National Rugby League side Penrith Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher labeled the Auckland Nines preseason competition an "unnecessary risk to players ahead of its fourth edition in New Zealand, starting Saturday," according to the AAP. Fletcher: "We have A$8 million ($6M) worth of footballers we want to win the (NRL) comp with, not a Nines." He questioned the competition's "value to stars whose off-season break was shortened by representative duties, including last year's end-of-season Four Nations." Fletcher "was also concerned by the impact on players who have been recovering from injury" in the preseason. He said that a series of trial matches, rather than the Nines, "was better preparation for the NRL season." Fletcher: "Do we need to be there? The answer is 'no.' I think you simply don't need the Nines. What benefit does the Nines have on our season?'' This year's competition on Feb. 4-5 will see rugby league players Jarryd Hayne, Jack Bird and Semi Radradra compete, "but a host of other prominent players will sit it out" (AAP, 1/31).
MOVING TO MELBOURNE?: In Sydney, Phil Rothfield reported the NRL "is looking to take the Nines tournament to Melbourne to cash in" on the tourism generated by the Australian Open. The Auckland Nines contract expires next year and the Victorian government is "already bidding to host" the '19 event. It would be played the week after the Australian Open final at AAMI Stadium. Other venues to be considered are Gold Coast, Townsville -- when the new stadium is completed -- Newcastle and Suncorp Stadium. Perth "is also seen as a great opportunity for future events." Clearly the interest in the tournament in Auckland "was huge in year one but has been waning ever since" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 1/30).
