Pool Two - Waiheke, looks to be the pool of death, consisting of four tough sides - the Melbourne Storm, inaugural champions the North Queensland Cowboys, Penrith Panthers, and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Pool Three - Piha contains the Sydney Roosters, Brisbane Broncos, Canterbury Bulldogs, and Cronulla Sharks.
A new inclusion to the competition structure was also announced, with the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns team scheduled to meet their Australian counterparts, the Jillaroos, in three games over the two-day tournament, in what is a tremendous boost for the women's game.
A conversion shot clock will also be introduced to the playing format as another innovation following on from the "bonus zone" five-point try rule, for tries scored under the posts, implemented in this year's event.
"As well as great advertisement for the game the Nines is a wonderful opportunity to try stuff," explained Nines organiser and Duco Events director David Higgins.
After the success of the inaugural tournament, which surprised many critics, Higgins is bullish about their ability to build upon that and produce a bigger and better event next year.
"All the big areas we hit a home run so it's hard to top it but I think we will. We went into it worrying that it might rain, it didn't. It might not sell out, it sold out. The games might be boring - they weren't, they were scintillating. The commercial result was great, the media coverage wonderful. There were worries there might be issues with drunken fans and there wasn't."
That overall success and the $2.6 million prizemoney won the Nines concept great support among the clubs and Higgins expects that to translate into more star players attending and a more attractive brand of football being played.
"Now that the players and coaches understand the format you'll see more of a competitive edge. They'll come in with strategy, there's big prizemoney and the clubs want to win it. You'll see more hard-nosed competitiveness. Last year we were happy, we had plenty of big names, but next year we'll go even better and there will be that competitiveness to win and more star players."
Shifting the event to the last weekend in January meantit would not clash with NRL pre-season games and should further encourage clubs to include their big money stars.
Weather and crowd changed players' perceptions of cold, wet, miserable city
The NRL Nines has done much to change Australian players' perceptions of Auckland and can only aid the Warriors in their attempt to lure big name players across the Ditch.
Parramatta Eels hooker Nathan Peats said he was surprised by the beautiful weather that greeted players throughout the four days they spent in Auckland for this year's inaugural tournament, after previously identifying New Zealand only as a place that is cold, wet and miserable to visit for away games.
"It surprised me, that's for sure. I've played against the Warriors since Under-20s and gone over there and just got flogged in shitty, pissing down weather to be honest," Peats said at yesterday's launch of the 2015 tournament in Sydney. "But we got over there to beautiful weather and great days. And with people dressing up in the crowd, we had Fuifui Moimoi in our team and the fans loved him, so every time we ran out to warm up it was really entertaining."
Peats conceded it was a difficult decision for Australian players to leave their home for New Zealand but denied there was a belief that playing for the Warriors would limit their exposure and chances of representative selection. However, he admitted the fact that the Warriors are on the road every second week was a turn-off.
"They've got Ryan Hoffman going there and he's a big name. Me being honest, if I've come from Sydney and grown up here it would be a massive decision, not just because of family but they travel every second week and I hate travel games. But if it's better for your career it's not going to stop you. "If you're performing and your team is performing you're going to make it [rep football]. If the Warriors are going good then rugby league is strong."
St George Illawarra Dragons veteran Trent Merrin agreed. He said the Nines lacked appeal initially but echoed Peats' view that all players left New Zealand impressed.
"To begin with it felt like an obligation but as soon as we got there our perspective of it all changed," Merrin said.
"Every time you go over there it's wet and raining but we were all wowed when we walked into the stadium.
"Most definitely I was surprised by it all. It was awesome. The setup and the crowd, it was just a great experience.
"I had a great time over there and we all enjoyed the areas of the city that we got to experience."
Merrin also believes the tournament's growing appeal can only benefit the Warriors' recruitment strategies.
"It will definitely work in the Warriors' favour. They're a talented team and it'd be great to get some more Australian players over there."
Peats is optimistic the 2015 tournament will draw more star players, such as Eels teammate Jarryd Hayne, and says the fact that it is being held before the regular NRL pre-season trials will make it easier for clubs to include more big names.
"Now that they've brought it forward I think every club will send over decent teams. I'd love to see Haynsey play but if you risk him and he's had a long year you might give him a break. I'd love to see someone like him or Greg Inglis play. They'd do some damage."
