Auckland Nines IN PROGRESS

[Futtocks]

The conversion attempts so far have been embarrassingly poor.

[Futtocks]

Garcia getting some time on the pitch for the Panthers, and looking full of enthusiasm.

[Futtocks]

Next up, the man with the weight of his country on his shoulders, Shaun Johnson.

[Futtocks]

It's only the NZ Prime Minister in the studio! That's a sign of the event's status.

[MamaKangaroo]

Wow. An actual conversion there!

[Futtocks]

34 unanswered points for the Warriors, after going 2 tries down.

[Futtocks]

All the round 1 matches done - bring on the Ferns and the Jillaroos!

 

I think I'll have to go to bed after that, what with it being 3 in the morning...

[Graham]

Early games in Day 1 being shown now on Premier Sports. Coverage of Day 1 continues now until 2:30pm

[Graham]

The Knights' jersey is awful.

Perhaps there's to much close up detail on them but in the long shots at least the kits in the early games don't look as good as last year.

[Graham]

Like look of Storm's young addition Curtis Scott

[Graham]

Recommend a haircut or styling JT

[Graham]

Auckland 9's Day 1

Results:

1. Roosters 13 Rabbitohs 14
   
2. Eels 4 Storm 14
   
3. Knight 12 Cowboys 28
   
4. Panthers 23 Tigers 7
   
5. Warriors 34 Bulldogs 8
   
6. Eagles 11 Broncos 8
   
7. Dragons 20 Raiders 28
   
8. Sharks 23 Titans 12
   
9. Roosters 11 Eels 18
   
10. Rabbitohs 12 Storm 18
    
11. Knights 15 Pathers 14
    
12. Cowboys 12 Tigers 13
    
13. Warriors 12 Sea Eagles 15
    
14. Bulldogs 15 Broncos 13
    
15. Dragons 8 Sharks 17
    
16. Raiders 15 Titans 26
    
17. 
    

[Graham]

 

Auckland 9s Kits 2016

[Graham]

Quarter finalists:

Storm

Warriors

Eels

Eagles

Titans Raiders

Cowboys 

Knights

 

Semi Finalists:

Storm 

Warriors

Eels

Titans

 

Final

Eels 22 - 4 Warriors

 

9's Winners 2016

Parramatta Eels

[Graham]

Having got to the final the Warriors had to be favourites to win... but they didn't!

Risking Shaun Johnson in this tournament could have proved just that - a risk too far.

He limped off the pitch in the final

Corey Norman was named player of the tournament.

 

Was it just me, or did this tournament not have quite the spark of last season?

The weather on Day 2 certainly picked up.

The success of this tournament is the way that good young talent gets to be shown.

[Graham]

Oh happy day

[Graham]

Do your own club!

STORM

Star: Blake Green. The five-eighth picked up right where left off on Day 1, again producing another solid display. Kicking his second 40-20 of the competition, their Nines skipper led the boys around the park with authority. Green has shut down any talk of Cameron Munster possibly slotting into the halves with two dominant days.

Flop: No flops today, not even in the tackle.

Young gun: Brodie Croft. The Storm’s NYC halfback, Croft was 18th man for the under 20s State of Origin last year. A playmaker with confidence, the little general backed himself with a number of chip and chases, while his vision and long passing game showed a lot of potential.

Key moment: Cameron Munster was carried from the field with a knee injury during their clash with the Cowboys. He’s expected to miss two-three weeks with a medial strain and missed their next match with the Eels.

[JimBronco]

Blake Green worthy of a starting spot in your 5/8 position? Averaged around 53 points last season. Just not sure if he can get that average up to 60+ to be considered. Could be a good POD option. 

[Graham]

He's not in my team as it stands - which is very fluid - just as there are other oprtions.

 

Blake Green  5/8   $340,700

 

He's not only settled in at Melbourne, but is being given responsiblility and is relishing being there.

 

Average in that position for season ahead if it were to be 50+, or even 60+, hopefully, would make him worth considering seriously.

He's not a gun but he's not cheap so he'd be a bit of a gamble which has a good chance of coming off I reckon.

The middle and upper priced players are one's I'm generally wary of.