Punishment for poor nines squads

[watcher]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. The writing is on the wall. Melbourne and Brisbane are preparing bids to take over the nines tournament. As such the NRL, who don't give a flying f>>k about anything other than Aussie will turn a blind eye to the squads selected. When the nines is in Aussie watch them toughen up then. It is basically a mechanism to run down Auckland's popularity for the event by allowing no names.

If you think this is paranoia please explain why 17 of 19 (I think) ANZAC tests have been played in Aussie.

 

[joshie]

I agree with OP, they should just scrap the NRL and make it a Nines Circuit.

 

[POPEYE]

As a 50+ year devotee to Rugby League I hope the Nines goes gangbusters, just as Origin had to be expanded. Don't particularly care if elite NRL players disappear from the format altogether if it means good players, and there are plenty of them, get a chance to impress NRL clubs

Unlike Origin which is carcinogenic to the Premiership the Nines should be complimentary. I would have no problem with Origin being made obsolete if it's place was taken by a comp that produced more Premiership players rather than exhaust the best we already have

 

[Canard]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. The writing is on the wall. Melbourne and Brisbane are preparing bids to take over the nines tournament. As such the NRL, who don't give a flying f>>k about anything other than Aussie will turn a blind eye to the squads selected. When the nines is in Aussie watch them toughen up then. It is basically a mechanism to run down Auckland's popularity for the event by allowing no names.

If you think this is paranoia please explain why 17 of 19 (I think) ANZAC tests have been played in Aussie.

Because, I understand the 9's is a privately organised event with a 5 year contract in place.

You've been reading to much of that ice addicts posts.

 

[Noname36]

i always love the argument about how player could get injured in a trial game or training, so why is the 9's any different

You could get hit by a car any day of the week. Doesnt mean you go walk across busy roads without looking does it?

Trials and training a necessary evil to ensure your team is match fit for NRL games, y'know the games that matter.
9's is an unnecessary evil and those teams wishing to protect their star players from suffering serious injuries for a unnecessary evil should have the right to do so. Coaches livelihoods are on the line, at the end of a season when a team has under performed and the coach faces the music, it helps him little to point to a vital player who missed 3 months of the year because of an injury sustained in the 9's.

These guys have a job to do, it's to win an NRL premiership. If they feel their best chance to do that is phone this mickey mouse comp in, so be it.

For starters, do you really think coaches don't treat the Nines as a trial? I can guarantee you that if a coach sees players in the Nines that can't keep up with it he's going to know that they're down on fitness...something that would be quite invaluable to know while there's still a good chunk of training time left - as opposed to a 20 minute run in a trial 2 weeks before the season starts. Alternatively, if he has a kid in his squad that absolutely kills in he'll pay attention and may even consider him for FG.

Secondly by your logic Origin, City/Country, test matches and the All Stars are all unnecessary evils to the main competition and we should do away with them as well. Remember that the concept of Origin was laughed at when it first started. Now it's the pinnacle of our game, is watched by many that aren't even regular league fans, and has grown interest in the game significantly in Australia and all around the world.

But sure, let's not bother trialling other concepts like the Nines that could potentially help grow the game too. Let's just sit back and congratulate the clubs that treat any new attempt to grow the game with distain and then sit around wondering why Soccer and the AFL keep growing at rapid rates while the NRL stays stagnant.

 

[Parra]

. What do clubs gain from nsw or Qland winning origin? Nothing, arguably that competition is far more detrimental to a clubs season. Are you suggesting clubs should withhold their players from origin?

Why not? All the club gets is a weakened squad as a reward for their success. And origin attempts to be the pinnacle of the sport, supplanting the club premiership. It is nothing more than a few mid-season exhibition matches that mean nothing - put on for QLD's benefit as their local comp was several grades lower than the NSWRL.

 

[Canard]

Why not? All the club gets is a weakened squad as a reward for their success. And origin attempts to be the pinnacle of the sport, supplanting the club premiership. It is nothing more than a few mid-season exhibition matches that mean nothing - put on for QLD's benefit as their local comp was several grades lower than the NSWRL.

Take that trolling BS to another thread.

Don't feed the troll people

 

[umina panther]

Parra has a point


For once

 

[unforgiven]

For starters, do you really think coaches don't treat the Nines as a trial? I can guarantee you that if a coach sees players in the Nines that can't keep up with it he's going to know that they're down on fitness...something that would be quite invaluable to know while there's still a good chunk of training time left - as opposed to a 20 minute run in a trial 2 weeks before the season starts. Alternatively, if he has a kid in his squad that absolutely kills in he'll pay attention and may even consider him for FG.

Secondly by your logic Origin, City/Country, test matches and the All Stars are all unnecessary evils to the main competition and we should do away with them as well. Remember that the concept of Origin was laughed at when it first started. Now it's the pinnacle of our game, is watched by many that aren't even regular league fans, and has grown interest in the game significantly in Australia and all around the world.

But sure, let's not bother trialling other concepts like the Nines that could potentially help grow the game too. Let's just sit back and congratulate the clubs that treat any new attempt to grow the game with distain and then sit around wondering why Soccer and the AFL keep growing at rapid rates while the NRL stays stagnant.

No the 9's are not a genuine trial for an NRL club, the main benefit from a trial is a chance to see how the structures, strategies and playing style that have been put in place are progressing against an external opponent.

 

[Bronco Rob]

You have to give the concept a change to grow.

No one is saying it's the be all and end all of football....

The NRL has stumbled on to a pre-season event that has the capacity to:
- brings in over 100,000 people over 2 days
- provides players with extra money
- make money for the actual game
- GROWS THE GAME!!!
- provide positive headlines for the game in a time when it traditionally doesn't provide positive news.

And you want to potentially throw that away because a bunch of self serving coaches can't look beyond there own situations??

And people wonder why guys like Sam Burgess and SBW leave the game to play in the RU World Cup.

Spot on Shiznit and this is what frustrates me about key stakeholders who treat it with contempt. The 9's has the chance to be a huge money spinner that could be auctioned around the world which not only brings in money but globalised corporate sponsorship and exposure of the league itself.

I know it's fairly radical but what about if there was actual points up for grabs as well as the prizemoney. 4 competition points for the winner and 2 for the runner-up and maybe even 1 point for the semi-finalists? This would ensure that the tournament's credibility is maintained and that clubs would sent their strongest squads possible?

 

[Bronco Rob]

As a 50+ year devotee to Rugby League I hope the Nines goes gangbusters, just as Origin had to be expanded. Don't particularly care if elite NRL players disappear from the format altogether if it means good players, and there are plenty of them, get a chance to impress NRL clubs

Unlike Origin which is carcinogenic to the Premiership the Nines should be complimentary. I would have no problem with Origin being made obsolete if it's place was taken by a comp that produced more Premiership players rather than exhaust the best we already have

I oddly feel the same, I just can't get into SOO as I used to.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Spot on Shiznit and this is what frustrates me about key stakeholders who treat it with contempt. The 9's has the chance to be a huge money spinner that could be auctioned around the world which not only brings in money but globalised corporate sponsorship and exposure of the league itself.

I know it's fairly radical but what about if there was actual points up for grabs as well as the prizemoney. 4 competition points for the winner and 2 for the runner-up and maybe even 1 point for the semi-finalists? This would ensure that the tournament's credibility is maintained and that clubs would sent their strongest squads possible?

And just further to that idea, have the 9's 2 weeks before the season proper start?

 

[Cloudsurfer]

Spot on Shiznit and this is what frustrates me about key stakeholders who treat it with contempt. The 9's has the chance to be a huge money spinner that could be auctioned around the world which not only brings in money but globalised corporate sponsorship and exposure of the league itself.

I know it's fairly radical but what about if there was actual points up for grabs as well as the prizemoney. 4 competition points for the winner and 2 for the runner-up and maybe even 1 point for the semi-finalists? This would ensure that the tournament's credibility is maintained and that clubs would sent their strongest squads possible?

Because it's not the NRL competition - all of you thinking it magically has a place in it after one go are dreaming. I'd like it to succeed too but if you look at union 7s it exists very successfully outside of the regular comp - at grassroots everyone plays it but at higher levels the players choose 7s over the 15s or vice versa (if they get the nod either way).

A lot of people in NZ are going to watch the whole thing because it's a chance to watch action-packed league - the star pull isn't the be all & end all. But it can help when you're trying to build something...

What I'd like to see is the Clubs who can't play some stars for different reasons still having to send over a couple for the fans mix & meet etc - be there the whole time (its just a couple of seats on the plane & 2 days) - there's a lot of people who would be excited/ satisfied to see a couple of star players from each club walking around the grounds or handing out promotional stuff - no-play maybe doesn't have to mean no-show

 

[Blues Riff]

Yep,Jamie Soward mingling with a pissed up hoard of Kiwis. They'd welcome him with open arms :lol:

 

[Walt Flanigan]

I like the nines but it's just a sideshow and I don't think clubs should feel obliged to field their strongest possible team just weeks from round 1.

 

[maple_69]

So while we're in the business of fining and deducting points from clubs who don't do their duties towards growing the game, should we slap Easts, Cronulla, Manly etc with fines for the last several decades for their non efforts at actually contributing some talent to the game?

 

[AJB1102]

So while we're in the business of fining and deducting points from clubs who don't do their duties towards growing the game, should we slap Easts, Cronulla, Manly etc with fines for the last several decades for their non efforts at actually contributing some talent to the game?

No contractual obligation to NRL franchises to provide X amount of talent to the competition, so the answer is no.

I feel dirty defending them but to say Manly hasn't contributed talent in the last decade is rubbish.

 

[nick87]

No the 9's are not a genuine trial for an NRL club, the main benefit from a trial is a chance to see how the structures, strategies and playing style that have been put in place are progressing against an external opponent.

Nailed it.

 

[betcats]

I dont mind Penrith sending an inexperienced team, gives us an early look at some of the younger guys and protects our more valuable players from injury.It would be nice to be competitive but it is just a glorified trial game. Even if every team sent squads similar to Penrith or Melbournes it would produce some entertaining games, but obviosuly the NRL want the attraction of some big names.

 

[TheVelourFog]

I like the nines but it's just a sideshow and I don't think clubs should feel obliged to field their strongest possible team just weeks from round 1.

Agree

Either they increase the importance by upping the prize-money or accept that not every team wants to risk its players