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20 take aways from the Nines

JB

 

There are articles floating around everywhere wrapping up the Auckland Nines. Who won, who lost, which young players looked good none of them take NRLCEO into account.

 

We’re a unique game so we need a unique wrap up.

 

  • Connor Watson will get the utility bench spot for the Roosters. It’s actually a travesty he won’t be playing in the #6 all year. Luke Keary will get first crack at that but he’ll need to hit the ground running or the Roosters “star” (very much inverted commas) signing will find himself playing for the Wyong Roos.

 

  • Jai Field will play first grade this year. At least 15 games total. Maybe not round one and his body is still very small to tackle first grade players on a regular basis but he’ll play a part. Josh McCrone will get first crack but scratch out the name Shaun Nona from the three man battle for the #7. He looked uninterested and will need to turn that attitude around to make the step up from NSW Cup.

 

  • Latrell Mitchell can definitely play centre if needed. He bumped off a number of would be defenders in wide one on one positions and fed Daniel Tupou a few tries on the left edge. The most likely scenario is that he starts on the wing, but the whole Roosters back five is interchangeable if needed.

 

  • Gideon Mosby-Gela will be a superstar, but will it be for the Cows? His tries were brilliant and his athleticism is the perfect fit for the modern game, but he’s still behind Antonio Winterstein, Kyle Feldt, Kalyn Ponga and Javid Bown in the pecking order.

 

  • Speaking of which, how the hell do you fit in Kalyn Ponga? The kid looked unstoppable in space. Sure his defence was still suspect, but if he can skip his contract early to play with the Knights he’ll fit right in!

 

  • Kane Linnett must be worried. He’s the only replaceable player in the Cows backline when they’re all fit and the list of names above proves that.

 

  • Brock Lamb showed maturity and guts for the Knights. If you’re getting deep into the left over five-eighth stocks he is worth a punt.

 

  • Brian Kelly looked good for Manly. He’s still young and raw but it’s highly possible he will partner Dylan Walker in the centres long term.

 

  • Jordan Turner looks a very solid pickup for the Raiders. Ran well with the ball in hand and not a bad distributor. A good back up for them to have and a decent late round pick in larger leagues, but don’t expect big minutes.

 

  • Cameron King will start for the Eels in the #9. Based on Brad Arthur’s preseason tactics, that means he’ll be one of the few hookers to play 80 minutes. Will you take a punt on his injury riddled body though?

 

  • James Tamou is in for a big year of running metres. There’s nothing better than watching a big prop in space and he looked pumped to be a part of the young squad.

 

  • Edrick Lee won’t play much first grade this year. He is on very thin ice – one slip and he’s gone. He has Eddie Aiono and Nic Cotric breathing down his neck and the NSW Cup 2016 top try scorer Kato Ottio due back around Round 6-8.

 

  • Ricky Stuart took the piss out of the tournament more than the Bulldogs but managed to get away from the media spotlight. At one point Blake Austin took the kick off and went straight off to leave the Mounties to represent the men in green.

 

  • Aaron Gray has injured his media ligament and is facing eight week on the sideline. This will likely see Michael’s brother Robert Jennings play Round 1-8 which is on a band aid solution.

 

  • The star of last year’s Nines Tournament, Corey Norman had a slight hamstring strain but he’ll be ok for Round 1.

 

  • Curtis Sironen actually can play. Who knew?

 

  • Brodie Croft is a name to watch in the future. Cronk has at least two more years in him but he’ll be a quality bye filler during Origin this season.

 

  • It’s not just the Nines that causes injuries. Valentine Holmes injured his leg in a trial in Brisbane.

 

  • People were excited to see Benji Marshall play but he didn’t get much game time before injuring his knee. A sign of things to come for the year?

 

  • I’m going to have to increase the character limit on the site when Dallin’s brother Malakai Watene-Zelezniak plays first grade!

 

Hope you enjoyed the Nines, but now it’s time for some serious drafting for the real thing!

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JB

A Founder of NRLCEO. Jamie spends far more time on running the site than his own team and is therefore a perennial struggler, much to the delight of his mates. He is a former Bears, now Raiders tragic. A rangy lock who avoided running the ball at all costs, he once tackled (flopped on) John Hopoate. Web geek by day, web geek by night.
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JB

A Founder of NRLCEO. Jamie spends far more time on running the site than his own team and is therefore a perennial struggler, much to the delight of his mates. He is a former Bears, now Raiders tragic. A rangy lock who avoided running the ball at all costs, he once tackled (flopped on) John Hopoate. Web geek by day, web geek by night.