In the aftermath of the Auckland Nines, I am sure many are wondering if the tournament would be rated a success or failure.
In the days leading up to the Nines, I was incredibly excited as to what was to come.
Here is a great chance to see some great attacking footy. Stuff you’d expect to see on the 13-a-side yearly highlights were part of every play.
I was also genuinely backing my team, the Dragons, to at least the semi-finals (bit of a let down there).
I think, on reflection, the whole tournament would be rated a success but on the attacking flair I was expecting there was definitely some great examples but not as many as could be hoped.
Perhaps this is credit to the defence but sometimes I just found myself twiddling my thumbs, waiting for something to happen.
I know it would obviously be a stretch for the players bodies and fitness reserves but perhaps sevens is a better alternative to gain more interest.
When I was watching the Nines, members of my family (less league loving then me) were quick to point out the apparent lack of difference between it and NRL, although they were the same people who by the end of the tournament were very keen to watch the final.
Throughout the two days many players stood up and played brilliantly. Here are 21 players that did this:
Forwards: Andrew McCullough, Corey Parker, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Tohu Harris, Fuifui Moimoi, Andrew Fifita, Sam Tagatese.
Backs: Kodi Nikorima, Robert Lui, Kyle Feldt, Jarrod Mullen, BJ Leilua, Semi Radradra, Blake Ayshford, Luke Keary, Dylan Walker, Shaun Johnson, James Tedesco.
Apologies to any left out names but the players above are the players whose efforts I remember the most.
The tryscoring prowess and flexibility of Kyle Feldt was particularly amazing and provided more than one highlight.
Shaun Johnson dazzled as expected but in the end I think the Warriors relied to heavily on him to create something from nothing. I also felt Luke Keary played well and I felt for him when he injured his shoulder.
I thought in the forwards the biggest surprise packet was Sam Tagatese who showed speed I don’t think the most faithful Cronulla supporter thought he could muster.
He did this on more then one occasion and even got on the outside of Albert Kelly to race down the field and score.
I thought Andrew McCullough played well and scored tries at two crucial times. Corey Parker was a workhorse as usual as he trundled it up and provided his trademark offloads.
Gavin Cooper played really well and along with James Tamou led the Cowboys to victory.
But obviously some players didn’t fair as well as others in this injury risk tournament.
The injuries most likely to effect teams NRL seasons were Lachlan Cootes’, Curtis Sironens’, Luke Kearys’ and depending on the degree of injury sustained by Jarrod Mullen.
I am sure, as most of the NRL is, that David Williams doesn’t miss the season as predicted and can get back on the field this year. I genuinely feel sorry for him as I am sure most people do with his rotten luck.
While I don’t think the Nines was a let down, it didn’t produce the spectacle I was expecting.
I think it has brought to light some exciting new talents and made some of the NRL coaches selections decisions easier, but given some others headaches.
On the whole I think it was great weekend for rugby league and New Zealand.
I wish something could be done to make it less like 13-a-side, but in saying that I am looking forward to next years tournament and can’t wait for the beginning of the next NRL instalment.
As I am writing this, Sam Burgess has made a deal with English rugby union with a $900,000 transfer fee to leave Souths for next year.
I am sure Souths will feel let down by this after all they have done for him but I am sure they wish him luck. In my own opinion I think it will he be decent but nowhere near Sonny-Bill or Israel Folau and that the Rabbitohs will buy a few great players with the extra cash they receive.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I understand the 9s was used in Greece and Malta,dues to initial numbers factor. Danny's remit is to get as many countries as possible taking up the code,and from what I read,he is doing a mighty fine job,with limited resources. Agree 13s is what the end game is all about.
londonleaguie
Guest
That's up to the governing bodies, but Danny Kazandijan doesn't actively promote it. He wants them to develop 13-a-side.
Adrien
Guest
It was clearly a huge success however i honestly thought it was a bit boring to watch. We all thought the team with the most skillful and quick players will win it, hence the warriors were tipped as favorite, however the tournament showed us that the key was having the biggest and most athletic forwards to tear the teams in the middle on the back of quick play the ball. The right formula is having a good halfback and a good hooker to give the big forwards quick balls into spaces. I was a bit disappointed by the quality of some games but i have to admit it's a great way to attract newcomers. No one will argue it's ten times better than Rugby 7s and much more watchable. It's definitely the good formula to have a short form of the game. But too many loose balls, to many missed tackles and too many mistakes overall to make me stay up all night long. Also the conversions were a big mess but i think a bit of practice from the players and it will be solved next year. But it was definitely a huge success given the crowd, tv ratings and feedback of the major part of the people who watched it. Well done NRL.
sokorny
Guest
I think the 7 a-side game is too gimmicky ... hence why the Rugby 7s never really attracts big crowds in Australia, and is no one takes it seriously. I thought 9 a-side was a good concept. I think you'll find teams each year will adopt strategies to overcome some of the normal rules. Could perhaps allow for less sets (so instead of 5 tackles they only get 3 ... that way avoid hit ups per se). A lot of teams waited until the 3rd or 4th tackle before trying any razzle dazzle. I thought that it wasn't too far different from the 'norm' was part of the interest too ... you don't want it to be too different to the normal game. Big difference I noted was that less bombs were kicked. To me this has become a plight on rugby league (too much kick and hope). Also a lot more tries through the hands ... again too many kick tries in the game now. Overall I enjoyed watching them, a lot more than rugby league in general. Although too many games to sit through it all ... unless you were at the ground.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Then why is it being used in European countries new to the game.Just for fun?. It's an intro,not the final product.
londonleaguie
Guest
The RLEF aren't interested in the 9s format, they want countries to be playing 13-a-side and rightly so. The Nines is all a bit of fun, but that's exactly it. Let's not try and paint it up as being as important as the real version.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
9s is one of the best promotional tools currently being used by the RLEF,to new countries.It works SportsFanMelb just ask the development people involved.
londonleaguie
Guest
Lol, that's quite funny. Hmm maybe not Singapore then, but I still think the NRL/ARL need to do something to promote the sport over in Asia. They have the biggest market in the world on their doorstep!
Wallace
Guest
Saturday in Australia: Sydney FC v Perth Glory: 75,000 Carlton Blues v North Melbourne Kangaroos: 100,000 NRL 9's (Morning session): 167,000 NRL 9's (Afternoon session): 206,000 https://twitter.com/MediaweekAUS NEW ZEALAND Saturday Most watched daytime (9am – 5pm) NRL AKL Nines: 143,670 (SKY Sport 2, 2:25pm – 2:45pm) NRL AKL Nines Pre Game: 143,530 (SKY Sport 2, 2:15pm – 2:25pm) NRL AKL Nines: 130,530 (SKY Sport 2, 1:25pm – 1:45pm) NRL AKL Nines: 118,270 (SKY Sport 2, 12:55pm – 1:25pm) NRL AKL Nines: 117,860 (SKY Sport 2, 1:50pm – 2:10pm) Quote: Most watched on SKY Sport 2 NRL AKL Nines: 148,870 (6:10pm – 6:30pm) NRL AKL Nines: 143,670 (2:25pm – 2:45pm) NRL AKL Nines Pre Game: 143,530 (2:15pm – 2:25pm) NRL AKL Nines: 138,250 (7:00pm – 7:20pm) NRL AKL Nines: 131,270 (5:10pm – 5:30pm http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/02/tv-ratings-15-february-2014/#more-72969 __________________
Wallace
Guest
The TV audience in NZ for the union 7s on the previous weekend in Wellington: Sunday, 9 Feb 2014: http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/02/tv-r...february-2014/ (Not on the lists) (Saturday) Most watched on TV ONE plus 1 HSBC Sevens World Series: 23,500 (7:30pm – 11:20pm http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/02/tv-r...february-2014/
Wallace
Guest
Here ya go: New Zealand (Sunday) http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/02/tv-r...february-2014/ Most watched daytime (9am – 5pm) NRL AKL Nines: 172,660 (SKY Sport 2, 4:20pm – 4:45pm) NRL AKL Nines: 155,220 (SKY Sport 2, 1:40pm – 2:10pm) NRL AKL Nines: 130,210 (SKY Sport 2, 1:15pm – 1:35pm) NRL AKL Nines: 112,640 (SKY Sport 2, 3:55pm – 4:15pm) NRL AKL Nines: 109,660 (SKY Sport 2, 2:10pm – 2:30pm) Most watched on SKY Sport 2 NRL AKL Nines: 172,660 (4:20pm – 4:45pm) NRL AKL Nines: 155,960 (6:05pm – 6:40pm) NRL AKL Nines: 155,220 (1:40pm – 2:10pm) NRL AKL Nines: 147,030 (5:45pm – 6:05pm) NRL AKL Nines: 131,460 (7:30pm – 7:55pm) AUSTRALIA @MediaweekAUS Sun STV #NRL #NRL9s 239k/173k #FoxSports https://twitter.com/MediaweekAUS/status/435235416120127488
Steve
Guest
Biggest plus of the 9's was no video refs. Fantastic to see referee's and touch judges having to make the calls. Should implement no video ref's for the start of the season. It will be the best thing that could happen to the NRL.
Scrubbit
Guest
Don't you know Jamaica has a league nines team?
HARRY HOPWORTHY
Guest
JAMAICA. The eighth nation in the Rugby League Nines at the Commonwealth Games.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Exactly Jason. Rugby League is played 13v13 and there is no point clogging and already overloaded calendar with meaningless 9's games. If you want to promote Rugby League to other countries then show them the real version not the 9's.
Jason Cave
Guest
The question is how will you fit the NRL Nines into an already crowded schedule in the future, especially if you had either a) World Cup; b) 4 Nations or c) Kangaroo Tour to Great Britain at the end of the previous year, adding to the Telstra Premiership season, City v Country and the State of Origin series? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
HARRY HOPWORTHY
Guest
The Nines were obviously a triumph. A huge success by any measure. Sometime in the future, I would like to see international Nines. It's the perfect way to introduce new nations to Rugby League. The Commonwealth Games will be featuring Rugby League Nines as a demonstration sport at Under-Nineteen level , involving Eight Nations split into two pools of four: South Africa, Canada, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Scotland, Wales, England and one other. At the moment, I can't remember the eighth nation. But I do recall not seeing New Zealand's name on the list, which naturally struck me as totally astonishing. Fiji, as far as I'm aware, weren't on the list, and possibly are excluded from the Commonwealth at the moment, because of military rule. The greater part of Ireland, is certainly outside the Commonwealth. I'll have to go and check.
Katipo
Guest
@londonleaguie. Forget Singapore. I live here. They aren't even interested in sport here. The national sport is shopping. League? They have never heard of it. No chance. Here is an example of what a Singaporean rugby union fan said to me. True story. "I watched the Australian v New Zealand rugby on TV. It was great when the Australians did the haka. The NZ'ers were sh******g themselves!."
Tha Funkopotamus
Guest
It was good dis dat, fun fo da boyz and fanz. T-Funk
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I like many others, I rate it a huge success, and the real question as to commercial success has already been partially answered by the sold out venue but it will be interesting to see the TV ratings. The success has raised a problem or opportunity for the NRL as to what to do next with the Nines and there have been Articles written on this already. The issue of scrums has to be once again on the agenda for the NRL after the Nines where I only saw a handful of scrums. Forward passes were certainly all to common in the Nines as they are in NRL and the question remains once again what to do. Finally the refereeing style in Nines seemed much more relaxed, and maybe this could help the flow of the game in NRL.