Auckland Nines

[Danish]

On top of the veterans, how good would a team of amateurs (pay to enter tryouts with a team then picked on merit), or a couple auctioned off squad spots to fans go?

Those 2 random fans who got to play in the origin legends game were basically the highlight of the evening. The bald fella for the blues for scoring a try and the fat bloke for qld for getting sat on his arse and just coming back for more :lol:

Seriously why on earth would we want a 9s tournament to be a boring serious comp?

 

[cleary89]

no thanks. fitler and a few others who are still up to it yes, amatuers no.

 

[cooko]

Coming from another perspective, the roosters will be without a few players who are injured (Jennings, Cordner, RTS) so having someone with Freddy's experience is likely to help them through the nines.

We'll be struggling to have a top notch squad so I say play him. It'll be at the expense of a 20s player so it can't be a bad decision.

If other teams chose to play a former legend then it can only be good.

 

[beave]

There should be a legends side. Each club nominates a willing ex player to form a legends side.

And maybe even a villains side. My nomination for Captain/coach of that side is one C.Webb.......

That's if he's not too busy being a boxer/pie eating comp

 

[_snafu_]

Tawera Nikau

I reckon he'd be legless.

 

[umina panther]

Benji for the Tigpies

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Can we get Joey back playing in Knights colours???

 

[umina panther]

Surely not with his neck.

Imo it should be taken as a serious competition where we get to see the 20's stars mix it with the NRL players

 

[Cumberland Throw]

This could be a slippery slope.

Can see this turning into dad's army

 

[Usain Bolt]

Bring back the Crushers and make Mario Fenech captain

 

[BranVan3000]

Craig Field would kill it the Rabbitohs

 

[Canard]

Surely not with his neck.

Imo it should be taken as a serious competition where we get to see the 20's stars mix it with the NRL players

Which it will likely be, how serious can a "reduced" numbers game be though?

This could be a slippery slope.

Can see this turning into dad's army

Slight overreaction?

 

[Danish]

Surely not with his neck.

Imo it should be taken as a serious competition where we get to see the 20's stars mix it with the NRL players

A serious competition.... But with 20s players?

No player is going to take this seriously. It's a nines comp for a start, its a preseason warm up for a second, and the prize money - while it seems lucrative to us normals, only accounts for really $5-10k per player (you'd assume the club will keep some, and the money will get split amongst the entire top 25 rather than just the people who play).

IMO Freddy and other legends if they sign up will take it more seriously than any of the current NRL players

 

[Rod]

The clubs wouldn't let just any old former player run around when there's half a mill at stake.

Someone like Fittler or Lockyer could possibly provide something on-field but those kind of situations where the old bloke would be more useful than a quick u20's or NSW Cup half would be reasonably rare.

 

[CC_Roosters]

i am against fittler taking part, could be slippery slop as the clubs can use it as a precedence to bring in ring-ins instead of their top 25 which would turn the event into a farce. And knowing the NRL clubs are goverened by self interest at the best of times, its a big NO from me

 

[cleary89]

12 out of 15 have to come from top 25. So for you math wizards, there can be 3 from outside the top 25. I'd rather see Brad Fitler than Alex Thomas and I'm sure most would too.

I don't get this slippery slope stuff, let them play 3 shit old players if they want.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I think it's a fantastic idea. Creates a different kind of interest. And I always loved watching Freddy play.

 

[Paullyboy]

It's very clever from a marketing perspective.

And given they are forced to play 12 top line players in their squad as it is, I don't think there is any risk of it becoming a farce. And even if it did somehow become pointless, it's not like we'd lose something of value given it's an inaugural event anyway.

 

[Cena]

Each team should be allowed one legend Fittler,Johns,Lockyer etc.

 

[league]

Seriously would love to see Mundine play this.
Would absolutely kill it imo.