Anthony Watmough, Sam Burgess, Paul Gallen and Todd Carney at the Launch of the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
PLAYER burnout isn't the only issue for NRL coaches to consider ahead of the inaugural Auckland Nines with players at risk of missing the start of the season if they commit an act of foul play during the tournament.
The Nines concept took a major step towards a reality in New Zealand yesterday at the announcement of the official rules that all 16 NRL clubs will be governed by when the tournament kicks off on February 15-16.
The $2.6m tournament will be used a test case for new rules such as 'golden try' replacing 'golden point' extra time and only one on-field referee, while the Nines will also see the return of the sin bin.
But with concerns, led by Test captain Cameron Smith and premiershp-winning coach Craig Bellamy, over scheduling and the length of the NRL season, just which players are made available for the Nines remains the biggest question for organisers and fans.
It is also a dilemma for coaches after confirmation from the NRL yesterday that any act of foul play during the Nines will be analysed under the microscope of a match review committee.
Carry-over points will also carry over into the NRL season.
Cam King , Braith Anasta , Sam Burgess , Anthony Watmough , Paul Gallen with local junior league players at the Launch of the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines. Source: News Limited
"If players transgress within the Nines tournament they can be potentially suspended within the Nines or further into the NRL competition for more serious misconduct,'' NRL football operations manager Nathan McGuirk said yesterday.
"The vast majority of things we hope will be dealt within the tournament.
"But more serious misconduct can be dealt potentially within the NRL competition.''
Each NRL club is required to send 16 players for the tournament with at least 75 per cent (12 players) of each squad made up of from the club's top-25 squad.
Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter has already declared his club would be going all out to claim the inaugural Nines title while current and former internationals including Australia's Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday and Willie Mason are already committed to the tournament. England's Sam Tomkins and New Zealand's Shaun Johnson are also certain starters.
England and Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins is a certain starter at the Nines tournament. Source: Getty Images
Former Test prop Steve Price conceded he understood the fine line between supporting the tournament and player welfare but claimed the Nines was a concept he would love to be a part of.
"That's my biggest, not concern, but I suppose question - on who is coming?,'' Price said.
"If it was me personally, I'd look forward to it. It's a fun way to do some pre-season training.
"You've got a weekend of fast, fanatical football. Realistically you're probably only going to play four or five minutes in a half. You're not going to play the whole nine minutes (of each half).
"Leading into the season I think it could be a great freshen up, as a player I'd be looking forward to it.''
While McGuirk said that the Nines 'golden try' extra time rule would be assessed for the purpose of possible introduction to the NRL depending on how it was received, Price claimed the decision to axe the "negative golden point' was a no-brainer for the 2014 season.
"I just think its really negative, you're just setting up for field position or going for a penalty goal or field goal, that's not what footy is about,'' Price said of the current golden point model.
"The refs don't give penalties in golden point, everyone is offside. I'd love to see golden try when everyone is exhausted to promote the footy a little bit and challenge each other.
"That would be a good direction for the game to go in.''
Nines event organiser David Higgins will present a detailed preview of the Nines at today's NRL chief executive conference in Sydney today.
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