Auckland Nines look at $1 million bonus if champions can become NRL premiers
WINNERS of the Auckland Nines could get a $1 million bonus if they claim the NRL premiership, with organisers in talks about offering the cash bonanza.
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WINNERS of the 2017 Auckland Nines could receive a $1 million bonus if they go on to win the NRL premiership, with organisers in talks about offering the cash bonanza.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Nines organisers, Duco Events, are discussing the offer of a seven-figure sum to any team that completes the rare double. While the stunning bounty was first pitched prior to this year’s tournament, the NRL knocked back the proposal given a lack of time to properly consider it.
However, with the February tournament still almost three months away, the $1 million Duco bounty is again being discussed at boardroom level.
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Certainly the initiative would be welcomed by NRL clubs, who receive $400,000 for winning the premiership and only $100,000 for the minor premiership.
The Auckland Nines, meanwhile, offers $2.3 million in prizemoney, including $370,000 to the winners.
It means that winning the Nines, minor premiership and NRL title could net an organisation $1.87 million.
Under the proposal, Duco Events would fund the entire $1 million — with no financial input required by the NRL.
The group believes offering such a significant cash prize would encourage clubs to pitch their best possible side into the annual event, to be held at Eden Park on February 4-5.
The tournament is shaping as the biggest yet with a group of stars, including Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston, Titans fullback Jarryd Hayne and Warriors playmaker Shaun Johnson all confirmed starters.
As a result, the Warriors will again start favourites with bookmakers, with North Queensland and Gold Coast on the second and third lines of betting, respectively.
No club has achieved the Nines/NRL trophy double. South Sydney have, however, done the reverse — winning the 2014 premiership before taking out the 2015 Nines.
North Queensland also claimed the 2014 Nines title before winning the NRL premiership a year later.
Prior to the NRL finals, Melbourne co-owner Matthew Tripp claimed the $100,000 minor premiers’ cheque, which would be won by his club after defeating Cronulla in the final round, was “embarrassing”. However, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg responded by saying that there will be no changes to the prizemoney offered to NRL finalists, which is $1 million in total.
Quizzed at the time about a potential increase in prizemoney, Greenberg said: “No, not at all.
“You talk to the clubs today, there’s $1 million in prizemoney and we’ve spoken to the 16 clubs and said ‘Do you want to take this in a different direction?’ And the answer was no.”
The Auckland Nines will be held at Eden Park from February 4-5 and televised live on Fox Sports.
Originally published as Auckland Nines look at $1 million bonus if champions can become NRL premiers
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