Auckland Nines squad

[Belta]

Choc is that you ?

It mustn't be if it was Choc the accolades would of been a novel instead of a paragraph

 

[dino2170]

any word if we are going to release a players name every day or so??????

 

[Gareth67]

If that is you Choc,Why did'nt you pass the ball in 99

Yea , that fooking ego driven fooking nitwit surely cost the Dragons a premiership , just because he wanted to be a fooking heeerooo . Bott- wipe !

Back to the nines , I also believe that the younger players should be sent . We are here to win the one that really matters and of course that is not until October . I know which of the two that I would prefer if I was a player .

Unfortunately for the players , any injuries that they sustain in the nines , could possibly have them out of the game for an extended period , or worse , the entire season .

 

[grouch]

We've sent pretty well stacked squads every year and still finished last or second last in our group. Coaches with no clue and players with minimal nous for this style.

Better off just sending a bunch of rookies

 

[to_ddeath]

We've sent pretty well stacked squads every year and still finished last or second last in our group. Coaches with no clue and players with minimal nous for this style.

Better off just sending a bunch of rookies

Just another McDrunk junket really....


T.

 

[monsterkev]

We've sent pretty well stacked squads every year and still finished last or second last in our group. Coaches with no clue and players with minimal nous for this style.

Better off just sending a bunch of rookies

Unfortunately you are not allowed to send a team of rookies
Each team has to have a certain number of contracted 1st grade players
This is an nrl rule and it sucks but saints could send all of the juniors that came up from the cutters

 

[possm]

Newly NRL contracted Dragons + Lafai, Marceto, McCrone, Aitken, Field ........

 

[monsterkev]

I would probably give field a run for sure
Marketo and mathews so hopefully they get season ending injuries

 

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Got a good laugh from this, but I think Matthews and Marketo wouldn't do too badly in the nines. Both mobile, both fair defenders, both part-time first graders so they tick that box. And as you say, doesn't matter too much if they get injured.

 

[BrissyRedV]

Source: Dragons website.

LINK: http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/01/25/frizell_to_captain_n.html

St George Illawarra Dragons representative forward Tyson Frizell will captain the Dragons for the first time at the NRL Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park on February 4 and 5.

St George Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor named an 18-man squad on Wednesday which will see a mixture of the Dragons' youth and experience play in the tournament.

Frizell will be joined by other established first-graders Jack de Belin, Tariq Sims, Will Matthews, Kurt Mann and Joel Thompson, while Cameron McInnes and Nene Macdonald will don a Dragons jumper for the first time.

Like Frizell, Euan Aitken will back up from the recent Four Nations tournament to take his place in Auckland.

Mann, Sims and New Zealand international Kalifa Faifai Loa will be the Dragons' most-experienced Nines campaigners having played at every tournament since its inception.

"It's an honour to captain the club at the Auckland Nines tournament. It's very special and I'm very happy to have the role," Frizell said.

"We have a very young squad so I'm looking forward to a good weekend at the Nines."

On Frizell, McGregor added: "It's the next step of his development and responsibility. 'Friz' suits the style of play at the Nines as a powerful, mobile back-rower and I'm looking forward to seeing how he handles that leadership role."

Young halves Shaun Nona and Jai Field will get the chance to impress McGregor at the Nines following standout 2016 seasons in the Intrust Super Premiership and Holden Cup respectively.

They will be joined by other NRL hopefuls Levi Dodd, Matt Dufty and Patrick Herbert in the squad.

"We have picked a well-balanced team. It has a lot of speed and size in it," McGregor said.

"We have come up with a strategy where we've picked a skilful side for the Nines-style of football."

The Dragons will face off against the New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly-Waringah Sea Eagles in the Piha Pool.

Dragons’ Auckland Nines squad (subject to NRL approval):

1. Patrick Herbert
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Euan Aitken
4. Levi Dodd
5. Kalifa Faifai Loa
7. Kurt Mann
8. Siliva Havili
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Luciano Leilua
11. Tyson Frizell (c)
12. Joel Thompson
13. Jack de Belin
14. Tariq Sims
15. Taane Milne
16. Shaun Nona
17. Will Matthews
18. Matt Dufty
21. Jai Field

 

[Carlton]

Source: Dragons website.

St George Illawarra Dragons representative forward Tyson Frizell will captain the Dragons for the first time at the NRL Auckland Nines tournament at Eden Park on February 4 and 5.

St George Illawarra Dragons coach Paul McGregor named an 18-man squad on Wednesday which will see a mixture of the Dragons' youth and experience play in the tournament.

Frizell will be joined by other established first-graders Jack de Belin, Tariq Sims, Will Matthews, Kurt Mann and Joel Thompson, while Cameron McInnes and Nene Macdonald will don a Dragons jumper for the first time.

Like Frizell, Euan Aitken will back up from the recent Four Nations tournament to take his place in Auckland.

Mann, Sims and New Zealand international Kalifa Faifai Loa will be the Dragons' most-experienced Nines campaigners having played at every tournament since its inception.

"It's an honour to captain the club at the Auckland Nines tournament. It's very special and I'm very happy to have the role," Frizell said.

"We have a very young squad so I'm looking forward to a good weekend at the Nines."

On Frizell, McGregor added: "It's the next step of his development and responsibility. 'Friz' suits the style of play at the Nines as a powerful, mobile back-rower and I'm looking forward to seeing how he handles that leadership role."

Young halves Shaun Nona and Jai Field will get the chance to impress McGregor at the Nines following standout 2016 seasons in the Intrust Super Premiership and Holden Cup respectively.

They will be joined by other NRL hopefuls Levi Dodd, Matt Dufty and Patrick Herbert in the squad.

"We have picked a well-balanced team. It has a lot of speed and size in it," McGregor said.

"We have come up with a strategy where we've picked a skilful side for the Nines-style of football."

The Dragons will face off against the New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys and the Manly-Waringah Sea Eagles in the Piha Pool.

Dragons’ Auckland Nines squad (subject to NRL approval):

1. Patrick Herbert
2. Nene Macdonald
3. Euan Aitken
4. Levi Dodd
5. Kalifa Faifai Loa
7. Kurt Mann
8. Siliva Havili
9. Cameron McInnes
10. Luciano Leilua
11. Tyson Frizell (c)
12. Joel Thompson
13. Jack de Belin
14. Tariq Sims
15. Taane Milne
16. Shaun Nona
17. Will Matthews
18. Matt Dufty
21. Jai Field

I'm pretty happy with that squad just wish Mose was fit enough to take part. He might not be a nines player but it sure would be fun for a little while.

 

[JDHD]

I like the 7 on Mann

 

[BennyV]

I think Mann, Nona and Field were built for this format, and really want to see plenty of game time from Herbert.

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons' sevens to battle for Nines jumper
Wed 25 Jan, 2017, 3:40pm
Matt Encarnacion, AAP

Shaun Nona in action for Northern Pride in the Intrust Super Cup. Credit: SMP Images/QRL Media

St George Illawarra pair Shaun Nona and Jai Field will get their first chance at impressing for this year's vacant halfback spot when they play next month in the Auckland Nines.

The unknown quantities were named as part of an 18-man squad on Wednesday that will be captained by representative player Tyson Frizell.

Regular first-graders Jack de Belin, Tariq Sims, Euan Aitken, Kurt Mann and Joel Thompson will also go to New Zealand, as will recruits Cameron McInnes and Nene Macdonald.

Big guns Gareth Widdop, Josh Dugan and Jason Nightingale will stay at home.

Youngster Drew Hutchison had been pencilled in to wear the No.7 jumper vacated by Benji Marshall, however is out for at least six months after blowing his knee in the pre-season.

The joint-venture club opted not to buy another halfback, pinning hopes on uncapped duo Nona and Field, as well as veteran utility Josh McCrone, to fill the void.

Nona was part of the victorious Illawarra Cutters squad who claimed the NSW Cup title, while the 19-year-old Field was runner up for the Dally M under-20s player of the year award.

McCrone wasn't selected in the squad.

Dragons coach Paul McGregor, whose club have never gone past the group stage in the event's three-year history, said the squad had been deliberately picked to challenge for the Nines title.

"We have picked a well-balanced team. It has a lot of speed and size in it. We have come up with a strategy where we've picked a skilful side for the Nines-style of football," he said.

Kangaroos and NSW State of Origin incumbent Frizell captains the club for the first time.

"It's an honour to captain the club at the Auckland Nines tournament. It's very special and I'm very happy to have the role," Frizell said.

http://www.nrl.com/dragons-sevens-to-battle-for-nines-jumper/tabid/10874/newsid/103311/default.aspx

 

[Old Timer]

Looks like a lot more thought went into this team than previous teams.
Maybe some input from Coyne & Co?
A bit surprised that Nona (recovering from ankle) and Friz (recovering from back) are going. The 9's format has a lot of stop start and jinking involved and it could be easy to role an ankle IMO and it certainly demands a lot of input from the forwards.
Was also surprised that Mary himself wasn't picked because he always turns up in the team training pictures and videos as he participates in all the drills.
This squad has plenty of ability to be on fire and light up the park and it will be interesting to see if Mary throws cold water on it.

 

[Ray McKigney]

LOL at Dragons going all in to win the nines. They must really need the money since they can't match the offers Widdop is getting from the other clubs.

 

[Old Timer]

All in to win the 9's Ray, you have to be joking.
No Marketo, Mc Carthy, Mc Crone, Mundine or Mc Gregor (he looks super fit especially after boot camp)
MMMMM I don't think we have any chance without those guys.
The boys are just going for a bit of a holiday, to relax and work on their tans by the look of it.

 

[Dragon Revival]

Lewis or Vaughan should replace
Matthews.

 

[OzDragon]

I'm happy with that squad. But someone please tell KFFL to put the ball down as soon as he reaches the try line.

 

[getsmarty]

McGregor: A Mixture Of Youth And Experience
Thu 26th January, 11:00AM
A A



St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has spoken about the Dragons' 18-man squad for the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines at Eden Park on February 3 and 4.

McGregor discusses the mixture of youth and experience within his Nines squad, his expectations of Tyson Frizell as captain, the Dragons' All Stars representatives and if he contemplated a Ruben Wiki-esque comeback.


http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/01/26/mcgregor_a_mixture_o.html