A spectacular line-up of rugby league's best players, including Jarryd Hayne, will appear at the 2017 Downer NRL Auckland Nines happening across the February 4–5 weekend in New Zealand.
The Titans have been drawn against defending premiers the Sharks, the Panthers and the Bulldogs.
Star players Hayne, Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys) and Shaun Johnson (Warriors) are already confirmed starters, with all 16 NRL Clubs’ full travelling squads to be announced across January next year.
“I’ve been watching the Auckland Nines for a lot of years now and to know that I’m playing in it next year is exciting,” says Hayne.
“Coach [Neil Henry] has told me that I’m playing in the Auckland Nines. I’m looking forward to getting down there with the guys. I’m pumped to be a part of it.”
Rated the best player in the game in 2009 and again in 2014, Hayne made a stunning return to rugby league in 2016 after fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL for San Francisco 49ers.
He signed for the Gold Coast Titans and immediately showed he is still one of the game’s elite talents, helping to guide his new club into the NRL finals for the first time since 2010.
“The guys have told me of the experiences of being in Auckland for the big weekend and I’m looking forward to getting down there having fun and getting our hands on that trophy,” Hayne said.
“And I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the best players in the world out there - Jonathan Thurston, Shaun Johnson and my skinny mate MVP from last year Corey Norman [Parramatta Eels]."
To date 49 Kangaroos, 46 Kiwis, 46 Origin stars and 68 Pacific Nation reps have appeared at the NRL Auckland Nines, and that number will only increase in 2017.
The weekend is also about the colour of the clubs and their fans, and the incredible athleticism of the players. The 2017 version will once again be a ‘rolling highlights reel’.
Mayor Len Brown said Auckland would once again be the place to be over Waitangi Weekend.
"It is going to be huge, with all the edge-of-your-seat action of the Nines on Saturday and Sunday at Eden Park in Western Springs, rocking to Guns N' Roses on Saturday night, and the great Waitangi Day events on Monday."
2017 NRL AKL9s EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 ‘Waitangi Weekend’, February 2017
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, NZ
- All 16 NRL Clubs together in Auckland
- Featuring 288+ NRL players
- 31 action-packed games
- 9 players per team, 9 minute halves
- NZ $2.6 million dollars in prize money
- Over 80,000 fans expected over 2 days
- More speed. More tries. More fun.
AKL9s General Admission Tickets: Available Here From Ticketek NZ
AKL9s Travel Packages: Available Here From Sportsnet Holidays
***Receive a $75 rebate for every travel package booked where our club code ‘TITANS’ is quoted.
