional promotion done. Sports NZ tends to suggest that NRL stars are very recognisable in NZ.
Col Quinn
Guest
It doesn’t really surprise me that you are unaware of RL 9’s being played in the rest of the world. I get the impression you are not really that interested in RL. However, according to the RLIF, there are 19 9‘s tournaments in GB and Ireland, 3 in Germany, 1 in Malta, another 4 in the rest of Europe and several others across the world including the USA/Canada.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Geez ABF be thankful Nz gets variety as I detect a touch of sour grapes.Yes I agree Auckland is not a rl city,but perhaps for a couple of days it may well be. Good on the pro sevens global circuit.And good on the 9s tournament.Its called promoting your code.As to whether anyone knows Paul Gallen, or Luigi the Unbelieveable,at least their mugs are posted around and as the famous saying goes"you may not know them now but you soon will". You can also suggest that 15,000 NZedders coming from outside Auckland indicates interest,when we are constantly reminded no one gives a rat's cousin outside that city for rl.
nzmate
Guest
what 9's tournaments are operating in Europe - i cant say i've heard of any?
allblackfan
Guest
Katipo, the fact that almost half the crowds are coming from outside Auckland rubbishes your statement that Auckland is becoming league city. What Auckland people like is variety; they'll go to anything at least once. A good friend of my nephew who moved to Auckland from France for 12 months is going to the Nines but I wouldn't say that makes him a RL fan!! This is despite the amateur promotion they are running for the Nines in the city ATM: honestly, how many people in Auckland would recognise Todd Carney, Paul Gallen and Greg Bird (never mind the images used in the poster are black and white and somewhat pixelated, indicating low resolution)? I think Benji Marshall's presence is driving interest in the Auckland Blues RU side. Jerseys are flying out shops (although the Chiefs have already disappeared at warp speed). God knows what SW's return next year, in a RWC year, will do! BTW, there is a pro-sevens circuit around. It's a global one. The Las Vegas Sevens was just held and Wellington is coming up. Oh, and the Super rugby season starts on the same weekend as the Nines (although that's the South African leg)
Katipo
Guest
Congratulations to the league getting this nines tournament going. Plenty of hype about it and well supported in Auckland. Auckland is becoming a league city with union a bit on the nose. However I believe the nines will be a disappointment. League is best as a 13 man game - that's its niche - its too stop start at the tackle for an abridged version. League sevens would be even worse. Well that's my opinion. What this sell-out tournament does do is show an appetite for two day abbreviated rugby tournaments. Rugby sevens should jump in this. SANZAR should get a pro sevens circuit going... Where is an entrepreneur like Kerry Packer when you need him?
Chris Chard
Expert
Ricky was keen to have the carnival moved to Darwin I've heard
Chris Chard
Expert
Maybe the Titans could borrow Shannon Walker?
Chris Chard
Expert
Great story ABF...i'm sure the famous Noa was just getting shouted by his adoring country men and didn't want to be rude ha ha! Thanks for the insight into the code too, haven't seen much 9s myself. Personally I think RL 9s will be a bit like RU 10s. Which is a bit like RU7s, but with a bit more structure but less than RL7s. I think...
Chris Chard
Expert
Would you say you'd be on cloud...9?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
And only 2 more then 7's. There will be huge holes out wide and fleet footed players will dominate.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
That would be pointless chris.There is the Wellington 7s for ru,and this is distinct from that version.Possibly a bit more contact /tackling with 2 more players on the field,therefore defensive lines harder to break.Anycase as there is a sellout both days,why the need for any S15 teams to be involved,the Warriors certainly are not involved in the Wellington 7s. 9s has proven itself to be a great way to introduce new countries and players to the code,especially in Europe.
james
Guest
you haven't like the idea from day one turbodewd. I told you before and I'll say it again. if you don't like the idea don't watch the game. the stadium will be packed and it will be a great weekend for everyone(assuming no injuries). just relax and enjoy the preseason.
chris
Guest
I think it should been 7 a side as could of had invites from some S15 teams and 9 is only 4 less from a RL 13 a side yet Union 7's is mre then half less from there 15's. (If you know what I mean).