four pools of the 2016 Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines have been revealed, with local favourites the Warriors to face strong clubs Brisbane, Manly and Canterbury in the group stage.Old rivals the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs will also square off in the opening rounds, while new NRL champions the Cowboys take on three teams who struggled this season but who also boast plenty of young talent in the Knights, Panthers and Wests Tigers.The teams have been drawn into the following pools:Pool Hunua: Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Warriors, BroncosPool Waiheke: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Eels, StormPool Rangitoto: Knights, Cowboys, Panthers, Wests TigersPool Piha: Dragons, Raiders, Sharks, TitansThe tournament will run over two days on Saturday February 6 and Sunday February 7 at Eden Park, Auckland. It has been confirmed Australia's women's team the Jillaroos will also take on New Zealand's Kiwi Ferns over the weekend once again.Each nine-a-side game is played over two nine-minute halves, with clubs naming a squad of 18 for the tournament. A whopping $NZ2.6 million in prize money is up for grabs in the 2016 tournament.After a round robin format in each pool, the top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals.The South Sydney Rabbitohs will be defending their 2015 Auckland Nines title, having beaten the Cronulla Sharks in the 2015 final. Issac Luke, who lifted the trophy as the Rabbitohs captain this year, could make his debut for his new club the Warriors in the tournament alongside fellow star signing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

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  • Hahahahaha I love how it censors dick smiths name!!
    • I'd really like to see all media platforms take that approach with Dick Smith's name.

  • I hope we get kick out early and have no injuries
    • That's one way of looking at it.
    • Hopefully BA learned from Kenny Edwards injury last year and wont play too many top line players

  • And some wanted Sandope to partner Foz. LOL.
  • It would have been exciting if sandow didn't leak points like sift! Just to much of a defencive liability. If his defence was solid you could have looked past his lapses in and out of games. Foz would have been steering the ship.
  • I'd really hate to see our spine getting risked for this mickey mouse tournament. We want to give ourselves the best possible chance for a good start to the year.

    I just think this tournament has far more downside for clubs than upside.....

  • First round is against the storm
    Second round is against the roosters.
    • Yep hard draw for Eels against top 8 teams.
      Lets hope NRL draw is a bit kinder this year than last 2 years. Wonder if Roosters will be given a leg up in draw again where this year they didn't have to travel in last 8 games I think!

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