After a two-year absence, the Penrith Panthers and the Sydney Roosters kicked off the fifth instalment of the NRL Nines.
Perth’s HBF Park played host to all 16 teams for the pre-season tournament. The competition was compelling and contentious, exhibiting some magical moments and exciting games. So let’s take a look at what impacts both positive and negative the Nines produced.
Positives
North Queensland Cowboys
Townsville will be welcoming the Nines trophy with opens hands as the previous two seasons have been dismal in the regular season.
Talisman Jason Taumalolo looks fitter and stronger than ever, if that’s humanly possible. Scott Drinkwater lit up the competition with exhilarating performances, earning him the player of the tournament award. The rotation between Valentine Holmes, Michael Morgan and Jake Clifford will be a mouth-watering prospect for North Queenslanders.
(Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Absent Bunker
Ask any league fanatic their thoughts on the Bunker and they’ll complain about long delays to make the correct call, a slower-paced game and decisions that aren’t always 100 per cent correct.
The absence of the Bunker during the Nines breathed fresh air into the tournament. It demonstrated a fast-paced game with an element of excitement along with a better broadcasting spectacle. Despite a controversial call against the Penrith Panthers, the no-Bunker policy was welcomed by most supporters.
Holbrook’s confidence boost
Clouds of uncertainty are forever surrounding the dire club that is the Gold Coast Titans. A somewhat surprising overall outing at the Nines, reaching the semi-finals, was a light at the end of a dark tunnel for the Titans.
They beat last season’s runners-up 27-10 while overcoming a strong Manly outfit 24-0. Newcomer Justin Holbrook will certainly carry overconfidence from the pre-season come the regular season.
Negatives
Attendance and WA expansion
Attendance figures – perhaps the main talking point of the Nines – were underwhelming, with just 10,128 to watch Day 1, while Day 2 attracted 14,739. Proposed expansion/relocation has the WA capital the front and centre of attention. Given these attendance figures while all 16 teams were on display, the appetite for a Perth rugby league team hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, given the circumstances.
In fairness, temperatures reached the high 30s on Day 1. But all in all, there can’t be much of an excuse to stay away from the turnstiles.
Sydney Roosters
With the Nines being played just a month out from Round 1, it’s become clear some teams aren’t hesitant to play reserve-graders. A prime example of this is the Sydney Roosters, fielding just one player (Sam Verrills) from their starting grand final roster.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
In addition, big-name retirees making comebacks doesn’t add the ingredient of a serious competition that fans should look forward to. Therefore some clubs prioritise the Nines in their bottom draw.
Injuries
Over the course of the weekend’s action, the Dragons were dealt a serious triple blow to Matt Dufty, Cameron McInnes and Korbin Sims. The injury toll dealt over the tournament could prove more than costly for some clubs’ fortunes.
Souths’ Ethan Lowe suffered an MCL tear. Meanwhile, Josh McGuire will under go meniscus surgery. All regular first-graders, debates will surely begin to emerge if fielding players of a high calibre will be even worth it in the long run.
Ian_
Roar Rookie
Putting it up against the initial AFLW derby doesn't strike me as the brightest idea. I'd be interested to know who scheduled first, the NRL or AFL?
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Does anyone know what sort of advertising/promotions heralded the nines, in WA? I saw nothing here, in Melbourne, except on the NRL & Storm web sites? Did people there even know it was on?
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Raises the question why they decided to put it in the most isolated city in the world. Was never going to get huge numbers. I think Melbourne might be a better option, or at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney
BT
Guest
Another reason for attendance being low was other major sports events on offer in Perth the same weekend... There was 53,000 Perth sports lovers attending the AFL + NBL alone on the Saturday... The first AFLW Derby between WCE vs FFC (at $3 a ticket) = 35,000... And the last home NBL game of the season between Wildcats vs Brisbane with 18,000... Maybe the NRL should talk to the other codes before setting dates of such a big event in a small city... No doubt that Perth sport loving crowds would have done 2 of the 3 had they of been on different days/weekends...
Nick
Roar Guru
Me too.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
On the bunker, agree no long delays on viewing the incidents so play was quicker and fewer black spots. The Penrith game was probably an excellent way to promote a captain's challenge. (If the NRL brings in a captain's challenge, will the referee still send incidents to the bunker or will it only go there for a captain's challenge?) Terrible to bring up officiating so soon this year but that Dragons try was very poor. The touchie was 10 metres back and the in goal official was nowhere to be seen. Positional play here was non existent by the officials and this needs to be corrected before the season starts. After the loss of at least three first graders from the Dragons, I wouldn't expect teams in future events to put their regular first graders on show.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The attendance wasn't as bad as all that. The last World Nines had about 28,000 in a league area so 24,000+ wasn't that bad.
Harry
Guest
I read somewhere (maybe on the NRL website?) that the Cowboys got $250,000 for winning the tournament. Which is still a decent amount but all the same I'd rather have as many of my best players as possible at home training for the 13-a-side season.
Nick
Roar Guru
It was weird to run it on a Friday, when school is on. I guess they were trying to capitalise on the soaring unemployment in Perth? Lol. I guess the only thing to keep the clubs interested is the prize pool. Cowboys got $500k for winning that yeah? The costs of travel for a squad + staff would be about 50k. So if you win, or at least get to the GF, you'll make a tidy profit.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
It definitely should have been possible though. An extra 3 or so hours would be enough for 8 games if they tightened the schedule. So 1.5 hours per day. But instead it seems the schedule dictated the tournament rather than the logical opposite.
Damo
Guest
On Saturday there was 35,000+ at the AFLW and 13,000+ at the Wildcats game. NRL has constantly shown minimal interest in a team in Perth but 14,700 still showed up in a 20,000 capacity stadium. I don't think attendance was an issue.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
It is if you doing it on the Saturday and Sunday. The Friday night part in WA screwed it.
Harry
Guest
Was there a scheduling conflict with the stadium on Sunday? It seems like a really strange and self-sabotaging decision for the NRL to play a two-day weekend comp on Friday and Saturday rather than Saturday and Sunday. Even better would have been to make a long weekend out of it and play Friday to Sunday so that every team in each pool got a chance to play every other team in their pool. If I was the head of an NRL club I'd be struggling to see the appeal of paying to send a squad of players and staff and all the things they need all the way to Perth just to play two 20 minute games of football.
Andrew
Guest
Agree. Who did they think were going to go? People from the East Coast? Of course not. Did they think locals with a fleeting interest who could become devoted fans were going to go to something where they had no team in the fight and had to sit around all day, instead of just an hour or two for a normal match? The whole thing is flawed as a marketing tool.
Big Daddy
Guest
Re the attendance . Put yourself in a fans seat and ask the question why would I pay lots of money on airfares and accommodation if I have to come from Auckland or Townsville to watch a nines tournament made up of a lot of second grade players. You'd have to be fairly passionate to do that. Some clubs decided to include a fair few stars and some didn't so the Cowboys took it seriously. I'm not sure how many interstate visitors were there so I would imagine the crowd was predominantly locals who followed various teams or newcomers to the game. My opinion is the NRL put it on to test the interest in the game but they can do that with a regular club game and have done so. I don't think the 9s tournament will continue on a permanent basis as Auckland didn't work out that we'll yet they still keep going back to the well.
clipper
Roar Rookie
You could be onto something with that last sentence, Andrew
Big Daddy
Guest
The roosters game raises a good point. It was already pencilled in so whoever future premiers are will have the same dilemma unless they change the 9s date. Considering this tournament is on / off who knows where it will be next year or if it will be held.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Definitely not a fair pools system. Would have liked them to play every side but don't know if that's possible in a two day tournament. I don't think an extra game would have made that much of a difference to the players as its unlimited interchange and they have a large squad to choose from.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Surely it wouldn’t be too hard to squeeze another group game in. It’s a bit amateur having an incomplete qualifier stage and gave me a bit of a “why bother” feel. Especially when seeding is impossible. From another article: My only gripe was the two game group system. No surprises it ended up a bit unjust. Differential saw both the Broncos and Sharks miss out on a finals spot to a team they didn’t even get to play. Not as bad as the poor Tigers. They beat the Rabbitohs but were tied on points with them. They simply missed out because they didn’t get to play an ordinary Raiders side who both the Rabbitohs and Titans got to put to the sword.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
I think the Panthers loss highlights the fact that the goal line touchie was terribly positioned. Hopefully they can work on that role and improve it.