It. Is looking like a close contest between NZ Warriors, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, Brisbane Broncos, Gold Coast Titans, and Wests Tigers.

It is a great fix of rugby league in the weekend leading up to Todd Carney's SL debut.

Pity no Catalans, Hull KR, Warrington and Leeds playing.

Yes,
I enjoyed last years event.

I have actually booked Monday off work to recover from the sleep dep

Agreed but different reasons.

If they were playing in the Auckland 9's they would be destroyed so waste of time.

If the SL/RFL had the gumption there would be the equivalent happening on these shores or say Catalans/ Barcelona for the weather.

Yes

Some clubs have rested their international players (e.g. Melbourne, North Queensland,) but NZ Warriors haven't, and Manly is using its star halves, as is Sydney Roosters.

The Storm didn't take it too seriously last year as i recall.

I will be in attendance......

No.

Party pooper!

This is a context in which the speed and footwork of the sublime Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Anthony Milford, plus Daly Cherry-Evans, and Mitchell Pearce, and the blistering pace of David Mead, Marika Koriobete, Tim Simona, and James Roberts, will come to the fore.

Dazzling tries from the maestros. It is a mistake to miss out on these games.

I have a gun and a shovel if you need somewhere to lie down for a while.....

Definitely watching as much of this as I can. Last year's tournament was brilliant, hoping for more of the same.

I'll be watching as much as I can, when I can.

NZW were the stand-out team last year but the unfancied NQC did the business when it mattered and the difference from them was their intensity in defence. Probably fairly open this time and any team could win that takes it seriously.

A guy to watch out for is Nathan Ross for the Newcastle Knights.
He is a 26 year old who got drafted from the Newcastle local comp into the NSW cup squad last year.
He only played half the season but topped the NSW cup in tackle breaks and scored at over a try a game.
In one game against Manly he made 16 tackle breaks, scored 4 tries and destroyed his opposite number, Clinton Gutherson, who is seen as a future star.

Anyway, he was given a second tier contract for this year and has quit his job as a coal miner and has been training hard since pretty much the day last season ended. He has put on 8kg and is now the strongest player at the Knights and second fastest behind Mamo and ahead of Uate. He sees the 9s as his chance to make a name for himself against big name players and has trained his off. His game is ideal for 9s. He is a smallish fullback with massive upper body strength that means he breaks the first tackle nearly every time, and once he makes a break, he has plenty of pace and loves to score a try.

He sounds like quite a player! I'll keep a look out for him

Action starts tonight comrades.

[urlhttp://www.premiersports.tv/rugby-league/nrl/[/url

At the airport now.......

If you're on MH370 do yourself a favour and have another couple of pints in the departure lounge.

Too soon!

Seriously impressed by the standard in the womens' game; one of the most exciting so far.

Been a great day one. Agreed the women's international was in the top 3 games.

Magic weekend so needs to change to a nines tournament!

Good idea.

Watched as much of Day 1 live as I could before falling asleep around 3am.

Got up and put the planner on for the repeat of the game and sat down to watch it unfold this afternoon....what happened to the second games in Warriors and Titans group ?

Apart from that, what a wonderful atmosphere and superb marketing exercise for both the game and tourism in Auckland. Can see it being hosted in Dubai and other places as a promotional vehicle for the game one day.

For me, Warren Smith is a far better caller than Voss. Loved the whole day and wanna be there in 2016.

Benji magic keeps the Dragons alive.

Tempoarily!!!

First scrum after about 20 games.

Nah no British involvement, perhaps if they expanded it to a World Nines, or maybe if, to assist RL in France we had a Catalan Nines?? With a the SL teams?

Watched from 8am on Sunday morning only to miss the final two quarter final games and both semi-final games. What were Premier Sports playing at they included the ladies international but cut out 4 knockout games during their transmission before showing the exciting final.