Unfortunately, it looks like interest for the Nines concept is starting to wane in Auckland, with plenty of empty seats on both days of the competition, something we haven’t previously seen.
With plenty of conjecture in recent times about exactly where the tournament is going to be held in the coming years, with both Melbourne and Brisbane declaring their interest, it does look like it will be on the move next year.
Given the World Cup is at the end of the year, it’s hard to see the tournament gaining any real traction next year and there has been talk of a year off.
If that’s the case, then we turn our attention to the 2018 version and again, it’s hard to see it not being on Australian shores.
How will the Roosters go after winning the Nines?
The Nines winners and finalists always seem to go well at some point in the next two seasons, however the Roosters have a stack of talent and could be in for a big 2017.
The Sharks proved a thing or two about that theory last year, making the final of the Nines and turning it into an NRL premiership – the first in the clubs history.
While it’s a little difficult to see the Roosters actually winning the premiership this year with a young squad, the talent on display from Connor Watson, Brendan Lewis and Latrell Mitchell was brilliant.
It might be a rebuilding year this time around, but don’t be surprised if the Roosters make the top eight and go on to better things next season if they can keep the youngsters together.
Does the Cowboys early exit tell us anything?
It was a surprise when the Cowboys named a stacked squad for the Nines, with Johnathan Thurston and Jason Taumalolo among the players heading to Auckland.
So them crashing out to the Melbourne Storm in the quarter-finals was a serious surprise. No one expected them not to be in the final and while the Nines are a little unpredictable, not offering a lot for the season ahead the way the Cowboys defended the Storm’s youngsters was a little worrying.
They will be strong during the regular season, there are no doubts about that but whether they can go all the way is another question.
Are the Warriors in for another ordinary season?
The Warriors have made the Nines their own over the years, despite never actually winning the event. They have always managed to make the finals, but for the first time, they didn’t.
While Shaun Johnson was out, they still had enough talent to get the job done, but their defence failed them. We have heard that story nearly every season, and although it was the Nines it doesn’t give anyone much hope the Warriors will improve at that end of the park this season.
The Eels are going to be strong in the regular season
The Eels got all the way through to the semi-finals, and with good reason. It was obvious the difference of the side when Corey Norman was injured, and he could be in for a big season.
Before everything went south for the side last year with salary cap scandals, injuries and suspensions, they were on fire and are likely to be again this year.
Norman will lead the way, but the talent, speed and skill Bevan French displayed is going to cause plent of damage this season.
Injuries at a minimum
The best news, without a doubt from the Nines is the lack of injuries. There were next to none across the board, and even then none were serious.
In fact, the worst injury from the weekend appears to have come from a trial match in Brisbane, with Cronulla Sharks outside back Valentine Holmes going down with a reported serious leg injury.
The worst from the Nines was Aaron Gray, who will spend six to eight weeks on the sideline with a torn medial ligament.
Every other injury from the weekend, including those to Corey Norman, Benji Marshall, Matthew Dufty and Jarryd Hayne are not expected to rule players out from Round 1.
Do the women need a bigger role in the tournament?
The three women’s games this weekend were exciting and delivered plenty of action, despite the lopsided nature of the results.
It’s not the first time they have put on a show either, with the women’s game gaining plenty of respect thanks to the Jillaroos versus Ferns Test matches we have seen in recent years.
In a year when the Women’s Rugby League World Cup is going to take center stage, it’s important they get a bigger role in the event moving forward in an attempt to continue promoting the women’s game.
The Nines are the perfect way to do it. They don’t then come as a stand alone event, and are worked into TV coverage and a men’s schedule that everyone is already looking at.
While I’m not suggesting they need a 16-club version, or even the Test version should be scrapped, their needs to be a balance found to give them more exposure in the tournament.
Whether that comes in the form of a few clubs, or extra countries I’m not sure.
Well, there you have it. What do you make of our talking points? What did you take away from the Auckland Nines?
Sylvester
Guest
The Warriors defence was actually OK for once. The attack was dreadful though. The lineup was nothing close to a first-choice outfit - only two 'stars' in Lolohea and Hoffman.
Stu
Guest
If most of the top NRL players don't participate, and Australia is just too damn hot in early Feb, maybe play it around State of Origin - make it a carnival, move it around, get new and old players involved. I dunno. Seems these events peak and drop off quick - same with the All Stars. Really big question mark over Duco Events - fair weather friends for the NRL.
Richard Maybury
Guest
I don't think it should be scrapped but changing into something like your proposal is well worth while. I would consider a WW nines concept open to any credible club from any country (maybe charging an entry fee say $15000 to keep it real) with substantial prize money to replace existing nines and WCC events. Play the games in stadia with a capacity of 50,000 plus and make it a real party weekend. Get the tv/media companies covering it and make sure it gets broadcast into key markets.
Richard Maybury
Guest
A relatively lacklustre response be the media either promoting, showing or even reporting on the nines has a lot to answer for.
Richard Maybury
Guest
Why ? There are far worse comps around and far worse gates.
Cedric
Guest
crowd numbers down, yes, and it doesn't help when the host team puts out a 'b' side. My nephews along with about 10,000 others got up and walked out when the Warriors lost their second game. And a lot didn't show on Sunday. I think the Warriors and their take on the 9s' are very dissapointing. Johnson's groin issue minutes before, suspect, Kata ill, well Kata didn't look to ill in the corporate box. A couple of years ago the organisers saw the crowd walk when the Warriors lost. Weren't alarm bells ringing when the Warriors named their side. I realise the weather issues in Oz at this time of year, but when the host team doesn't show what can you do but move the event.
The Barry
Roar Guru
I only caught a couple of games this year but that increased structure was what I noticed too. There's a significant reward to playing grinding footy and waiting for a mistake rather than trying your hand from anywhere on the field. Maybe 9s isn't the right number? Rugby goes from 15 a side to 7 so you end up with a dramatically different game. League goes from 13 to 9 so the differences aren't as great. In past years I've thought the extra players and extra structure made the 9s enjoyable and more like 'real' footy. But I didn't get that feeling this year, albeit from only a couple of games. Maybe I enjoyed it less because I only watched a few games with little context. In the past two years I've watched most of the tournament.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
London Nine's?
Mack
Guest
Wow rival 7s??! The beauty of 7s is its competitiveness and unpredictability... RL just doesn't have the international following to make this a success.
boonboon
Roar Pro
All those suggesting that the Nines should be moved somewhere in Australia obviously stayed inside watching it and didn't ve nture outside to the 40 degree heat. If you think the clubs are grumpy playing in NZ this weekend try making them risk their stars in 40 degree heat. It needs to be somewhere cooler - not cold just cooler - so either NZ, Tasmania or Northern Hemisphere
agent11
Guest
I didn't watch any of it on TV, got better things to do. However it came to my city I would probably attend, would be a good day.
Chook
Guest
who cares about the crowd numbers - who actually watched it on TV or by using the NRL APP. I had it on for maybe 5". Bored to tears
kk
Roar Pro
Several Cowboys played as though stunned into realising the monumental error made in not having the services of Kalyn Ponga after 2017. Come Sunday afternoon, Coach Green looked as though he had scored a Division 2 in Saturday night's Lotto draw. The Cowboy's will make the 8 and if Green uses the Ponga precision off the bench they may make Top4. Remember that the magican Kyle Feldt is still on the paddock and he is capable of anything and doing so with exquisite timing. The Warriors will need RTS, Johnson and Foran firing and fit to be prime movers in earning seventeen wins to ensure a place in the 8. With Greenberg's grace , it will be close.
Jeff dustby
Guest
No one ever said that. Let's move everything to Brisbane
Jeff dustby
Guest
Great comment Ed
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
I think both crowds were in the low 20k’s which shows this tournament needs to be shipped around, there are plenty of places to choose from, we could go to any of Australia’s capital cities (minus hobart) or even Wellington. They also need to expand the concept to include invitational sides, Toronto, Toulouse, for instance.
Up the Wahs
Roar Guru
Common Sense
Guest
Move the competition to Brisbane. Auckland has had its day. (Mind you the crowd numbers were down this year because the One Love reggae tournament was in Auckland this weekend. That's where all the islanders and maori's were.) First the 10's and then the 9's the following weekend in beautiful Brisbane. What a weekend that'd be.. This years tournament gets a 5/10 from me because it had no vibe and the games were boring. I found myself switching to the 7's mor because the game was more enterprising and the crowds were more entertaining to watch. The 9's needs to look like the 9's and not 13's. In year 1 the teams played the game differently to the regular season. They tried to throw the ball around more.Now they're playing the 9's exactly the same as the 13's hit up x3 and go wide then kick. How bout modifying the rules to make the game different and more exciting to watch. eg. pass off the ground in a tackle to encourage broken play? Reduce the interchanges so the players stay on the field longer and get exposed if they aren't fit enough and it seems stupid to have a 9's competition but not use the extra space.. Its also stupid watching a player run from one side of the field to the other then want to come off because he's exhausted. Its only 9 minutes of play for hell sake, I thought NRL players were the fittest players in world?
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Regarding the future of the Nines, I think Steve Mascord said it best. "The Nines are organically becoming what they will eventually be - an off-season jamboree for mostly non-first graders with a few stars paid appearance money to take part. [...] Instead of selling the tournament off to one other city in 2018, the NRL should sell it to six and have them start in November and run through to February." I think he may well be on to a winner. I'd suggest the RLIF introduce a six-leg tour with 16 men's and 4 women's teams from around the world. Legs can be played in Australia (Brisbane and Perth), New Zealand (Auckland), Asia (Singapore), America (Jacksonville or Toronto) and the UK (London or Manchester). I'm sure it would pick up traction quickly and rival the sevens tour. I think the Roosters are in for a big year. As for the Cowboys I'm surprised they didn't go all the way although I do think that they alongside Cronulla will be around the 7th to 12th this year. Yes, I wouldn't be expecting too much from the Warriors and hopefully the Eels can make a finals charge. The women definitely deserve a bigger role, I'm looking forward to seeing how the Tarsha Gale Cup (NSW Women's U18s 9s) goes. The avenue for women's rugby league may well be in 9s football as opposed to fully-fledged 13s.
Stu
Guest
Did you see the warriors team? Apart from Lolohea and Hingano there was no talent. Probably the weakest team fielded