Well most punters have just finished their first week back at work..boooo!! And it is fair to say that the silly season is now over boooo!! Happy New Years people lets make 2014 an awesome one.
This is the part of the year where all footy supporters withdrawal symptoms are at feverish heights. Well if you're a fanatic like me you will have the symptoms. I mean there is nothing on TV that gets the blood going for me like big
'Don't Argue' fends and the old shimy shimy wooosh!!
We want our footy and we want it now.
Thank the heavens above on Saturday the 15th of February 2014 the inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines will kick off.
Tournament Breakdown
- 31 game two day tournament
- 16 NRL teams with over 256 players competing
- Star players are contractually guaranteed
- teams made up of Nine players across 4 pools
- Au $2.25 million dollars which is an New Zealand sports purse record
Winning team ($AUD370,000), runner-up ($AUD240,000), semi-finalists ($AUD165,000), quarter-finalists ($AUD130,000) and round robin losers ($AUD110,000).
What a great cash injection for the clubs before the NRL natural season starts.
Rule Variations
- 9 players per side, 9 minutes each half
- Bonus Zone 5 points awarded for a try under the posts
- 'Golden Try' to determine the winner in extra time
- No place kicks will feature in the tournament. Drop kicks will be taken after tries and penalty goals. A field goal in general play will still be 1 point.
- Scrums will be made up of 5 players from each team, but will only occur after a double knock on.
- In the event of a successful 40/20 the successful team will get a re-start 20 meters in from where the ball crossed the line.
- Matches will be restarted by the scoring team in the form of a drop kick.
- Referees have the option to send players to the sin-bin for 5 minutes.
Draw
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Game 1.
Sharks v Knights – 12.35pm (local time)
Game 2.
Tigers v Titans – 1pm
Game 3.
Roosters v Eels – 1.25pm
Game 4.
Broncos v Bulldogs – 1.50pm
Game 5.
Warriors v Raiders – 2.25pm
Game 6.
Sea Eagles v Cowboys – 2.50pm
Game 7.
Storm v Panthers – 3.15pm
Game 8.
Rabbitohs v Dragons – 3.40pm
Game 9.
Sharks v Tigers – 4.20pm
Game 10.
Knights v Titans – 4.45pm
Game 11.
Roosters v Broncos – 5.10pm
Game 12.
Eels v Bulldogs – 5.35pm
Game 13.
Warriors v Sea Eagles – 6.10pm
Game 14.
Raiders v Cowboys – 6.35pm
Game 15.
Storm v Rabbitohs – 7pm
Game 16.
Panthers v Dragons – 7.25pm
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Game 17.
Sharks v Titans – 12pm
Game 18.
Knights v Tigers – 12.25pm
Game 19.
Roosters v Bulldogs – 12.50pm
Game 20.
Eels v Broncos – 1.15pm
Game 21.
Warriors v Cowboys – 1.45pm
Game 22.
Raiders v Sea Eagles – 2.10pm
Game 23.
Storm v Dragons – 2.35pm
Game 24.
Panthers v Rabbitohs – 3pm
1st
Quarter-Final – 3.30pm
2nd
Quarter-Final – 3.55pm
3rd
Quarter-Final – 4.20pm
4th
Quarter-Final – 4.45pm
1st
Semi-Final – 5.45pm
2nd
Semi-Final – 6.10pm
Final – 7.30pm
There has been reports that Brad Fittler at the age of 42 will be making a come back for the Sydney Roosters. That will be well worth the admission fee on its own if you ask me. Curious.
The more I read about this tournament the bigger my anticipation grows and my appetite craves for the games to begin.
I'm wondering what Benji Marshall's thoughts are on the tournament? Will we see Benji at this tournament? as a spectator of course. I myself will be panning the stands looking for Benji.
My Tip to win the Auckland Nines is drum roll please.......... Parramata
I'd love to hear who you think can win this comp. Comment below.
Capture The Magic, Share The Dream
Up The Guts
