Aussie men and women look the goods in Nines
COREY PARKER THERE are three guarantees in life – death, taxes and the fact the action will be thick and fast at the Downer Rugby League World Cup Nines tonight and tomorrow.
Looking across the 12 teams in the men’s draw and the four teams competing for the women’s title, there’s X-factors across the board.
So who will win the inaugural Rugby League World Cup Nines? This is how I see the two-day tournament playing out.
Although both sides have four fewer players on the ground, the field dimensions remain the same.
Teams who win the battle in the middle third are going to give themselves the best chance of using the extra space out wide.
There will be a temptation for playmakers to try to go too wide too early, but teams still have to do the hard yards through the middle before they can enjoy the fruits of their labour on the edge.
While most rules remain the same as in the 13-a-side game, there are a few changes that will get fans excited.
Five-point, bonus-zone tries encourage teams to play more of a running style of game rather than rely on kicking to wingers for points.
In addition to the 40-20 there will also be a 20-40 rule in play for the tournament, which means fullbacks and those defending on the flanks will need to be on their toes.
Drop-kick conversions will also test teams out.
Those with a field-goal specialist such as Daly Cherry-evans, Gareth Widdop and Shaun Johnson will be licking their lips at the prospect, but you can guarantee plenty of players have been practising their drop kicks this week.
We’ve seen the chaos Kalyn Ponga can create in the 13-aside game, so you can imagine how dangerous he will be with h the extra space at t hi his disposal. The same can be said for Shaun Johnson, who we’ve seen dominate this form of the game in previous years. Try-scoring machine Maika Sivo will be the go-to man for the Fijian side, as will Sam Tomkins for the English.
But don’t rule out the big men either.
On the surface this form of rugby league looks like a game built for speed, but those forwards with an offload in them – such as Andrew Fifita, Jason Taumalolo, Briton Nikora and Viliame Kikau – will prove more than
a hand handful.
I In th the women’s comp, Jessica Sergis will be looking to continue her stellar year when she suits up for Australia. She was a standout in the NRLW tournament this year and a deserving Dally M Female Player of the Year.
The Kiwis will be relying on the attacking prowess of Warriors hooker Krystal Rota – the leader in try and line-break assists in the NRLW this year.
And keep an eye out for England’s Georgia Roache, who won the Women of Steele award this year after leading Leeds to the Women’s Super premiership. League
I like the look of New Zealand and Tonga, but it’s hard to tip against an Aussie side containing Ponga, CherryEvans and Wade Graham.
In the women’s, I’m again going to give the Aussies a slight edge over NZ. The form of Jess Sergis and Ali Brigginshaw in the NRWL this year is just too good to ignore.