Thanks for following along with me tonight on Valentine's Day, it's been a pleasure!
Wilson Smith signing off.
NRL Nines Perth 2020: Live coverage, score updates, stream, how to watch
There was plenty of the good, the bad and the strange after the first day of the NRL Nines from a scorching HBF Park.
Rugby league is back! Well, kind of, and after a long, league-less summer that's good enough for us!
The first day of the NRL Nines is in the books and there was plenty to takeaway from the first look at footy in 2020.
Here's the best, worst and weirdest of the first day of the Nines.
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- I thought you were bringing the jerseys?
Things going according to plan is not the rugby league way. If something can go wrong, it will – and the weirder, the better. So what better way for the Nines to get started than the Warriors NRLW team forgetting their jerseys for the tournament opener against the Roosters? At the time of writing the exact location of the jerseys was still unknown – but there is speculation they were left in an Uber. The Warriors borrowed the men’s jerseys and went on to beat the Roosters 13-8 courtesy of a late, long-range intercept try to Chontelle Stowers. You really do love to see it.
- Davis makes a business decision
It was 30 seconds into the opening match of the men’s tournament. Nick Davis, a Swans legend, was playing rugby league for the first time in his entire life. He was confronted by 119kg of Fijian steel in Viliame Kikau. Kikau is the sort of player who makes the best athletes in rugby league look second-rate, and Davis tried to stop him, but not too hard. The big Panther ran 70 metres to score, but it was hard to blame Davis for the business decision – we all would have done the same.
- Gidley’s still got it.
It was a bit of a mixed bag for the returning legends, but former Knights skipper Kurt Gidley proved he’s still got plenty in the tank at 37. Gidley set up two tries, one with a flick pass to Brodie Jones and another with a clever grubber for Matt Soper-Lawler, and he played a role in another try to Kurt Mann. If new Knights coach Adam O’Brien is fair dinkum, he will sign Kurt Gidley to play five-eighth this year and if Brad Fittler is for real he will recall Gidley to Origin to captain the Blues from the bench one last time. It was wonderful to see Gidley dazzle one last time and the rest of the comeback kids did alright as well - Michael Gordon scored a try for the Titans against the Raiders and Dragons winger Jason Nightingale did a fine job in the Red V’s win over the Sharks.
- Walters champs his own son
Midway between one of the matches, Kevin Walters interviewed his son Billy. It was a nice moment, and Kevvie was clearly stoked to watch his son run around for the Tigers. The jovial mood was shattered when Kevvie, on live television mind you, champed his own son. Brutal. Billy recovered well and went alright in the Tigers 17-8 Souths - he scored a try and Kevvie said he was proud and it was all very wholesome.
- Stop…Hammer time!
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is a player North Queensland are very excited about, and the 18-year old showed why in the Cowboys’ win over the Broncos. Jason Taumalolo reckons he’s already the fastest man in the NRL, and his effort to scorch down the pitch and collect a Scott Drinkwater kick to score was an effort Josh Addo-Carr or James Roberts would have been proud to call their own. Sea Eagles rookie Luke Metcalf showed he’s no slouch either, scoring a tremendous, 70-metre individual try in Manly’s win over the Storm.
WOWZA âš¡âš¡âš¡
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) February 14, 2020
Here's @nickwalshaw's story about the @nthqldcowboys speed machine teenager https://t.co/Lhg7V8Gw3t pic.twitter.com/eVza8KT96N
INJURIES
Only a handful of ailments from the first day – Ethan Lowe twisted his knee in an awkward tackle and Paul Momirovski suffered what appeared to be a syndesmosis injury - but the Tigers centre told Michael Maguire he'd be available on Saturday. Broncos star Anthony Milford tweaked a hamstring injury and will not feature on day two of the tournament. In a disastrous finish to the evening, Holly Wheeler suffered a suspected ACL in the Dragons match against the Broncos.
FULL RESULTS
Warriors 13 def. Roosters 8 (Womens)
Panthers 35 def. Roosters 0
Knights 34 def. Warriors 0
Bulldogs 13 def. Eels 10
Dragons 27 def. Sharks 5
Titans 27 def. Raiders 10
Wests Tigers 17 def. Rabbitohs 8
Cowboys 17 def. Broncos 11
Sea Eagles 18 def. Storm 4
Broncos 13 def. Dragons 6 (women)
Updates
That's all folks!
Full-Time: Broncos vs Dragons (Women's)
The Dragons came out with a lot more energy in the second half, but errors ruined any real chance of a comeback, with the Broncos winning 13-6.
Broncos capitalised on an early Dragons error, with Jessika Elliston scoring a bonus point try on a surging run.
Dragons gun Jessica Sergis bombed one try in the first half, but didn't make the same mistake in the second with Sam Bremner putting her through a hole to score.
Welcome back @SammyBremner!
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) February 14, 2020
She sets up Jessica Sergis for the @NRL_Dragons first try! #NRL9s pic.twitter.com/TDid6SKFPy
The first half was marred by a suspected ACL injury to Dragons backrower Holli Wheeler, but the Broncos lead at the break 6-0.
Women's Golden Boot winner Jessica Sergis threatened with some impressive runs, but the Dragons were ultimately unable to capitalise on their opportunities.
Too strong! #NRL9s pic.twitter.com/pvjbjKeiUF
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) February 14, 2020
Half-Time: Broncos vs Dragons (Women's)
The first half was marred by a suspected ACL injury to Dragons backrower Holli Wheeler, but the Broncos lead at the break 6-0.
Women's Golden Boot winner Jessica Sergis threatened with some impressive runs, but the Dragons were ultimately unable to capitalise on their opportunities.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsToo strong! #NRL9s pic.twitter.com/pvjbjKeiUF
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) February 14, 2020
Dragons backrower Holli Wheeler has suffered a suspected ACL injury, after going down awkwardly in a tackle and being stretchered off the field.
Isabelle Kelly also came off the field with an a possible hip injury, but looked okay and made it back on the field.
Women's injury news
Dragons backrower Holli Wheeler has suffered a suspected ACL injury, after going down awkwardly in a tackle and being stretchered off the field.
Isabelle Kelly also came off the field with an a possible hip injury, but looked okay and made it back on the field.
Full-Time: Storm vs Sea Eagles
Melbourne shook off the drama from the first half and came out firing, but it wasn't to be with the Seas Eagles beating their rivals 18-4.
Nicho Hynes setup Cameron Munster for an easy try to give the Storm a chance, but Manly half Luke Metcalf scored his second try of the game in the last minute to put the game beyond doubt.
That's a double for Metcalf! #NRL9s pic.twitter.com/S349OIR3Hh
— NRL (@NRL) February 14, 2020
MILFORD OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT
Breaking: Broncos ace Anthony Milford out of Nines tournament after injuring his hamstring v cowboys. Will be assessed tomorrow by doctors but will not play on day two. Full story @cmail_sport
— Pete Badel (@badel_cmail) February 14, 2020
Half-Time: Storm vs Sea Eagles
One of the greatest rivalries in the NRL, the Storm vs Manly match up is full of drama, and this one was no different with a penalty try on the break putting the Sea Eagles in a 14-0 lead.
Manly half Luke Metcalf scored an absolute screamer running out of dummy-half throwing Storm defenders off guard to score from inside his own-half.
Winger Reuben Garrick was awarded a Penalty Try late in the half, after Nines skipper Sandor Earl held him back before looking certain to regather his own kick to score.
A great start to the game from the @SeaEagles! #NRL9s pic.twitter.com/8GHzGmhs8f
— NRL (@NRL) February 14, 2020
Full-Time: Cowboys vs Raiders
The Queensland derby has been the game of the tournament so far, with the Cowboys winning 17-11! Down 7-4 at the break, the Cows came out firing in the second half with Scott Drinkwater stepping three players to go over, before 'The fastest man in the nrl' Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow chased down a kick to score an absolute screamer.
Jesse Arthurs scored in the final minutes to give the Broncos a chance, but it was too little too late, with the Cowboys ending up on top.
"We may have a new Foxx!" #NRL9s pic.twitter.com/9eTAoXmH7O
— NRL (@NRL) February 14, 2020