Five questions about the Auckland Nines
Q: How seriously should I take the Auckland Nines?
A number of clubs have indicated it's of secondary importance by leaving out their stars but it's still going to be arguably a better product than the Wellington Sevens with a lot more recognisable players and fewer blowouts. It's not going to give much of an indication of which teams will do well in this year's NRL because it's a different game but it will be highly competitive and should be exciting.
Q: Who will be playing?
Sadly the likes of Greg Inglis, Sonny Bill Williams, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater and Sam Burgess will be missing but each club are required to send one of their top-five earners as well as 12 of their top 25 so there is a good smattering of well-known players headed by the likes of Ben Barba, Todd Carney, Shaun Johnson and Daly Cherry-Evans.
Q. Who should do well?
The Titans, Panthers, Knights and Warriors have strong squads, as do the cash-strapped Sharks who could do with the winners' purse of A$370,000 to help pay their A$600,000 ASADA fine. The Roosters, Storm, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles - last year's top four - have sent below-strength squads as they clearly focus on the NRL and, as unusual as it seems in normal circumstances, it's reflected in their standing at the bookies where only the Raiders and Bulldogs are seen as bigger outsiders.
Q. Which players should stand out?
At first glance, nines seems suited to fast outside backs and ball-playing second-rowers - and it is - but there is still a place for the big-man in the game. With teams unable to commit three or four defenders to each tackle like they do in the NRL, big men who can offload like Andrew Fifita, James Tamou, Willie Mason and David Taylor are sure to be dangerous.
Q. What should I wear?
Hats are de rigour this year, apparently, but mankinis are not. And nor is urinating on the fence of residents around Eden Park. Organisers are trying to limit the intake of alcohol in the hope it doesn't turn into a Wellington Sevens, which is more about what happens off the park than on it, or see a repeat of ugly scenes at a Four Nations double header at Eden Park in 2010.
