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  1. #1
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Default NRL Club 9s could be on the comeback!

    NRL Nines could make shock return to calendar next year

    The NRL is exploring the possibility of bringing back the club-based Nines competition, with the abbreviated version of the game a strong chance of being added to the calendar as soon as next year.

    The Nines were held in Auckland for four years from 2014, although the fixture was taken off the schedule due to player workload concerns revolving around the last Rugby League World Cup. When the event wasn’t reintroduced into the calendar for this season, it appeared to signal the demise of the Nines as a club competition.

    However, the Herald can reveal the Nines is very much back on the governing body’s agenda, with work currently being undertaken to determine if it is financially viable to stage again. The NRL has begun discussions with several state governments which are interested in hosting the event. If those discussions prove fruitful, there is every chance the NRL Nines could be back for 2020.

    “The broadcasters, the fans and players are all keen to see the Nines return,” an NRL spokesman said.

    “So we are working with all stakeholders to try to make it happen. It is early days but we are hopeful the Nines will return.”

    Rugby League Central engaged Duco Events to stage the inaugural club-based competition, partly because of the promoter’s strong relationship with the New Zealand government and private sectors. However, it’s understood the NRL will manage and promote the event itself if the Nines return to the calendar. Consideration is also being given to inviting women’s teams to participate in the tournament.

    Should the event be staged in Australia, there will be no shortage of suitable venues to host it. Bankwest Stadium at Parramatta will soon be operational and Destination NSW is keen to add quality content to the new 30,000-seat venue. The new North Queensland Stadium is also a strong contender and the Nines could potentially be its first sporting contest if it is completed in time for the 2020 preseason.

    Perth will host State of Origin this season at Optus Stadium and the Nines could be used as a further barometer of whether there is sufficient league interest in the state to install an NRL franchise. Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide are other domestic markets where there is a strong appetite for quality rugby league.

    Some NRL clubs have been reticent to field their top talent in the Nines over fears they could sustain injuries. However, it’s likely a large financial incentive - previous winners received $500,000 - will be dangled to ensure all teams field strong rosters.

    The NRL is mindful of player workload concerns and will liaise with all stakeholders before adding the Nines to a schedule that also includes the All Stars game, which returned to the calendar this year.

    Meanwhile, the NRL confirmed the Pacific Test Invitational will be held at Leichhardt Oval on June 22 for the first time. This year’s invitational will feature the inaugural women’s match between Papua New Guinea and Fiji, along with two men’s matches - Fiji versus Lebanon and Samoa taking on Papua New Guinea.

    https://www.smh.com.au
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  2. #2
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Newcastle, Perth and Melbourne in running to host revived NRL Nines
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/new...21-p51pse.html

    Newcastle, Perth and Melbourne have emerged as the destinations vying to host the return of the club-based NRL Nines competition.

    The abbreviated version of the game is poised to return to the calendar from next year after the concept received in-principle support at the latest meeting of club chief executives during Magic Round.

    The tournament will go ahead subject to sufficient government investment, which appears likely given competition from three states to play host.

    NSW is attempting to bring the event to McDonald Jones Stadium, the home ground of the Newcastle Knights. Perth is proposing their new Optus Stadium, the venue for the A-League decider on Sunday and the second game of the upcoming State of Origin series. Melbourne is also in the mix with AAMI Park shaping as the most likely location if the game shifts north.

    The successful bidder will have the first official rugby league content of the 2020 season, with the two-day event scheduled for mid-February.

    The Nines were held in Auckland for four years from 2014, although the fixture was taken off the schedule due to player workload concerns revolving around the last Rugby League World Cup. When the concept wasn’t immediately reintroduced afterwards, it appeared to be the demise of the Nines as a club-based competition. However, broadcasters expressed an interest in its comeback and the clubs are amenable if it stacks up financially, despite the risk of injuries to star players.

    The initial tournaments were staged by Duco Events, but the NRL will take responsibility for their running in-house from now on. The governing body is hopeful the prizemoney pool will be large enough to incentivise the clubs to release their best players for the matches.

    The success of the inaugural Magic Round in Brisbane has convinced league powerbrokers there is an appetite for innovative content. The four-day festival of football injected an estimated $20 million into Queensland’s tourism economy after more than 134,000 fans - many of them from interstate - attended.

    Queensland was ruled out as a Nines option after already hosting Magic Round, while Bankwest Stadium was also disregarded because it will be the home of the Rugby League World Cup 9s on October 18-19 this year.

    The development means that, after three years without Nines football, fans will have the chance to witness two Nines tournaments in the space of four months.

    Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has earmarked the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Blake Ferguson, Damien Cook, Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco and Nick Cotric as among the superstars on his radar.

    The Roosters, the reigning NRL premiers, also hold the Nines title after winning it when it was last played in 2017.
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  3. #3
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    Can’t stand the 9s
    Don’t like the Drongoes Magic Round
    Don’t like trials either

    Start the season earlier and get straight into playing club footy for competition points and have 28 rounds (2 byes each)

    Give me Vanity Annesley’s Job

  4. #4
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    The Magic Round is actually a way to lay the foundations for a 2nd Brisbane club. They were also an away team at the Magic I believe. They also refused to attend a mid-week promotion of the event due to a conflict with one of their sponsors. We've heard that one before, powers v XXXX.
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

    Moejoe: "REMEMBER!!!! SLIP - SLOP - SLAP in the sun. Skin Cancer is a growing problem. It could happen to anyone!!"
    TITANS, DIEHARDS, WARRINGTON WOLVES, MAROONS, KANGAROOS, HONG KONG THUNDER


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