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The Auckland Nines is back once again for it’s fourth instalment. An exciting weekend of rugby league that is jammed full of highlights that even the most casual viewer would enjoy. OTLS is previewing each and every team and their chances of taking the trophy home.
Canberra Raiders
Squad: Zac Santo, Eddie Aiono, Thomas Cronan, Brent Naden, Nick Cotric, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer, Dunamis Lui, Adam Clydsdale, Jeff Lima (c), Luke Bateman, Scott Sorensen, Jordan Turner, Paul Roache, Mark McCormack, Anthony Moraitis, Makahesi Makatoa, Topi Tafua
Pool Prediction: 4th
The Raiders have selected a fairly weak and inexperienced side that will be lucky to win a game let alone get out of the group stage, with their best chance of a victory probably against the Roosters. Ricky Stuart would be taking no chances with his squad as they prepare to seriously challenge for the 2017 NRL premiership.
Key Player: Blake Austin
Can Austin carry the Raiders all on his own ?
Blake Austin will be shouldered with play making duties along with fellow half Aiden Sezer however the Nines are more suited to Austin’s attacking style. Much of the Raiders attack will start with Austin to create as many gaps for the young outside backs to run into.
Breakout Player: Nick Cotric
Only 18 years of age, Cotric has set the world alight in the junior grades and will be eager to make a good impression in his first professional outing for Canberra. Having represented both NSW and Australia at either fullback or in the centres, Cotric will certainly be one to watch for the future.
Tournament Prediction: Group Stage
As previously stated, the Raiders will most likely head back to Canberra winless. Taking only six recognised players from their top 25 with just two of those in the regular team, it’s a little underwhelming from the men in green. Particularly with the type of talent they’ve left home, the Nines are the perfect stage to showcase the attacking game style the Raiders are known for. Of course, Canberra have their sights set for something much more glamorous
North Queensland Cowboys
Squad: John Asiata, Javid Bowen, Gavin Cooper (c), Kyle Feldt, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Jake Granville, Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Shaun Hudson, Corey Jensen, Kane Linnett, Ethan Lowe, Michael Morgan, Justin O’Neill, Kalyn Ponga, Jason Taumalolo, Johnathan Thurston, Shane Wright.
Pool Prediction: 1st
The Cowboys have named almost a full strength line up that includes nine players regularly found in their starting 13. The North Queensland side should breeze through all of their pool games finishing on top and could break some records along the way.
Key Player: Johnathan Thurston
Thurston will lead the Cowboys to their second Nines trophy.
Who else was it going to be ? Thurston is a legend of the game, a master at getting himself or team mates through defensive lines and will find the more open spaces of the Nines like playing fifa on amateur mode. A big contender for the MVP of the weekend.
Breakout Player: Gideon Gela-Mosby
So technically Gela-Mosby has already had a “breakout”, especially after last years performance at the Nines. A regular try scorer in the Holden Cup (he crossed over a record 39 times in 2015), Gela-Mosby has moved on into the senior 25 man team and will be wanting to break into the Cowboys back five. Regarded as one of the fastest players in the NRL, we’re betting he’ll be on the receiving end of quite a few passes over the weekend.
Tournament Prediction: Champions
In our previous article reviewing the Broncos, we predicted they would become champions however that was before we got to see the Cowboys name their squad. A meeting between the two clubs seems destined in the semi final stage and it should be a cracker, the winner will go on to win the final and on paper that looks to be the Cowboys.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Squad: Angus Crichton, Damien Cook, Bryson Goodwin, Aaron Gray, Zane Musgrove, Siosifa Talakai, Tyrell Fuimaono, Braidon Burns, Kyle Turner, Alex Johnston, Anthony Cherrington, Cody Walker, Hymel Hunt, Robert Jennings, Thomas Burgess, Robbie Rochow, Cam Murray, Dave Tyrell.
Pool Prediction: 2nd
A win over the Raiders and a loss to the Cowboys means the only thing standing between the Rabbitohs and advancing to the quarter final is their most hated rivals… The Sydney Roosters. That game will be close to call but we think it’ll come down to the halves and we rate Cody Walker higher than Mitch Cornish to get the job done for the Bunnies.
Key Player: Cody Walker
Walker has a big task ahead of him.
Without Reynolds, Walker has now been thrust into the key role of play maker and it’ll be up to him to direct the team around the park. A late bloomer, Walker only debuted last year at the age of 26 after a run of troublesome injuries and will be keen to make up for lost time.
Breakout Player: Robert Jennings
Playing only five games for the Panthers, Jennings has switched to the Souths for more opportunity. Another Jennings off the rack of the rugby league family, Robert is bigger in size than his brothers. Standing at 192 cm and weighing 102 kg, combined with his genetic speed, he’s a dangerous weapon to have on the fringes.
Tournament Prediction: Quarter Finals
Souths had named one of the stronger sides for this tournament and it looked as if they could have gone deep into the knockouts however upon Adam Reynolds withdrawing, the Souths don’t look as dangerous as before. If they can manage to snare a spot to the quarterfinals, they’ll most likely face a tough Broncos outfit that will bundle them out quicker than it begins.
Sydney Roosters
Squad: Connor Watson, Daniel Tupou, Dale Copley, Latrell Mitchell, Joseph Manu, Paul Momirovski, Mitchell Cornish, Issac Liu, Paul Carter, Kane Evans, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Aubusson (c), Aiden Guerra, Chris Smith, Zane Tetevano, Brendan Frei, Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, Bernard Lewis.
Pool Prediction: 3rd
The Sydney Roosters have been on the back foot before the tournament began ever since they announced they were wearing that ocean blue jersey with the Bondi Pavilion on the front. It’s not the worst jersey we’ve seen but it’s not doing anyone any favours. Besides that… The Roosters have named a talented but youthful and mostly inexperienced side that just won’t quite be good enough to make it through to the next stage.
Key Player: Daniel Tupou
Tupou’s own performances have suffered from the Roosters decline in form, which lead to him being dropped from the NSW squad in 2016 and he’ll want to bounce back hard in 2017. Tupou’s height makes him lethal under the high ball on the goal line and when in form is one of the NRL’s top wingers. If Sydney are to do well, it’ll come down to how he plays.
Breakout Player: Johnny Tuivasa-Scheck
A similar player to his brother, Johnny is tad shorter but bigger in size however remains deceptively quick. A premiership winner with the Roosters under 20’s side in 2016, Tuivasa-Scheck 2.0 will be eager to break into the senior side and find more success.
Tournament Prediction: Group Stage
Hopefully we only have to see this three times before it’s a distant memory.
Predicted to soar back into the NRL top eight after a disappointing 2016 season, the Roosters have left a lot of their more senior players back home, most notably their entire spine. Whilst sending over a talented group of youngsters, they just lack the competitive edge needed to win games that are on the line. If they were to send the same group over in twelve months time, it’d be a different story.
Written By Mitchell McGuinness
Image Sources:
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