Pool: Piha Pool (Manly, Parramatta, New Zealand, St George Illawarra)
Squad: Ruben Wiki (c), Ryan Hoffman, Junior Pauga, Matt Allwood, Blake Ayshford, Ata Hingano, Solomone Kata, Shaun Johnson, Mason Lino, Bunty Afoa, James Gavet, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jazz Tevaga, Ofahiki Ogden, Lewis Soosemea, Toafofoa Sipley, Isaiah Papalii, James Bell
Games
vs Manly Sea Eagles (11:15AM Feb 4 AEDT)
vs Parramatta Eels (3:10PM Feb 4 AEDT)
vs St George Illawarra Dragons (9:50AM Feb 5 AEDT)
Ruben Wiki comes out of retirement at the ripe old age of 44 to lead the Warriors once again, with the big man trimming down ahead of the tournament. Shaun Johnson returns for his fourth Nines tournament but will be the only member of New Zealand’s spine to grace the field on the weekend.
RELATED: Click here to see the 2017 Auckland Nines jerseys!
Tui Lolohea, Ata Hingano and Mason Lino all go head to head in the battle to become the club’s backup half, with recruit Kieran Foran’s one-year contract yet to be registered by the NRL a month out from Round 1. While Lolohea has experience in the role, he has spent the entirety of the pre-season training either on the wing or in the centres, leaving Hingano and Lino as the front-runners.
Despite thirteen players in the squad having NRL experience, the team is one of the weakest Nines squads the Warriors have named in the tournament’s four-year history. Yet one thing the Kiwi club has always managed to succeed in at the Nines is the unearthing of talent, with Solomone Kata, Lolohea and Hingano all starring in the two-day tournament before making their NRL debut.
Who To Watch: Shaun Johnson. Is there any other candidate? The man was made for nine-a-side football and could step his way through a minefield. Gifted with blinding speed, Johnson is also blessed with a clever kicking game while his no-look passing game able to fool the most adept defender. You can shortlist Johnson for the MVP title the second he’s named in the squad, no reason he can’t excel again in 2017.
RELATED: Click here to see the 2017 Auckland Nines squads!
Why They Can Win: Once again, Shaun Johnson. If there’s any player you want in a Nines team, it’s him. But he’s not the only attacking weapon. Kata earned his Kiwi debut in the Four Nations, while Lolohea is another attacking weapon in the squad. Couple that with the experience of Ruben Wiki and Ryan Hoffman, and you’ve got yourself contenders for the title.
Why They Can’t Win: Pressure. Being the home team, the Warriors head into the tournament every year with the highest expectations of any team. And pressure isn’t something the team has handled well in recent years, failing to make the NRL Finals since 2011. Also, last year’s Nines squad featured Johnson along with internationals Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Isaac Luke and Manu Vatuvei. It’s hard to imagine them topping that effort, especially without those big name stars.
Prediction: The Warriors certainly have a squad capable of progressing deep into the tournament, with Johnson sure to star again. Despite the strong squad, it’s hard to see the Warriors taking out the big prize without Luke and ‘RTS’, but the controlling hand of Kieran Foran could be the biggest absence of all. The Warriors are simply too raw to win it, but they’ll give the tournament a big shake.