Nines: Big bonus to bring big names

Issac Luke celebrates with the Rabbitohs after winning this year's Auckland Nines. Photo / Dean Purcell

Nines organisers are aiming to stump up a $1 million bonus next year for any club that can win both the nines and NRL premiership in one season.

Duco Events are in talks with the NRL about offering clubs an additional financial incentive to win next year's nines tournament at Eden Park over Waitangi weekend and the NRL premiership in the same calendar year.

Duco chief executive Martin Snedden said the bonus prizemoney was aimed at raising the intensity of competition among clubs to win the nines and would increase public interest around the winning team's chances of going on to complete the double by winning the NRL grand final.

With $2.6 million in prizemoney already on offer, the bonus payment will provide clubs with greater incentive to commit their best players and field their top teams at the Nines.

Clubs are already required to include at least one of their top five paid players and 12 of their top 25, but the lure of added reward should see an increase in the number of big names attending.

The Warriors are expected to field a strong team with the likes of new recruits Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as well as halfback Shaun Johnson, who plans to make his return from injury at the tournament.

Both the Cowboys and Rabbitohs have won both the nines and NRL title in close proximity but neither managed it in a calendar year.

"Statistically, it would be bloody difficult," Snedden said. "You only have to look at the NRL competition to realise how tough it is.

"The Rabbitohs actually won both of them in the space of four months, but that's not what we're after. We're after it happening in the same calendar year. But it does show it is possible.

"I think the clubs would jump at it. If you're a CEO of a club, or a coach or a captain, you'd jump at it and say, 'why not'?"

Johnson believes the bonus will further encourage clubs to include their best players, which will only help to better promote the game.

"It's a cool idea. It gives clubs the chance to showcase league in the best possible light, and if they want to put their frontline players out there - which they should be doing regardless - it's a cool reward for them," said Johnson.

"If they do that then they open themselves up to a possible bonus and if they manage to win both in the same year it's an awesome reward for them.

"As players we've never played for the money and we want to win it regardless but if there's a reward for a club that can win both in the same year then why wouldn't you throw everything at it?"