We can have the best players in the Nines

It is a shame we missed out on seeing players like Hayne, Milford and Stewart I think they would have definitely added a spark to the tournament.

If you believe your proposal is "very realistic", then please take your idea - and your millionaire businessman mate - and sell it to the NRL, broadcasters, player managers, clubs... and the players. After the mixed response you'll get from them, here are some other people / key stakeholders you will also need talk to: RLPA - they'll understandably have concerns about player welfare of a fast & furious tournament with players on tired legs after a tough season and ahead of international matches. They will have - and will get - a big say in whether the tournament goes ahead or not ARL (Kangaroos set-up) - See if they'll give the sore bodies of JT, GI, Cronk, Slater et al their blessing to play 2 days of Nines just weeks ahead of Kangaroos duties PNGRFL - A Nines tournament would likely put and end to the annual PM's XIII game in PNG (usually held the week before the GF) - where else would you fit in on the calendar? RFL - The ESL season will still be going, so which teams/players from the UK would take part? Do you really think they would send over any players in contention for England duties in November? NZRL - Again, the matter of battle-weary bodies in a fast-paced tournament weeks before a 3-4 week international program in November. Do you think it will have the Kiwis unanimous support? After you've had a proper chat with all these people, please come back and tell us that your idea is still " very realistic". That ALL the "stars" will play. That your rich mate would still stump up the cash. And that I'm being negative.

$1M to the Nines winners one week before the GF. The GF is worth $400K and the 2 GF participants don't get to play nines. In your scenario Scott a bottom placed team in the regular season can earn more than the premiers by doing well in the nines. I can see it already. Lower ranked teams who don't make the final 8 resting top players late in the season because they are too important to their nines campaigns. You often have a few teams who are fighting for the 8 in the final rounds. Say one team was playing the no 14 team on the ladder and the other 2 were playing each other. The no 14 team has decided to start resting players for the $1M nines (injuries and blooding youngsters for next season would be the public excuse.) So we have 2 teams slogging it out fairly for a spot in the 8 and another team gifted a win against a reserves team that is resting players for the nines. The integrity of the regular premiership comp could be compromised. Players who don't play late season games because they are "injured" will make Lazarus (not Glenn) type recoveries in time to play for the $1M in nines. Mate, I am with you on the extra week off, but there are many more viable reasons to not have a nines comp in that weekend than good reasons. Many reasons have been canvassed by the posters here. If The Roar participants are an indicator of NRL fan sentiment then the opposition to the idea of a nines comp the weekend before the GF is overwhelming. A big, high value tournament like NRL nines compromises the GF which is the ultimate prize in our code. I understand your passion for the idea as you are showing in your comments. But there are too many reasons why it isn't good for the game at that time. And no, I don't have a better option outside of the Allstars v Indigenous game which I am not a great fan of. We need to keep thinking...

Agreeing with Russell Crowe on anything Rugby League is fraught with danger. He only cares about himself. And would gladly sacrifice the history of Origin to keep a player at Souths. Origin would lose a lot of its appeal if it was open to every International player out there. Thankfully, the ARLC agrees with me.

"Why would people want to attend when all they want to see is who wins the grand final?" This point can only apply if the Broncos were in the GF

The tournament begs I believe to stay where it is, exactly how its set up. Next year you will see all the players wanting to be involved I think. Its an awesome stage. They may bring in a couple of UK teams, that would be good. But I think you will find the organisers have something in mind as more doors open to them. The ARLC are better run than previous admins, and you get this feeling they know what they are doing. I dont think it should be just before GF, not just for logistics/teams involved - it works perfectly as an opening to the season. People were salivating. Its got everyone pumped up for the start of the year. I would not reduce this perfection. They have a plan to grow it, so by year 3-5, revenue will be MUCH larger than now. Its a good stage, we should leave it alone. I dont think either it needs to be a 4 week competition - that will just drag it out.

Dave is big on efficiency. It would seem the ARLC and him are also in agreement on being efficient with the spread of [any new or current] competitions. This just makes sense to me. If RL wants to do all its capable of doing, it need to push teams/players to the limit, while at the same time making effective use of its games, in whatever competition that may be. There's been an over reliance on NRL for many reasons, and state of origin. But we can all now I think see the vision these guys have for the game. Remember the 9s were basically 2 years in the making. They were cautious about taking it on, since it was a joint venture, and thats slightly against the cause of the ARLC - however they were convinced in the end. Its good to be skeptical. I agree with you, keep it for NZ now, I'm just not sure the thing they need to do next year is exactly bring in new teams/make it longer. I could be wrong. I would have thought that getting the best players across the board would be the priority, because it works well as it is, and will only grow next year. (they have a plan of action in place to grow it, so revenue will be much bigger next time around as more doors open) However, if thats not going to happen for whatever reason, I think they should bring in SL teams. Then again, maybe they have something in mind. Its easy to see how well run the ARLC is. And they have the funds now to back themselves up.

So the NRL would have to come up with $50 to $100 Mill.Do you know what the NRL surplus was for last year?

Would be broker without Folau, Cooper, Beal and O'Connor. They all wanted to play NRL but the NRL missed that chance. Even if Burgess fails in RU the English RU win anyway as they have given a head punch to the NRL and superleague by taking him away.

NRL could contract the top 50 players. NRL players are getting picked off by the ARU, RFU and AFL. The NRL leaves the clubs to fight ARU, RFU or AFL on their own.

EJ, Monday morning i woke up and i felt a little down and sad that it was over.Maybe it was all that beer but it has left a lasting impression and a appetite for more.I don't think i can wait another year,i need a 9s fix : )

And this is why the NRL wouldn't allow it Scott.You can't deny a team the opportunity to compete in a million dollar tournament after securing a place in the GF.Would you rather win the 9s or come second in a grand final?I know which one would hurt the most.

Let's wait and see if the next 2 or 3 years of the Auckland 9s are a success before even thinking of putting on an identical tournament 8 months later. Nothing worse than trying to expand when there isn't enough appetite for it.

In detail, can you tell us how you could fix this problem?