Nines an unnecessary risk, says Panthers boss
Penrith want the NRL Auckland Nines scrapped.
Panthers boss Brian Fletcher has labelled the pre-season competition an unnecessary risk to players ahead of its fourth edition at Eden Park on Saturday and Sunday.
“We have eight million dollars worth of footballers we want to win the (NRL) comp with, not a Nines,” said Fletcher.
He questioned the competition’s value to stars whose off-season break was shortened by representative duties, including last year’s end-ofseason Four Nations and was concerned by the impact on players who have been recovering from injury in the pre-season.
He said a series of trial matches, rather than the Nines, was better preparation for the NRL season.
“Do we need to be there? The answer is ‘no’,” Fletcher said. “I think you simply don’t need the Nines.
“What benefit does the Nines have on our season?”
A number of players have missed NRL matches due to injuries sustained at the Nines in previous years.
Newcastle playmaker Jarrod Mullen spent about two months on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring in 2014, Manly lost hooker Jayden Hodges for 2016 after he suffered a knee injury, while backrower Jamie Buhrer broke his jaw and prop Jake Trbojevic was concussed last year.
This year’s competition will see stars Jarryd Hayne, Jack Bird and Semi Radradra compete, but a host of other prominent players will sit it out.
New recruit James Tamou will line up for the Panthers alongside impressive youngster Nathan Cleary and fellow regular first-graders Waqa Blake and Nines captain Isaah Yeo and Benji Marshall will make his Brisbane debut at the Nines.
Controversial flyer James Roberts also features in a star-studded Broncos squad.
Roberts was picked after the NRL integrity unit last week determined it would take no action against the speedster following allegations he assaulted a female Gold Coast nightclub patron earlier this month.
They were unable to gain access to nightclub footage of the alleged incident.
But they kept the matter open “in case any further evidence becomes available”.
The Nines squad also features cap- taincy frontrunner Darius Boyd, half Anthony Milford, hooker Andrew McCullough and Queensland winger Corey Oates.
As well as former New Zealand skipper Marshall, the Broncos have selected internationals Jordan Kahu, Adam Blair and Matt Gillett.
Johnathan Thurston will make his long-awaited Auckland Nines debut after North Queensland confirmed his selection yesterday.
Thurston will finally be unleashed at Eden Park after missing the first three Auckland campaigns, sharing the Nines captaincy reins with Queensland backrower Gavin Cooper.
Thurston spearheads a strong squad also featuring Dally M Medallist Jason Taumalolo, Kangaroos utility Michael Morgan, Queensland flyer Justin O’Neill, NRL prodigy Kalyn Ponga and Maroons wing contender Kyle Feldt.
New recruits ex-Melbourne playmaker Ben Hampton and former Titans backrower Shane Wright have also been picked.