Revealed: Full Auckland Nines draw announced for third edition of pre-season NRL tournament
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THE Auckland Nines has been a roaring success in its first two years and now the third edition is taking shape, with the release of the draw on Wednesday morning.

Here are the pools for the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines:

Pool Hunua: Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Broncos

Pool Waiheke: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Eels, Storm

Pool Rangitoto: Knights, Cowboys, Panthers, Tigers

Pool Piha: Dragons, Raiders, Sharks, Titans

A star studded cast of players and ambassadors were in Auckland to launch the Nines, with Queensland coach Mal Meninga drawing the lots to make up the draw.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden admitted drawing Canterbury, Manly and Brisbane in what was identified as “the group of death” wouldn’t be easy, but revealed the Warriors would likely have one of their strongest teams available.

“Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have both made it known that they are keen to play,” McFadden said of his star off-season recruits.

The Warriors coach also said his star halfback, and the face of the Nines, Shaun Johnson, was “targeting” a return from the horrific ankle injury that ended his 2015 season in the pre-season tournament.

The Warriors’ Origin back-rower Ryan Hoffman was also on hand to speak enthusiastically about the Nines, saying the home team “wants to win silverware” and would be pulling out all the stops to join South Sydney and North Queensland as winners of the tournament.

The pattern of successful NRL teams doing well in the Nines was identified by Meninga.

““The last two winners — the Cowboys and the Rabbitohs — have also had success in the NRL competition,” Meninga said.

“So I think everyone’s starting to realise it’s a big part of the rugby league calendar.”

NRL general manager of football Nathan McGuirk emphasised the long off-season for some of rugby league’s biggest stars after Australia’s Test team had the summer off.

He said that would make the 2016 Nines the strongest yet, with the participation of a large number of the NRL’s biggest stars.

“We’re really confident we’re going to see the strongest squads of any tournament so far, all 16 squads,” McGuirk said.

“One of the most exciting things for me is who is going to be the next big star to emerge in the NRL Auckland Nines.

“Last year guys like Jack Bird and Tom Trbojevic I think were unknowns at this time of year and they ended up having huge seasons for their clubs.”

“It’s going to be exciting to see the next batch of those breakout stars.”

FULL 2016 NRL AUCKLAND NINES DRAW

Day 1

12.30pm: Roosters v Rabbitohs

12.55pm: Eels v Storm

1.20pm: Knights v Cowboys

1.45pm: Panthers v Tigers

2.20pm: Warriors v Bulldogs

2.45pm: Sea Eagles v Broncos

3.10pm: Dragons v Raiders

3.35pm: Sharks v Titans

4.25pm: Roosters v Eels

4.50pm: Rabbitohs v Storm

5.15pm: Knights v Panthers

5.40pm: Cowboys v Tigers

6.15pm: Warriors v Sea Eagles

6.40pm: Bulldogs v Broncos

7.05pm: Dragons v Sharks

7.30pm: Raiders v Titans

Day 2

10.35am: Roosters v Storm

11am: Rabbitohs v Eels

11.25am: Knights v Tigers

11.50am: Cowboys v Panthers

12.15pm: Bulldogs v Sea Eagles

12.40pm: Warriors v Broncos

1.05pm: Dragons v Titans

1.30pm: Raiders v Sharks

1.55pm: Quarter Final 1

2.20pm: Quarter Final 2

3.05pm: Quarter Final 3

3.30pm: Quarter Final 4

4.40pm: Winner QF1 v Winner QF2

5.05pm: Winner QF3 v Winner QF4

6.40pm: Final