Auckland Nines squad

[BennyV]

Dem boots tho...

 

[dino2170]

Dino,apparently his wife is having a baby this week
Looking forward to watching Luc, Dufty & Field, hopefully they can bring along some of the attacking combinations they showed in the 20's last year

thanks

 

[getsmarty]

Kiwi Dragons Ready To Star At Home
Fri 3rd February, 08:00AM
A A

The St George Illawarra Dragons will boast five Kiwis in their Auckland Nines squad this weekend at Eden Park.

Joining New Zealand internationals Kalifa Faifai Loa and Siliva Havili will be young guns Taane Milne, Patrick Herbert and Levi Dodd.

Kiwis veteran Jason Nightingale will also travel across the ditch as the Dragons' emergency player.

The tournament will prove extra special for Herbert and Havili who will get their first opportunities at Nines football on February 4 and 5.

"It's big for guys like Patty Herbert," Faifai Loa said.

"It will be his first Nines. He's looking forward to it and I'm sure his family will travel down to watch their son play."

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/02/03/kiwi_dragons_ready_t.html
Dodd and Milne are set to play in their second Nines tournament after featuring in the 2015 edition with the Bulldogs and Roosters respectively.

Faifai Loa – who has featured at every Nines since the tournament's inception – jokingly found a downside to having so many countrymen join him back home.

"It's a bit disappointing because I'm not going to get all the tickets this year," Faifai joked.

"Hopefully one of them pulls out so I can get an extra few tickets for me and my family."

 

[Drakon]

http://www.nrl.com/nine-rookies-to-set-auckland-nines-alight/tabid/10874/newsid/103401/default.aspx


Nine rookies to set Auckland Nines alight
Fri 03 Feb, 2017, 7:00am
By Martin Gabor ‌, National Correspondent , NRL.com
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The Downer NRL Auckland Nines have traditionally provided untested rookies with a platform to go toe-to-toe with some of the best in the game in a bid to show they are NRL ready. Here are nine players you should keep an eye out for this weekend.

Braidon Burns (Rabbitohs)

It mightn't have been as flashy as the Robbie Farah deal, but the Rabbitohs made a more than handy signing when they picked up Braidon Burns from the Panthers. The talented centre was a mainstay in Penrith's NYC team that claimed the minor premiership last season with 20 tries, 17 line breaks, 64 tackle breaks and 12 try assists. In Round 10 against the Warriors, Burns became just the seventh player in the NYC to score five tries in a match.

Nick Cotric (Raiders)

Name a more damaging duo than Jarrod Croker and Joey Leilua in the centres. The truth is you can't. But in Nick Cotric, the Raiders have one of the most talented outside backs coming through the ranks, and it would come as no shock to see the 18-year-old get a shot in first grade in 2017. Cotric is already the complete package, boasting size, speed and incredible footwork. His 135 tackle breaks were the fifth-most in the NYC last year, while he also finished in the top five at the Raiders for tries, try assists, line breaks and offloads. Give him an inch and the 2016 Team of the Year member will take a mile on the open expanses at Eden Park.

Matt Dufty (Dragons)

One of the most hyped players to have graduated from the NYC last year, Matt Dufty will use his second trip to the Nines as a platform to impress ahead of the new NRL season. The flashy fullback finished his time in the Holden Cup as the leading try-scorer in the competition's history with 55 four-pointers from 65 appearances. His footwork and agility will make him a defender's nightmare in the nine-a-side format, as will his ability to create space for teammates. Dufty produced 40 try assists over the past two seasons and his ball-playing could be telling across the weekend.

Bernard Lewis (Roosters)

The Roosters have named a squad brimming with explosive backline talent, including a couple of rookies from last year in Latrell Mitchell and Joseph Manu who went on to become household names in the NRL. While Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck is the name most people will be drawn to, watch out for his NYC premiership-winning teammate Bernard Lewis. The winger finished 2016 as the club's leading try-scorer (19) and tallied the same number of line breaks to again lead the way for the Roosters. Lewis was a shining light for the Junior Maroons, scoring a hat-trick in a losing effort, and his speed and strength will be handy assets in Auckland.

Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers)

It's always hard to judge Holden Cup graduates when they come out of the under-20s, but there are no two ways about it with Esan Marsters; he will play first grade in 2017. Two destructive years in the second-row for the Tigers has him readied to make the step up to the NRL if called upon by Jason Taylor. The Junior Kiwis representative finished his NYC career with 24 tries from 39 appearances – fantastic numbers for an edge forward – and his ability to ball play has him well-suited to the Nines format.

Tyrone May (Panthers)

If speedy players are a dime a dozen in the Nines, then utility players are worth their weight in gold. Just look at Panthers young-gun Tyrone May. He played fullback, five-eighth, hooker, lock and back-row for the 2015 NYC premiers, before switching between lock and five-eighth last season. May finished as the Panthers' joint-leading try-scorer in 2015, and backed it up with a mixture of workmanlike and flashy performances last season to help his side to back-to-back grand finals. Capable of churning out tackles or setting up tries, May could be a key cog in Penrith's Nines assault.

Marcelo Montoya (Bulldogs)

Back-to-back years as the Bulldogs leading NYC try-scorer has Marcelo Montoya primed to fight his way into Canterbury's first-grade team in 2017. After failing to score in the first two rounds last season, Montoya crossed in 14 of his final 16 matches – including three doubles and a hat-trick – to finish the year with 19 tries. The winger was a shining light for the blue and whites last year and will be well supported in Auckland by last season's NYC Clubman of the Year, D'Rhys Miller.

Linc Port (Storm)

When your uncle is Cowboys legend Matt Bowen, chances are you're going to be pretty handy with a footy. The former Northern Pride speedster was snapped up by the Melbourne Storm's feeder team Easts Tigers, and after impressing coaching staff this pre-season, was rewarded with a spot in the club's training camp in Geelong. While fullback is his preferred spot, Port is comfortable on the wing where he was picked for the Queensland Residents last year. With fellow speedsters Josh Addo-Carr and Curtis Scott also in the Nines squad, don't be shocked to see the Storm outdo their final four effort from 2016.

Gehamat Shibasaki (Broncos)

Brisbane's endless assembly line of centres looks set to continue with Gehamat Shibasaki selected to make his Auckland Nines debut. The 18-year-old featured in all 24 of Brisbane's NYC games last season in the three-quarter line and represented the Junior Maroons in the under-20's State of Origin. Shibasaki produced impressive numbers in all the key areas, scoring 14 tries, producing 11 line breaks and averaging roughly 135 metres per game. He could have a field day in Auckland playing outside the likes of Anthony Milford, Darius Boyd and Benji Marshall.

 

[getsmarty]

Auckland Nines Preview
Fri 3rd February, 02:00PM
A A



The St George Illawarra Dragons will rely on both young and old at the Auckland Nines set to take place on February 4 and 5 at Eden Park.

The Dragons' 18-man squad will feature Tariq Sims and Jack de Belin as co-captains following Tyson Frizell's late withdrawal.

Sims and de Belin will be joined by fellow first-graders Will Matthews, Kurt Mann, Jacob Host and Joel Thompson, while Cameron McInnes and Nene Macdonald will don a Dragons jumper for the first time.

Euan Aitken will also 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 in every tournament since its inception.

Young halves Shaun Nona and Jai Field have also earned the chance to impress coach Paul McGregor following Drew Hutchison's unfortunate season-ending knee injury.

Fixtures:

February 4th –

Game 3: Dragons vs Eels at 10:50am (AEDT); 12:50pm (NZDT)

Game 11: Dragons v Sea Eagles at 2:45pm (AEDT); 4:45pm (NZDT)

February 5th –

Game 20: Dragons v Warriors at 9:50am (AEDT); 11:50am (NZDT)

Piha Pool Squads:

St George Illawarra Dragons – Patrick Herbert, Nene Macdonald, Euan Aitken, Levi Dodd, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Kurt Mann, Siliva Havili, Cameron McInnes, Luciano Leilua, Jacob Host, Joel Thompson, Jack de Belin (c), Tariq Sims (c), Taane Milne, Shaun Nona, Will Matthews, Matt Dufty, Jai Field.

Parramatta Eels – Corey Norman (c), Nathan Brown, Kenny Edwards, Jamal Fogarty, Bevan French, David Gower, Clint Gutherson, Josh Hoffman, George Jennings, Cameron King, Suaia Matagi, Tepai Moeroa, Marata Niukore, Scott Schulte, Rory O’Brien, Semi Radradra, Honeti Tuha, Joseph Ualesi, Troy Dargan.

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – Brenton Lawrence (c), Jonathan Wright, Brian Kelly, Akuila Uate, Jorge Taufua, Pita Godinet, Cameron Cullen, Peter Schuster, Tom Wright, Joey Lussick, Shaun Lane, Frank Winterstein, Jarrad Kennedy, Curtis Sironen, Addin Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau, Lloyd Perrett, Dylan Walker.

New Zealand Warriors – Ruben Wiki (c), Ryan Hoffman, Junior Pauga, Matt Allwood, Blake Ayshford, Ata Hingano, Solomone Kata, Shaun Johnson, Mason Lino, Bunty Afoa, James Gavet, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jazz Tevaga, Ofahiki Ogden, Lewis Soosemea, Toafofoa Sipley, Isaiah Papalii, James Bell.

News on Dragons' Nines squad:

McGregor: 'A mixture of youth and experience'

Dodd: Unexpected Call Up

Milne: Chasing Nines Redemption

Herbert Achieves Nines Goal

Matthews: Ready To Rumble

Faifai Loa Ready For Another Nines

Thompson Excited For Fortnight Ahead

High Performance Update: Auckland Nines

Sims, de Belin to captain Dragons at the Nines

Kiwi Dragons ready to star at home

Broadcast:

Television: Live on Fox Sports 2 from 9:30am (AUS), Sky Sports 1 (NZ)

Radio: Live on Triple M


http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2017/02/03/auckland_nines_previ.af_news.html

 

[possm]

Good Dragons squad. Can't wait until tomorrow to cheer them on.

 

[Dragon Revival]

Hopefully Head has coached them.

 

[2010]

Looking forward to tomorrow, been to long between drinks to see the team play

 

[getsmarty]

Sims happy to share as skipper

Mitch Jennings@@Mitch_Jenno

3 Feb 2017, 4:07 p.m.

Tariq Sims is happy to share the captaincy with Jack de Belin.

IT says a lot about the impact Tariq Sims has made at the Dragons that he’s been handed Auckland Nines’ captaincy duties, but the Gerringong product says he’s glad to be sharing the honour with club stalwart Jack de Belin.

The Country Origin representative pair were named co-captains of the Dragons squad for the Nines following the withdrawal of Tyson Frizell due to injury.

It’s reward for the leadership Sims has shown throughout the preseason since returning to what was his junior club before stints with Brisbane, North Queensland and Newcastle.

“It obviously gives you a lot of pride and joy to lead such a great club out and such a proud club as well,” Sims said.

“It’s something I've always wanted to re-do and to get the chance to do it with Jack is something I’ll hold pretty close to my chest. He’s been a great servant for the club and he’s going to be here for a long time so to share the role with such a quality player is really special.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4445976/sims-happy-to-share-as-skipper/?cs=3713

 

[RedVDave]

For anyone that wants to follow the action:

http://www.nrl.com/draw/aucklandnines/draw/tabid/11600/default.aspx

Sharks just got pumped by the Titans.

 

[OzDragon]

For anyone that wants to follow the action:

http://www.nrl.com/draw/aucklandnines/draw/tabid/11600/default.aspx

Sharks just got pumped by the Titans.

Aka the Steve Price influence

 

[twinkletoes]

Currently getting walloped by Eels 32-4...we're still a rabble

 

[Tuddy]

We are being totally outplayed. Parra are looking like a professional football team and we look like a rabble. If we can't play exciting football in the nines then God help us when we start playing with a full side.

That first try by Field looked great though.

 

[BigBoss]

How bad are we?? Field try looked amazing but other then that totally embarrassing.

Mary can't piss off soon enough.

 

[OzDragon]

1 out pass then hit up.

That's the best dopey could come up with for a game plan?

 

[getsmarty]

Currently getting walloped by Eels 32-4...we're still a rabble

So with Mary in charge, nothing has changed ? I didn't see the game...can anyone else elaborate.

 

[possm]

We looked a second rate side. Accept for Fields try we just looked useless.

 

[Alec's-saints]

sack McGregor now. i thought we had a good pre season.

 

[st.phil]

Same shit

 

[OzDragon]

So with Mary in charge, nothing has changed ? I didn't see the game...can anyone else elaborate.

Same old. Slow passing out wide, slow play the balls and no one backing up. Dufty was quiet but Field was impressive. Herbert limped off though.