The 2017 Auckland Nines draw has been announced with the event to be again held at Eden Park in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of February.
Last year’s winners Parramatta will face Manly-Warringah, St George Illawarra and sentimental favourites the Warriors in Piha while Jarryd Hayne’s Gold Coast Titans come up against defending NRL premiers Cronulla in in the Waiheke pool.
Johnathan Thurston and North Queensland will have a battle on their hands in Hunua where they’ve been pitted against the rising Canberra Raiders, South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters.
Wests Tigers and Newcastle have it all to do in their pool against competition heavyweights Melbourne and Brisbane. Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall may also come up against his old club in his first appearance as a Bronco.
@wadegraham17 @RyanHoffman12 and #BodeneThompson welcomed by Haka performed by Mountain View Primary students.#NRLAKL9s pic.twitter.com/FHXaWgOZMl
— NRL Auckland Nines (@NRLAKL9s) November 16, 2016
Hunua
Canberra Raiders
North Queensland Cowboys
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sydney Roosters
Rangitoto
Brisbane Broncos
Melbourne Storm
Newcastle Knights
Wests Tigers
Just announced – we will be in the Rangitoto Pool for the #NRLAKL9s! pic.twitter.com/mO0qPlm6E8
— Brisbane Broncos (@brisbanebroncos) November 16, 2016
We have been drawn in the Rangitoto Pool for the #NRLAKL9s. See you in Feb @NRLKnights, @WestsTigers and @brisbanebroncos! #purplepride pic.twitter.com/CxjpFV5P8N
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) November 16, 2016
Piha
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Parramatta Eels
St George Illawarra Dragons
Warriors
Waiheke
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Gold Coast Titans
Penrith Panthers