Warriors consult sevens gurus

Sir Gordon Tietjens. Photo / APN

The Warriors have sought tips from New Zealand rugby sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens and former sevens specialist Karl Te Nana have been ahead of the Auckland Nines next month.

The Warriors coach in charge of the nines campaign, Ricky Henry, has researched the World Nines won by the Kiwis in 1996 and 1997. In that team were Stacey Jones and Ruben Wiki, who will assist Henry - Jones as assistant coach and Wiki a trainer.

Nine backs and seven forwards make up the Warriors squad with an accent on speed, power and ball-playing ability - including new signing and England fullback Sam Tomkins. They will be without Manu Vatuvei, Kevin Locke and Thomas Leuluai, who are all working their way back to full fitness from injury.

Also missing are captain Simon Mannering (rested), second-rower Feleti Mateo (knee) and hooker Nathan Friend.

Tomkins joins Shaun Johnson, who first came to prominence as a touch player, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Glen Fisiiahi, Carlos Tuimavave, Sione Lousi, Dominique Peyroux, Suaia Matagi and fellow new recruit Jayson Bukuya.

Playing for the first time in a Warriors' jersey, Tomkins is one of seven players in the squad who were in last year's World Cup. He seems suited to the format, with its fast pace and extra space. He scored 144 tries in 151 games for Wigan and in 2012 was judged the UK Super League's best player.

The Warriors are favourites for the inaugural competition, which will be played at Eden Park on February 15 and 16 - but no one knows which teams and what formula will succeed given its newness.

With $2.6 million in prize money at stake and rules around the make-up of sides (each club must include one of their top-five earners and 12 of their top 25 in their 16-man squad), it should be competitive.

It has captured the imagination of the public, with a further 1600 tickets due to go on sale on Tuesday after the event sold out on Friday; it is the first time Eden Park has sold out for a non-All Blacks test match since the 1991 Cricket World Cup.

The Warriors are also preparing for the NRL season and play three trial games in and around the nines.

"We've got trials going on at the same time so picking the squad was a challenge but we're taking the nines very seriously," said Warriors assistant Henry.

The Warriors will field some big men, front-rowers Matagi, Sebastine Ikahihifo and Charlie Gubb and it will be interesting to see how they cope in the fast-paced game.

The Warriors have been drawn in the same pool as the Raiders, Sea Eagles and Cowboys and need to finish in the top two in their group to progress to the quarter-finals. Games are played over two nine-minute halves.

Warriors' Nines squad

Warriors squad to play the Auckland Nines at Eden Park on February 15-16:
Jayson Bukuya, Raymond Faitala- Mariner, Glen Fisiiahi, David Fusitua, Charlie Gubb, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Shaun Johnson, Solomone Kata, Ngani Laumape, Tuimoala Lolohea, Sione Lousi, Suaia Matagi, Dominique Peyroux, Sam Tomkins, Carlos Tuimavave.