Nines needs Super League involvement if game is to grow
Promoters of the NRL Nines are not keen to add teams next year - but if the concept is to be of lasting benefit to rugby league, aside from generating truckloads of cash, the NRL must insist on it.
If there was one negative at Eden Park it was the thought of the Wigan Warriors - one of our game's most famous clubs - sitting in the grandstand getting a suntan. The club wanted to be out there. So, too, did the Warrington Wolves, and there are suggestions even the cash-strapped Bradford Bulls were clamouring for a spot.
The NRL must decide whether it is promoting rugby league as a whole or just itself. And if it's the former, it needs to determine how nines can assist in that objective. Nines will not help expand rugby league while we leave the Super League champions sitting in row G with a few bags of chips.
Replies
If it wants to grow they should play it at ANZ stadium. It'll be packed the entire day and the players getting to the game and stadium would be much easier and cost a lot less.
And it's going to be revamped at the end of this year to include a roof and a few thousand seats. I reckon with the Sydney teams alone they could sell it out. I'd buy a ticket if it wasn't too expensive.
Don't see why we need to steal it, i would love some ESL teams, maybe it could rotate from NZ, Aus and UK.
I was more thinking we could rotate it between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland.
Absolutely - loved the Nines tourney and would love to see it expand further.
Bring in some ESL teams, run it out of Homebush, spread it over a longer time period perhaps, get rid of the retired has-beens, force clubs to play their stars and promote it beyond belief.
Could almost become somewhat of a mini-world cup type event - get rid of the current "trials" format and just run a beefed up Nines tourney perhaps... I'd rather watch that than have Parra Team B playing Tigers Team H in the middle of the NT with no choice but to listen to it on and off on some 2 bit radio station!
Agree loved the commentary, i hope they do the Raiders game later this year. I'll have them on instead of Rabs or who ever else they have at 9 or fox.
Its contracted to Auckland for another 2 years, with an option of another two on that, so it wont be going anywhere for another 4 years, it was a huge success there, i dont think it should be moved, i think they have earnt it over the weekend.