The inaugural Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines will see the 16 NRL clubs competing for $2.6 million in prize money in a two-day blockbuster over February 15 and 16. While the individual 15-man squads are unknown at this stage, each club is committed to fielding 12 players from their top 25 squad, including at least one of their five highest-paid players.
So who is the one Roosters player who is most likely to shine at the tournament? Have your say below.
Sonny Bill Williams - Chalk this down as yet another sport for the code-hopping king who can really do it all. Question is, will the Tricolours risk him?
Michael Jennings - He won a coveted premiership, but he'll be burning about not being considered one of the top two centres in Australia.
James Maloney - He puts others through holes and runs a line as well as anyone, making him a valuable asset for any Nines team. Knows how to pot a drop-goal too.
Mitchell Pearce - The NSW halfback proved some critics wrong by helping to guide the Roosters to last year's premiership, and he doubles as a quick dummy-half option in the Nines.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - Nines probably isn't tailor-made for someone with his size, but footy just isn't as fun without the smiling assassin out there.
Daniel Tupou - With those long legs galloping like a gazelle, everything Tupou touched last year turned to gold. Why let it stop now?
Boyd Cordner - He's a bona fide Kangaroo now, but you get the feeling he can only get better. He runs hard, but his underrated passing game could be a deciding x-factor.
