NRL: Big men remain key to winning Auckland Nines

Richie Barnett. Photo / Richard Robinson

While attention is focused on speedsters such as Shaun Johnson, Sam Tomkins and Ben Barba leading into the Auckland Nines, history indicates that the big men will be equally important at the Eden Park event.

The last time the nines format was played at this level was in 1996 and 1997, when New Zealand recorded back-to-back victories at the Super League World Nines, with a team based on power as much as pace.

"We probably had more size than all of the other squads," recalls Richie Barnett. "We had some bulk and we used it well. It was a long time ago but our experience proves there is room for a big bopper."

"Our strategy was mainly based around the big guys and they laid the platform," says Stacey Jones. "Our big men dominated with the ball. It remains to be seen but I don't think much is going to change this time."

In 1996, the New Zealand side had ball-playing forwards such as Stephen Kearney, Tony Iro and Ruben Wiki as well as the giant Warriors duo of Gavin Hill and Tony Tatupu.

The following year, all but Hill remained, supplanted by Joe Vagana (one of league's biggest props in the 1990s) and Tyran Smith.

"We found it was important to have some big guys to get a roll on," says Barnett. "Offloading was key and, if you could drag in a few defenders, suddenly there was wide open spaces around the field."

"It is a different game but a lot of league principles still apply," says Iro. "The nature of nines means that the first contact on defence has to be good. Otherwise it is easy for you to be isolated and you will have a long day out there."

Though there are only nine players on the field, the format is expected to bear a much closer resemblance to the full version of the sport than in the case of sevens and 15s rugby.

"It looks more like [standard] league," says Barnett. "There is one fullback and eight defenders in front of him. There are more gaps but the same principles apply. You need to play with some form of structure; you can't just throw it around."

Barnett and Iro remember that tactical substitutions were also key, as players felt the aerobic effects of the near-constant running.

"It's only nine minutes per half but it can be a big physical effort," says Iro. "You need to get your replacement strategy right."