It is fair to assume that administrators will do a little rules tweaking before next year’s NRL Nines and I’d like to offer a suggestion that could make the event an even bigger spectacle.
Perhaps you will shout me down but here goes – why don’t we do away with conversions altogether and just have tries as the only scoring mode?
Most of the dropkick conversion attempts over the Auckland weekend were terrible and pretty much a waste of precious time.
They should consider abolishing this aspect of ‘play’ and if teams are level at fulltime, then a golden try will decide the issue.
Another change I’d like to see is an increase in the size of team squads to 20. There was heavy pressure on teams that went deep into Sunday and there wasn’t much recovery time between games.
A few extra players would alleviate problems in this area.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the tournament in Auckland – as did 90,000 fans at Eden Park and many thousands more on television.
The action was fast, often furious and the skills on show in attack and defence showed rugby league in a very good light as we approach the new season.
We saw plenty of bright new faces trotted out by the 16 clubs as well as some current stars and even a couple of legends of yesteryear.
Importantly, there was a heavy accent on fun. The NRL players are heading for a gruelling season and to me, the Nines seemed the perfect way to dust off the cobwebs, form some on-and-off field bonds and entertain the crowds at the same time.
There were many terrific performers with the Warriors’ Shaun Johnson clearly the standout. This guy looks set for a fabulous year and New Zealand should win many games thanks to his wonderful attacking skills.
I also liked the look of Tuimoala Lolohea (another Warrior), Fa’amanu Brown (Sharks), Tyrone Roberts (Knights), Tyrone Peachey and George Jennings (Panthers), James Tamou, Kyle Feldt and Curtis Rona (Cowboys), Mitch Cornish (Raiders), Kodi Nikorima (Broncos) and Corey Norman and Semi Radradra (Eels).
The Cowboys were indeed surprise winners but they won on the back of super defence in the semi and final. There are exciting signs for new coach Paul Green and I wish the club well in 2014.
Sure, the Nines tossed up some major injuries to key players but that is part of the game and who can say they would not have occurred in 13-a-side trials if they were held here in Australia?
We now move onto another huge weekend, headlined by the World Club Challenge between the Sydney Roosters and Wigan Warriors as well as the annual Charity Shield featuring St George-Illawarra and South Sydney.
I’m selecting the Roosters and Rabbitohs to win these games by comfortable margins.
Trent
Guest
The bonus point is a good idea but I don't think they got it right. It shouldn't be a zone under the goal posts but awarded for tries which start from within your own half. The really exciting tries are the ones scored from 50m+ plays, not the ones scored through the middle of the field.
Scrubbit
Guest
The bonus zone is there to promote play down the middle. Which is exactly what happened. It's harder to go through the middle if a team than it is to go around them.
Muzz
Guest
Yep absolute zero skill and risk involved in taking an intercept. mmmm
turbodewd
Guest
Just axe City v Country and Ill be happy.
soapit
Guest
because the defence was beaten so comprehensively he had time to pick his spot of where to put it down. you might still disagree but at least now you wont have to plead ignorance as to the logic behind it.
Trenno
Guest
I agree that there is no time for replays, more in goal refs would be better.
Trenno
Guest
They have scrums, there was one in the final but it was the only one I can remeber.
Xavier
Guest
Bizarre - conversions encourage players to improve positions and a drop kick from the sideline is a wondrous thing - how are you going to delineate the inevitable ties (OK bonus under the posts which were rare) and golden try - they are already complaining they have to play too much . Great RL analysis again exemplified by this rubbish http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/changing-perceptions-should-be-last-thing-on-nrls-mind-20140217-32vj7.html
eagleJack
Guest
Haha I removed that quote Renegade as thought it was maybe a little inappropriate. But I do believe that is how some people run their lives. In all aspects of life, not just in relation to sport.
Renegade
Guest
"Some people, like yourself, just live to complain. Cannot cope unless there is some drama to whinge about. " This.
eagleJack
Guest
Some would argue Fittler's try was the try of the tournament. I was certainly out of my seat when he took the intercept. The positives for having a 5 point bonus try far outweighs the negatives. The NRL is a first class competition. If you think it encourages mediocrity, then I respectfully disagree wholeheartedly.
Storm Boy
Guest
Fittler's try wasn't worth more than some of the amazing tries the wingers scored in the corners. Why should Fittler's try get a bonus point plus an easy conversion on top of it. Winger scores freakish try in the corner and does a great drop kick to convert it but gets less points than Fittlers. Hopeless NRL they encourage medocrity.
RugbyFan
Guest
rubbish...if your team sucks at drop kicking then that's their problem can't scrap it because some aren't skilled enough smh
Football United
Guest
Why don't we just get rid of those annoying play the balls, they take up two seconds more than just a tap with the foot. Kick offs aren't needed either, as are dropouts, they take too long to set up, just tap the ball. In fact, lets not have kicking at all, i can't stand the amount of time thats wasted between the ball going out and the ball boy giving a new one back to the players. It's Rugby League Nines, not glorified touch. There's a reason why we have posts on the pitch, it's because conversions are a key part of rugby league and removing them would be just as daft as the previous things i listed.
catcat
Guest
I'd rather stick with the conversions..hope the quality gets better. It also gives the teams (and fans) a bit of a breather before the restart...
eagleJack
Guest
Wow. That's some oikee logic there! So your problem is actually with the awarding of the bonus 5 point try. Not with the value of the conversions, which is 2 points regardless of where you are on the field.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I say keep the drop kick they were mostly humorous. But how about extra points if it hits the posts then goes in because of the excitement and 1 point if it hits the post and does not go in as at least it was close. Kicks that do not go within 10 metres of the posts should lose 1 point.
The eye
Guest
Very true,Warriors were the only side who went in with a plan and looked 2 levels above everybody else..then just inexplicably didnt turn up for the semi.
glenn
Guest
your on the wrong site storm boy
Storm Boy
Guest
No time for replays in 9s or NRL. All time wasting must be exterminated.