Titans Nines Team

[Blade07]

Warriors learn fate for inaugural Auckland Nines
Last updated 11:00 30/10/2013

BEN STANLEY

The Warriors have drawn the Raiders, Sea Eagles and Cowboys in the first NRL Auckland Nines to be held at Eden Park next February.

Those four teams are in Pool A of the tournament that will began at 1pm on Saturday, February 15.

The Rooster, Eels, Broncos and the Bulldogs fill the second pool, while the Sharks, Knights, Tigers and Titans are in the third.

The final pool shapes as the toughest with the Storm taking on the Panthers, Rabbitohs and Dragons.

The Sharks and Knights will open the tournament while the Warriors start their campaign against the Raiders at 2.25pm on February 15.

"I like the chances of the Warriors being one of the two sides to advance from their pool," Warriors legend, club centurion and former skipper Monty Betham, said.

"The clubs with the great rugby league tradition aren't necessarily going to be great at Nines.

"Manly will be difficult and the Cowboys have some real talent but the Raiders are from the Land of the Giants - big powerful forwards aren't going to get it done in Nines."

The clubs will compete for a New Zealand record $2.6 million in prizemoney.

The NRL's 16 clubs have all guaranteed at least one top five player from each of the club's salary cap. They will play in Auckland alongside at least 12 of each club's top 25 salary capped players.

The draw was made by Auckland mayor Len Brown and Knights forward Willie Mason at Dick Smith's at Sylvia Park this morning. Dick Smith was named as the tournament sponsors today.

[Blade07]

I think we will win our pool
Toughest competition will be sharks

[Hail Sezer]

I think we will win our pool
Toughest competition will be sharks

I think Tigers will surprise a few. They'll have so much flair with the likes of Simona, Nofoaluma, Koroibete, Naiyaravoro and Tedesco. Then young Brooks marshalling the troops with big Sironen out there as well. Don't forget about Farah too. I see them as a real threat on such an open field.

[Hail Sezer]

Here is the full draw:

DAY ONE
Game 1 - 12.35pm: Sharks v Knights
Game 2 - 1pm: Tigers v Titans
Game 3 - 1.25pm: Roosters v Eels
Game 4 - 1.50pm: Broncos v Bulldogs
Game 5 - 2.25pm: Warriors v Raiders
Game 6 - 2.50pm: Sea Eagles v Cowboys
Game 7 - 3.15pm: Storm v Panthers
Game 8 - 3.40pm: Rabbitohs v Dragons
Game 9 - 4.20pm: Sharks v Tigers
Game 10 - 4.45pm: Knights v Titans
Game 11 - 5.10pm: Roosters v Broncos
Game 12 - 5.35pm: Eels v Bulldogs
Game 13 - 6.10pm: Warriors v Sea Eagles
Game 14 - 6.35pm: Raiders v Warriors
Game 15 - 7pm: Storm v Rabbitohs
Game 16 - 7.25pm: Panthers v Dragons

DAY TWO
Game 17 - 12pm: Sharks v Titans
Game 18 - 12.25pm: Knights v Tigers
Game 19 - 12.50pm: Roosters v Bulldogs
Game 20 - 1.15pm: Eels v Broncos
Game 21 - 1.45pm: Warriors v Cowboys
Game 22 - 2.10pm: Raiders v Sea Eagles
Game 23 - 2.35pm: Storm v Dragons
Game 24 - 3pm: Panthers v Rabbitohs
Game 25 - 3.30pm: 1st Quarter Final
Game 26 - 3.55pm: 2nd Quarter Final
Game 27 - 4.20pm: 3rd Quarter Final
Game 28 - 4.45pm: 4th Quarter Final
Game 29 - 5.45pm: 1st Semi Final
Game 30 - 6.10pm 2nd Semi Final
Game 31 - 7.30pm: Final

[DIEHARD]

Thanks for posting! I'm in heaven right now. A World Cup and a 9s tournament to look forward to. We are a red hot chance. Could be our first trophy and I believe it would be worth the effort for a club to acquire a reputation of being good at 9s footy

[DIEHARD]

Must be an advantage for for us to draw the first game on game 2. If we are lucky enough to qualify for the Finals.

[DIEHARD]

The 9s is going to be great for the game, just think at club level, this could have been a great platform for players such as Matt Russell and Shannon Walker. It may help players crack the NRL and get on the radar. Hopefully we see a few wild cards entered by all clubs and all clubs see the benefits. Should create alot of preseason chatter and debate.

[K2G]

Creative and explosive edge-running forwards like Roosters dynamo Sonny Bill Williams loom as the stars of the 2014 Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines, according to the man who called rugby league's last nines event on television in 1997.

Widely travelled and respected commentator Andrew Voss, who acted as MC for the official tournament launch at Rugby League Central at Moore Park, told NRL.com that Titan Dave Taylor and Bulldog Frank Pritchard are other players who could steal the show.

"I think it might be the bigger blokes who star rather than the little blokes," Voss said. "Every team would like to have a Sonny Bill Williams, because he's made for it.

"I think those players we see on the edges in 13-a-side rugby league can be the most damaging. Sure the little blokes will have their moments – and players like Jarryd Hayne and Billy Slater if he plays, they can do their bit – but I think the headline acts will be those blokes who can work the edges.

"But a player like Dave Taylor – he could absolutely revel in this. This is made for him to just rip and tear.

"Frank Pritchard, from what I saw of him at the World Cup, he's going to love the nines format. They can go hell for leather, it's unlimited interchange so the moment you've got an empty petrol tank [you can come off]."

Voss also said punters may end up surprised by some lower-scoring games, with nines being "far more tactical" than sevens. It was also a reason players who could both attack and defend would be of supreme value.

"This [tournament] is involving the 16 NRL clubs – they'll be really well-drilled, you know their defences are good, they'll be physically fit, you know they'll be in fantastic shape to just give it their all for nine minutes each way, so you might go there thinking 'we're going to see nothing but high-scoring matches' – but you might be surprised," Voss said.

"You might get some low-scoring games where points are hard-earned, that will bring out amazing skills and 'out-there' kicking games to break these defences even though it is only nine players on the field."

Sides with the best tactical kicking games could also be expected to prosper, with some innovative kicks likely to be rolled out.

"We just see the kicking games of the players from the last decade, the way things have changed. Andrew Johns was the first player who brought in a whole box of tricks but now they can all do it, every playmaker has this range of kicks and I think nines is absolutely going to let them produce the lot – and do it on any tackle," Voss said.

"The kick could become used as much as the pass – if you want to get the ball quickly out to the wing, I think that will be an exciting element of nines, I've got no doubt about that."

Voss also took the opportunity to relay to NRL.com an anecdote from his time calling the 1997 Nines tournament – one that former video ref and current Gold Coast Titans boss Graham Annesley "would love me to relay again".

Voss said Annesley was the video ref in a game between Australia and Samoa at the 1997 Nines tournament – heralding the first time a video referee had been used in Australia.

Joe Galuvao, playing fullback for Samoa, attempted to dive on the ball for a try and "missed by conservatively three metres" before Michael Hancock grounded, meaning the Australians were expecting to restart play with a goal-line dropout. But the on-field referee Brian Grant had other ideas.

"Brian Grant I think wanted to... be the first to do the TV box signal. So on came freeze frame, Graham Annesley is the video referee, it was quite obvious it was meant to be a line dropout," Voss recalled.

"But Graham Annesley pressed green rather than red – he pressed the wrong button! Michael Hancock said 'what the?', everyone said 'what?' but they didn't overrule it, they stuck with it as a try. The first ever video refereeing decision – shouldn't we have known then, when there was controversy right from the get-go?"

Thankfully technology and processes have advanced considerably during the past 16 years, to the point where it's a given the stars of rugby league will provide all the talking points when they assemble at Eden Park in February.

http://www.nrl.com/edge-forwards-to-...9/default.aspx

[K2G]

Probably should have put this in the 9's thread - sorry guys, feel free to move it.

If Vossy is right about the impact of skillfull edge running forwards, titans will do well in the comp i think.

Shook my head at the Annesley anecdote. Let's hope his decision making skills have improved.

[Titanic]

More worried about Annersley's colour blindness.

[TITAN PETE]

Wayne Cousins
Friday 13 December 2013 4:08 PM

iSelect Gold Coast Titans Co-Captain Greg Bird is convinced his side can be a major threat in the inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines tournament.

And he has nominated two of the Titans' exciting young backs to shine at Eden Park on February 15-16. The Titans are in the same group pool as Wests Tigers, Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks.

"I think Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly are going to be two of the standout players of the tournament,'' Bird declared.
"How they played for us this year in the full version of the game was great.
If you give a player like Albert Kelly more open space, he is going to be devastating.
"I can see the likes of David Taylor and Jamal Idris causing havoc out wide with their ball playing skills and strength. We also have two of the fastest wingers in the competition in Kevin Gordon and David Mead.
"I'm very excited about the type of team we will be putting on the field for the Nines. I reckon we have got a massive chance of winning it."
Bird is hoping to take his place in the Titans side for the $2.25 (Aus) million dollars in prize money in which all16 NRL clubs. He is likely to undergo minor surgery on his right elbow next week after sustaining the injury during the Origin series.
"This is going to be a tremendous tournament. The fans will love the fact that every team is at the same venue.

"I think the uncertainty of it is what makes it interesting. No one is going to know what sort of game plan to use and everything is going to be different. I'm going over there with an open mind and plan to have plenty of fun."

League fans have already made the inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines the most successful rugby league event in the country's history with ticket revenue having passed over $3 million - the highest figure ever recorded for a rugby league event in New Zealand.

[DIEHARD]

I really think that we can win this. We have to be one of the favourites. Warriors would also go well, which is great for the host nation.

[teke]

I don't think we will get close to getting out of our group stage.

[ozynorts]

Wayne Cousins
Friday 13 December 2013 4:08 PM

iSelect Gold Coast Titans Co-Captain Greg Bird is convinced his side can be a major threat in the inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines tournament.

And he has nominated two of the Titans' exciting young backs to shine at Eden Park on February 15-16. The Titans are in the same group pool as Wests Tigers, Newcastle Knights and Cronulla Sharks.

"I think Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly are going to be two of the standout players of the tournament,'' Bird declared.
"How they played for us this year in the full version of the game was great.
If you give a player like Albert Kelly more open space, he is going to be devastating.
"I can see the likes of David Taylor and Jamal Idris causing havoc out wide with their ball playing skills and strength. We also have two of the fastest wingers in the competition in Kevin Gordon and David Mead.
"I'm very excited about the type of team we will be putting on the field for the Nines. I reckon we have got a massive chance of winning it."
Bird is hoping to take his place in the Titans side for the $2.25 (Aus) million dollars in prize money in which all16 NRL clubs. He is likely to undergo minor surgery on his right elbow next week after sustaining the injury during the Origin series.
"This is going to be a tremendous tournament. The fans will love the fact that every team is at the same venue.

"I think the uncertainty of it is what makes it interesting. No one is going to know what sort of game plan to use and everything is going to be different. I'm going over there with an open mind and plan to have plenty of fun."

League fans have already made the inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines the most successful rugby league event in the country's history with ticket revenue having passed over $3 million - the highest figure ever recorded for a rugby league event in New Zealand.

I can't see the likes of Dave Taylor being able to maintain the speed of the game. I know that there is unlimited interchange but trying to get someone off the field quickly can be a problem when they are blowing hard. Guys in the normal game have plenty of time to jog off but in 9's they will have to sprint off to avoid being caught out if there is a turnover.
I would be happy for us to use our halves and centre/second rowers and not bother with really big guys. Use guys who have good speed and are able to recover quickly.
Bird may not be the fastest but his second efforts are exactly what will be needed in this format I think.

[Julius Sezer]

Cant wait to see Willie Mason in action